Iowa Finance Authority Awards more than $3.9 Million for Homelessness Assistance Initiatives
Fifty Iowa Agencies Receive Grant Funding to Support Homeless Programs
DES MOINES, IA – The Iowa Finance Authority Board of Directors recently approved more than $3.9 million in grants to assist 50 agencies with homelessness assistance initiatives during the 2019 calendar year.
The funding is made available through the federal Emergency Solutions Grant program and the state Shelter Assistance Fund. The Iowa Finance Authority conducted a combined competition for the two programs and applications were scored in several categories, including project design, experience and capacity, community partnerships, performance, budget and grants management.
“The homelessness assistance awards announced today will have a direct impact on thousands of Iowans in their time of need,” said Iowa Finance Authority Interim Executive Director Carolann Jensen. “Iowa’s homeless service professionals work tirelessly to help get Iowans back on their feet and into permanent housing and this funding will aid in those efforts.”
Emergency Solutions Grant Program
The primary purpose of the Emergency Solutions Grant program is to help Iowans and their families quickly regain stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis or homelessness. Examples of eligible services include rental and other emergency financial assistance, emergency shelter, case management and supportive services. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and by the Iowa Finance Authority in Iowa.
Twenty-seven agencies were awarded a total of more than $2.47 million in Emergency Solutions Grant Program funds.
Shelter Assistance Fund
The Shelter Assistance Fund program provides assistance to help with the costs of operations of homeless and domestic violence shelters, essential services for the homeless and evaluation and reporting services.
Thirty-one agencies were awarded a total of more than $1.47 million in Shelter Assistance Fund grants.
The Iowa Legislature created the Iowa Finance Authority, the state’s housing finance agency, in 1975 to undertake programs to assist in the attainment of housing for low- and moderate-income Iowans. Since then, the Iowa Finance Authority’s role has grown to include nearly 40 affordable housing, water quality and agricultural development programs. The Iowa Finance Authority is a self-supporting public agency.
