The Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County (HTFJC) has announced a new round of $2,900,000 in funding to support the development or rehabilitation of housing provided to qualified households in the county. A minimum of $368,000 is specifically earmarked for housing located within the city limits of North Liberty, according to a news release.
To be eligible, applicants must report an income below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
The funds may be used toward businesses, nonprofit organizations, builders, developers, and governmental agencies seeking funds for affordable owner-occupied, rental, transitional, or emergency housing in Johnson County.
The application deadline is Jan. 3, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. The application, income guidelines, and additional information are available on the HTFJC website.
As stated in the release from HTFJC, while the critical shortage of affordable housing for people with low incomes is a national problem, Johnson County is one of the most expensive places to live in Iowa and affordable options have not kept pace with the need.
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, there were 8,910 households in Johnson County in 2021 that were paying more than 50% of their income on their housing costs which translates to being extremely cost-burdened. HUD also reports that there were 11,185 households that year with extremely low incomes which is 18% of all households in Johnson County.
The Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County, a nonprofit, was founded in 2004 and has invested more than $17 million in creating and preserving housing that is affordable for 1,300 households with low incomes.
