Iowa Finance Authority awards nearly $5 million to homelessness assistance initiatives

15 Eastern Iowa agencies awarded federal, state grants

The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) Board of Directors has approved more than $4.7 million in federal and state grants to assist 44 agencies statewide with homelessness assistance initiatives during the 2023 calendar year.

“The homelessness assistance awards announced today will have a direct impact in helping thousands of Iowans in their time of need,” Iowa Finance Authority executive director Debi Durham said in a release. “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.”

The funding is made available through the federal Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program and the state-funded Shelter Assistance Fund (SAF).

The Iowa Finance Authority conducted a two-year combined ESG and SAF competition for funds in 2021. Applications were scored in several categories, including project design, experience and capacity, community partnerships, performance, budget and grants management.

The primary purpose of the federal ESG 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 street outreach, shelter, homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing (rental assistance paired with 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 $2.9 million in 2023 ESG program funds.

The state-funded SAF 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-three agencies were awarded a total of nearly $1.8 million in 2023 Shelter Assistance Fund grants.

Grants awarded to Eastern Iowa agencies are as follows:

  • Area Substance Abuse Council, Linn County, $25,474 SAF grant.
  • Catherine McAuley Center, Linn County, $25,562 ESG grant, $13,018 SAF grant.
  • Community Solutions of Eastern Iowa, $112,286 ESG grant.
  • Domestic Violence Intervention Program, Johnson County, $98,214 ESG grant, $86,012 SAF grant.
  • Family Resources Inc., Scott County, $47,633 ESG grant, $105,272 SAF grant.
  • Hawkeye Area Community Action Program, Linn County, $158,302 ESG grant.
  • Humility Homes and Services, Scott County, $52,455 ESG grant, $143,059 SAF grant.
  • Iowa Legal Aid, $79,880 ESG grant.
  • Muscatine Center for Social Action, $76,697 ESG grant, $54,029 SAF grant.
  • Pathway Living Center Inc, Clinton County, $7,685 SAF grant.
  • Salvation Army, Scott, $169,632 ESG grant.
  • Shelter House Community Shelter and Transition Services, Johnson County, $201,148 ESG grant, $140,881 SAF grant.
  • Waypoint, Linn County, $236,588 ESG grant, $46,656 SAF grant.
  • Willis Dady Emergency Services, $196,633 ESG grant, $90,666 SAF grant.
  • YMCA Clinton Empowerment Center, Clinton County, $109,890 ESG grant, $21,647 SAF grant.