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DES MOINES – The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) Board of Directors recently approved more than $6.5 million in grants to support the development of a total of 34 rental homes and supportive services for individuals experiencing, or at risk of homelessness in Davenport, Dubuque, Grinnell and Ottumwa. The funding is made available through the Federal HOME-American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) and National Housing Trust Fund programs.

“Homelessness may look different in a rural town than in an urban neighborhood, but the need is just as urgent,” said Iowa Finance Authority Director Debi Durham. “The grants announced today will provide critical housing in four communities across Iowa and support Iowans working to regain stability.”

“We’re working to meet people where they are, including in communities like Grinnell and Ottumwa, so individuals can stay close to the support systems they rely on,” said CISS CEO Melissa O’Neil.

By investing in preventative solutions, we’re able to support individuals on the verge of homelessness and help prevent them from becoming unhoused in the first place.

Melissa O’Neil

Award Summary

HOME-ARP 

Grinnell and Ottumwa Housing Project

Central Iowa Shelter & Services (CISS) will use a $3.6 million HOME-ARP grant to support the development of 13 affordable housing units in Ottumwa and four in Grinnell for residents experiencing or at risk of homelessness.  The grant award includes more than $2.7 million in development funds, $600,000 for supportive services and $300,000 in nonprofit operating funds. 

Boundless on Bluff – Dubuque  

Dubuque Initiatives 1700 LLC was awarded more than $1.1 million to assist in transforming an empty infill loft in the Jackson Place Historic District of downtown Dubuque into six permanent affordable 2-bedroom housing units for families experiencing or at-risk of homelessness. The project was also awarded more than $226,000 in supportive service funds. 

National Housing Trust Fund

Humility Homes Permanent Supportive Housing – Davenport 

Humility Homes Services, Inc. will use a $1.65 million National Housing Trust Fund grant to help bring 11 new Permanent Supportive Housing units to Davenport in partnership with Gratus Development. These rental homes will serve individuals and families experiencing homelessness, offering stable housing paired with supportive services. The development includes a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units in quadplex and triplex buildings, designed so each household has its own front door.

Humility Homes and Gratus Development took part in Iowa’s first Supportive Housing Institute in 2025, where they shaped the concept that led to this development. Hosted by IFA in partnership with the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH), a national leader in the field, the five-month Institute guided teams through creating strategic, income-targeted housing with supportive services for Iowans with the greatest needs, especially those experiencing homelessness.

More information on the HOME-ARP and National Housing Trust Fund programs is available at iowafinance.com.

HOME-ARP

The HOME-American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) program was created under the American Rescue Plan to reduce homelessness and increase housing stability. It is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Iowa received a one-time allocation of approximately $29 million in HOME-ARP funds, administered by the Iowa Finance Authority.

National Housing Trust Fund

The National Housing Trust Fund, also administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, provides annual funding to states to increase and preserve the supply of affordable housing for extremely low-income households and those experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

(DES MOINES) – The Iowa Finance Authority Board of Directors today approved more than $5.7 million in grants to assist 42 agencies with homelessness assistance initiatives during the 2026 calendar year.

“Iowa’s greatest housing needs include support for individuals with the lowest incomes who are at risk of homelessness,” said Iowa Finance Authority Director Debi Durham.

Through strong partnerships with homeless service providers across the state, these awards will support many Iowans in their time of crisis and on their path to housing stability.

Director Debi Durham

Individuals in need of homelessness assistance should visit iowahousinghelp.com or call the coordinated entry system at 833-739-0065. Residents of Des Moines or Polk County should call centralized intake at 515-248-1850. Residents in the Siouxland area should visit siouxlandhomeless.org or call 712-224-5247.

The funding is made available through the State-funded Shelter Assistance Fund (SAF) and the federal Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) programs.

The Iowa Finance Authority conducted competitive application processes for the ESG and SAF programs, while HOPWA funding is distributed by formula based upon Iowa Department of Public Health data. Applications were scored in several categories, including program design, experience and capacity, community partnerships, performance, budget and grants management.

Emergency Solutions Grant Program (ESG)

The primary purpose of the federal 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, street outreach, 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 $3 million in 2026 Emergency Solutions Grant program funds.

Shelter Assistance Fund (SAF)

The State-funded Shelter Assistance Fund program provides assistance to help with the costs of operations of homeless and domestic violence shelters, essential services for individuals in shelters and evaluation and reporting services. Twenty-two agencies were awarded a total of more than $1.4 million in 2026 Shelter Assistance Fund grants.

Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA)

Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS is a federal program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development designed to assist persons who have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and their families who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness. Five agencies were awarded a total of more than $1.2 million in 2026 Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS grants.

(DES MOINES) – The Iowa Finance Authority Board of Directors today awarded a total of more than $15 million in federal housing tax credits and HOME program loans to support the construction and rehabilitation of a total of 410 affordable rental homes for Iowans. The awards were made to 11 rental housing projects located in Ames, Burlington, Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque, Keokuk, Mount Vernon, Sioux City and West Burlington.

“Housing is foundational to the economic mobility of Iowans and the strength of our communities,” said Iowa Finance Authority Executive Director Debi Durham.

“THE FINANCING ANNOUNCED TODAY WILL PROVIDE HUNDREDS OF IOWA FAMILIES AND SENIORS WITH HOMES IN WHICH THEY CAN THRIVE IN COMMUNITIES ALL THROUGHOUT THE STATE.”

“Not only will the new Keokuk Family Flats provide an additional 47 rental homes in our community, but it will also be a tremendous catalyst for economic ripple effects as more of our workforce will be able to live near where they work,” said City of Keokuk Mayor Kathie Mahoney.

Housing Tax Credits
The Internal Revenue Service makes an annual per capita allocation of federal tax credits to each state for the Federal Housing Tax Credit program. The Iowa Finance Authority is charged with allocating those credits to affordable housing developers. The developers who receive tax credits sell them to investors to generate equity for the housing developments.

The Iowa Finance Authority received 24 applications requesting more than $22 million in housing tax credits in the 2023 tax credit round. IFA had a total of approximately $10 million available to allocate. The actual awards total nearly $100 million because the credits are committed annually for a 10-year period.

HOME Program
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development allocates HOME program funding among states and hundreds of localities nationwide. IFA allocates Iowa’s allocation of HOME funds to eligible entities to build and preserve affordable housing. The IFA Board of Directors today approved $5.1 million in HOME funds to support eight rental housing tax credit projects.

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