CDBG/HOME Funding
About
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) programs help develop viable urban communities through projects that principally benefit low- and moderate-income persons, including public facility, affordable housing, and other eligible activities listed in the Applicant Guide.
Funds Available
The City expects about $940,000 in CDBG/HOME funds to be available from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for this competitive application. Of this, around $700,000 must be allocated to affordable housing activities: acquisition, rehabilitation, new construction, or direct assistance for renter- or owner-occupied housing. The remaining $240,000 may be used for housing or public facilities projects. An additional $78,000 is estimated to be available for certified Community Housing Development Organization reserve activities.
The Housing and Community Development Commission (HCDC) and City Council will review applications and allocate funds to projects through a public process based on the needs and priorities in City Steps 2025. Funds become available for use on July 1, 2023. HCDC and City staff strongly encourage CDBG/HOME applicants to attend the applicant workshop before applying.
Apply
This opportunity is now closed. The application window was open from December 28, 2022 through January 30, 2023 at 12pm.
- FY24 CDBG/HOME Applicant Guide
- Affordable Housing Heat Map
- FY24 Tentative Calendar (Revised 1.20.23)
Link to view FY24 CDBG/HOME submissions: https://www.iowa-city.org/WebLink/Browse.aspx?id=2112996&dbid=0&repo=CityofIowaCity&cr=1
Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) Certification
The HOME program requires the City of Iowa City to set aside funds for specific activities to be undertaken by a special type of nonprofit called a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO). A CHDO is a private nonprofit, community-based organization that has staff with the capacity to develop affordable housing for the community it serves. In order to qualify for designation as a CHDO, the organization must meet certain requirements pertaining to their legal status, organizational structure, and capacity and experience. Applicants must be a certified CHDO to receive CHDO funds. Annual CHDO certification submissions are due March 31, 2023.
For questions about CDBG/HOME, please contact Brianna Thul at bthul@iowa-city.org or 319-356-5240.
Emerging Aid to Agencies Funding
About
Emerging Aid to Agencies (A2A) provides flexible operational funding for nonprofits providing public services. Up to five percent of Aid to Agencies funding may be made available for “emerging” agencies, i.e. agencies that are not designated as Legacy Agencies in City Steps 2025, the City's consolidated plan (available below).
Funds Available
The City expects approximately $24,300 to be available for agencies not classified as Legacy Agencies in the City’s consolidated plan, City Steps 2025.
Current Legacy Agencies (those ineligible for Emerging Aid to Agencies funds)
Apply
This opportunity is now closed. The application window was open from December 28, 2022 through January 30, 2023 at 12pm.
- FY24 Tentative Calendar (Revised 1.20.23)
Link to view FY24 EA2A submissions: https://www.iowa-city.org/WebLink/Browse.aspx?id=2113097&dbid=0&repo=CityofIowaCity
Please note that there is no applicant workshop for Emerging Aid to Agencies applicants. Applicants that need assistance can contact staff. For questions about Emerging Aid to Agencies, please contact Brianna Thul at bthul@iowa-city.org or 319-356-5240.
FY24 Legacy Aid to Agencies Funding
Aid to Agencies offers flexible funding for agencies providing public services to low-income residents of Iowa City. Eligible organizations are those that are listed as Legacy Agencies in the City's consolidated plan, City Steps 2025 (p.150). Applications for Legacy Agency funding are accepted on a two year cycle through the United Way Community Impact Funding Process. The City expects to have approximately $700,000 available for Legacy Agencies in FY24. Funding will be available after July 1, 2023 (fiscal year 2024).
This application closed September 15, 2022 at 5pm.
Click here to view the FY24 submissions.
Click here to view FY24 Q&A information.
City of Iowa City Materials and Resources
- FY24 Staff Summary Sheets
- FY24 Aid to Agencies Scoring Criteria
- FY24 Eligible Legacy Agencies
- Historic Aid to Agencies Funding
- Tentative Calendar for City Funding Process
- Q&A Tentative Calendar
- FY22 Legacy A2A Final Reports
For questions about the FY24 Legacy Aid to Agencies process, please contact Brianna Thul at bthul@iowa-city.org or 319-356-5240.
Iowa City HOME-ARP Funding
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARP”) appropriated $5 billion to communities across the U.S. to provide housing, services, and shelter to individuals experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable populations. These funds were allocated by formula to jurisdictions that qualified for funding through the HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME Program) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Eligible activities that may be funded with HOME-ARP include:
- Development and support of affordable housing
- Tenant-based rental assistance
- Provision of supportive services (such as housing counseling, homelessness prevention, childcare, job training, legal services, case management, moving costs, rental applications, and rent assistance)
- Acquisition and development of non-congregate shelter units.
Funds must primarily benefit individuals and households in the following Qualifying Populations:
- Experiencing homelessness
- At risk of homelessness
- Fleeing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking
- Other populations with high risk of housing instability (see Applicant Guide for details)
Iowa City expects to have $1,521,981 in HOME-ARP funds available for allocation in a competitive funding round, including up to $89,000 for non-profit operating & capacity building funds for applicants who are carrying out the eligible activities listed above. The application window closed June 14th, 2022.
For questions about HOME-ARP, please contact Cassy Gripp at cgripp@iowa-city.org or 319-356-5237.
COVID-19 Housing Assistance Programs
There are currently local resources available to assist households who have lost wages due to COVID-19.
Emergency Housing Assistance flyer
If you need assistance and your household is below 80% of the area median income (eligibility chart), the City encourages you to Contact Shelter House at 319-351-0326. Shelter House administers several different housing relief programs, including housing eviction and foreclosure prevention with funds through the City's CDBG-CV program. The program can assist with up to 6 months of rent, mortgage, or utility assistance. If you have received State assistance, you can apply for this program after their assistance ends and there is no duplication of benefits.
References for CDBG/HOME:
Per Unit Subsidy
Income and Rent Limits
- CDBG and HOME Income and Rent Limits - Effective June 15, 2022
- CDBG and HOME Income and Rent Limits - Effective June 1, 2021
- CDBG and HOME Income and Rent Limits - Effective July 1, 2020
Purchase Price Limits
- CDBG and HOME Purchase Price Limits - Effective June 1, 2022
- CDBG and HOME Purchase Price Limits - Effective June 1, 2021
Utility Allowances
- FY23 HUD Utility Allowances - Effective June 15, 2022
- FY22 HUD Utility Allowances - Effective June 1, 2021
- FY21 HUD Utility Allowances - Effective July 1, 2020
- ICHA Utility Allowances - Effective February 1, 2022
- ICHA Utility Allowances - Effective February 2, 2021
- ICHA Utility Allowances - Effective January 1, 2020
Part 5 Form
CDBG Income Survey
- Income Survey for CDBG Projects - Effective June 15, 2022
- Income Survey for CDBG Projects - Effective June 1, 2021
- Income Survey for CDBG Projects - Effective July 1, 2020
Consolidated Plan (City Steps)
This five-year plan guides the allocation of funding for housing, jobs and services for low-to-moderate income persons.
- City Steps 2025 (2021-2025 Consolidated Plan) As Amended - Effective July 1, 2020 to June 30. 2025 - approved 1/7/20
- Substantial Amendment #1 - approved 5/5/2020
- Substantial Amendment #2 - approved 6/21/22
- CITY STEPS (2016-2020 Consolidated Plan) - Effective July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2020 - approved 12/2/2014
- Substantial Amendment #1 - approved 5/5/2015
- Substantial Amendment #2 - approved 5/5/2020
Annual Action Plans
The Annual Action Plan describes the federally funded activities of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership Programs (HOME), among others, to be undertaken by the City during the fiscal year (July 1 to June 30). The plan is a sub-part of Iowa City's Consolidated Plan titled, City Steps.
- FY23 Annual Action Plan - approved 6/21/22
- Administrative Amendment #1 - approved 7/7/22
- FY22 Annual Action Plan - approved 5/4/2021
- Administrative Amendment #1 - approved 7/13/21
- Administrative Amendment #2 - approved 9/14/21
- Administrative Amendment #3 - approved 12/6/2021
- Substantial Amendment #1 - approved 12/14/21
- FY21 Annual Action Plan - Part of City Steps 2025 - approved 5/5/2020
- Administrative Amendment #1 - approved 1/4/2021
- Administrative Amendment #2 - approved 3/17/2021
- Administrative Amendment #3 - approved 4/19/2022
- Administrative Amendment #4 - approved 5/15/2022
- FY20 Annual Action Plan - approved 6/4/2019
- Substantial Amendment #1 - approved 5/5/2020
- Substantial Amendment #2 - approved 10/20/2020
- Administrative Amendment #1 - approved 7/29/2019
- Administrative Amendment #2 - approved 10/1/2019
- Administrative Amendment #3 - approved 6/12/2020
- Administrative Amendment #4 - approved 1/7/2021
- Administrative Amendment #5 - approved 4/19/2022
- FY19 Annual Action Plan - approved 5/29/2018
- Administrative Amendment #1 - approved 7/31/2018
- Administrative Amendment #2 - approved 6/14/2019
- Administrative Amendment #3 - approved 10/24/2019
Consolidated Annual Performance & Evaluation Report (CAPER)
A U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development required report that describes the federally funded activities and accomplishments.
FY2022 CAPER - HCDC approved 9/15/2022
FY2021 CAPER - HCDC approved 9/16/2021
FY2020 CAPER - HCDC approved 11/19/2020
FY2019 CAPER - HCDC approved 9/19/2019
FY2018 CAPER - HCDC approved 9/20/2018
Housing Studies
- Update to the 2015 Affordable Housing Market Analysis for the Iowa City Urbanized Area - 2021
- Fair Housing Choice Study (Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice) - 2019
- Housing and Equity in Iowa City: Investigating Trends of Housing Inequality in the Iowa City Metropolitan Area - 2016
- Affordable Housing Market Analysis - funded by Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty, Tiffin and University Heights
- Analysis #1 - 2008
- Analysis #2 - 2015
- Report from the Johnson County Affordable Housing Task Force - 2009
Other Planning Documents
- 2022 Affordable Housing Action Plan
- Citizen Participation Plan - Effective July 1, 2020
- Affordable Housing Definitions - 2016
- Affirmative Marketing Plan - 2013
- Continuum of Care for the Homeless - 2006
Environmental Reviews
None at this time.