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. 

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.

CHDO Certification

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.

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

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

        Purchase Price Limits 

        Utility Allowances

        Part 5 Form

        CDBG Income Survey

        Consolidated Plan (City Steps)

        This five-year plan guides the allocation of funding for housing, jobs and services for low-to-moderate income persons.

        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.

        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

        Other Planning Documents

        Environmental Reviews

        None at this time. 

        City Government