About

Links to Housing Programs, Resources and Ideas

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA):

• Housing Assistance Programs

United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD):

• HUD Program Search

Iowa Finance Authority (IFA):

• IFA Community Toolkit
• IFA Housing Programs

Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA):

• Workforce Housing Tax Credits
• CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Fund
• Iowa Downtown Resource Center

Federal Home Loan Bank:

• FHLB Des Moines Affordable Housing Products

Interesting Reports and Information:

• Rental Housing for a 21st Century Rural America
• The National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) has shared case studies of housing developments that incorporate Opportunity Zone investment to create new affordable homes.
• Housing for Iowa (HFI) is a state program created to provide affordable workforce housing in rural areas and to provide skills and rehabilitate prisoners.

Local Agencies:

• Councils of Governments:  https://www.iowacog.com/find-your-cog
• Housing Trust Funds:  https://www.iowafinance.com/state-housing-trust-fund/local-housing-trust-fund/
• Community Action Agencies:  http://iowacommunityaction.org/
• Iowa’s Housing Authorities:  http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/states/iowa/renting/hawebsites

Ideas Across Iowa:

• Fayette, Iowa (Pop: 1,112): https://fayetteiowa.com/government/incentives.html
• Forest City, Iowa (Pop: 4,083):  https://www.cityofforestcity.com/housingincentives
• Fredericksburg, Iowa (Pop: 1,240):  https://www.fredericksburgiowa.com/housing_incentives.html
• Newton, Iowa (Pop: 15,085):  https://newtongov.org/806/Housing-Initiative
• Perry, Iowa (Pop: 7,599):  https://www.perryia.org/tax-abatement.html
• Tripoli, Iowa (Pop: 1,269):  http://www.tripoliiowa.com/f/HousingIncentives.pdf
• Webster City, Iowa (Pop: 7,830):  https://webstercity.com/our-community/housing/housing-programs/
• Wright County, Iowa (Pop: 12,864):  https://www.wrightcounty.org/departments/economic_development/housing.php

Developers working in adaptive reuse in rural communities:

• Community Housing Initiatives
• Arch Icon
• Hobart Historic Restoration
• Doing it on your own?  Preservation Iowa maintains a business directory  and offers tips  and links you may find useful.