Housing
Meeting Iowa's Housing Needs
A housing supply that is located, designed, rehabilitated, and constructed with
an emphasis on affordability and sustainable high performance is critical to a community’s
success. In November 2007, the Community Development Division embarked on a journey
to emphasize sustainability in its everyday operations, including our housing programs.
In 2008, for the 2009 Housing Fund, the housing programs will place an even greater
emphasis on greener, more sustainable housing improving the quality of life for
owners, tenants, homebuyers, and communities. In addition, training opportunities
and resources will be offered and promoted to advance green building practices in
Iowa.
Twenty-five percent of the State’s annual CDBG allocation from HUD will be distributed through an
annual competitive housing application process for owner-occupied rehabilitation for low to moderate
income households. Assisted housing shall be single-family housing occupied by homeowners as their
principal residence. All houses will be rehabilitated in accordance with any locally adopted building or
housing codes, standards and ordinances. If locally adopted and enforced building and housing codes do
not exist, the Iowa Minimum Housing Rehabilitation standards, including green criteria will be followed.
IDED staff review Housing Fund applications using a threshold and competitive criteria review system,
taking into account need, impact, and feasibility. The criteria reflect the State’s Consolidated Plan
priorities. Specific questions are used to evaluate the Owner–Occupied Housing
Rehabilitation funding requests, and each application is reviewed and evaluated.
The maximum per unit subsidy for all single-family activities involving rehabilitation is $37,500. The
$37,500 per unit limit includes all applicable costs including, but not limited to, the hard costs of
rehabilitation, technical services costs, including lead hazard reduction carrying costs; lead hazard
reduction costs; and temporary relocation. All rehabilitation hard costs funded with housing funds are
limited to $24,999. All applicable technical services costs, including any lead hazard reduction carrying
costs, are limited to $4,500 per unit.
The housing programs at the Community Development Division address many different
aspects of a community's housing needs, for more information:
