The Iowa Finance Authority Board of Directors recently approved more than $2.5 million in homeless assistance grants to assist 28 agencies with homelessness prevention and assistance initiatives during the 2015 calendar year. The funding is made available through the federal Emergency Solutions Grant program, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and by the Iowa Finance Authority in Iowa.

Among the recipients of grant funds was: The Crisis Intervention & Advocacy Center, which serves all counties in southwest, parts of central and southern Iowa. $59, 292 was awarded for Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing; Heartland Family Service in Pottawattamie County received a $41,175 grant for similar purposes, and, MICAH House, which serves counties in western & southwest Iowa, received $41, 175 for a shelter.

The purpose of the Emergency Solutions Grant program is to help Iowans and their families quickly regain stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis or homelessness. Types of assistance can include emergency shelter, street outreach and homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing. Examples of eligible initiatives include funds for shelter operations and essential services, short-term rental or utility assistance, case management and housing relocation and stabilization services.

The Iowa Finance Authority received 37 applications which were scored in several categories, including project design and competition priorities, experience and capacity, community partnerships and need, performance, and budget and grants management. Emergency Solutions Grants were awarded to 28 agencies. These agencies serve a total of all 99 Iowa counties.