(DES MOINES) – The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) Board of Directors recently approved more than $3.9 million in grants to assist 50 agencies with homelessness assistance initiatives during the 2019 calendar year. The funding is made available through the federal Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program and the state Shelter Assistance Fund (SAF).

The Iowa Finance Authority conducted a combined competition for the two programs and applications were scored in several categories, including project design, experience and capacity, community partnerships, performance, budget and grants management.

In the KJAN listening area:

• the Crisis Intervention & Advocacy Center in Dallas County received a $104,059 Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG).
• Heartland Family Services in Pottawattamie County received an ESG amounting to $178,224, and New Visions Homeless Services in Pott. County received a Shelter Assistance Fund (SAF) grant in the amount of $111,500.

The primary 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. Examples of eligible services include rental and other emergency financial assistance, emergency shelter, case management and supportive services. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and by the Iowa Finance Authority in Iowa. Twenty-seven agencies were awarded a total of more than $2.47 million in Emergency Solutions Grant Program funds.

The Shelter Assistance Fund program provides assistance to help with the costs of operations of homeless and domestic violence shelters, essential services for the homeless and evaluation and reporting services. Thirty-one agencies were awarded a total of more than $1.47 million in Shelter Assistance Fund grants.