ATLANTIC, IOWA – Southwest Iowa Housing Trust Fund (SWIHTF), a nonprofit fund administered by Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO), has received a $100,000 grant from the Iowa West Foundation, to be used for housing rehabilitation in the southwest Iowa region, which covers Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, and Shelby counties.

Brenda Mainwaring, President and CEO of the Iowa West Foundation, said “A safe and stable housing situation is a basic necessity for everyone regardless of income. This grant will allow SWIHTF to extend that opportunity to more southwest Iowans, and act as an additional resource Iowa West is supporting as we continue to address the housing issues in our region.”

Past projects have included replacement windows and doors, roof repairs, upgraded insulation, foundation repair, and health hazard abatement. The funds from the Iowa West Foundation will help SWIHTF complete at least ten more of these projects in the coming year.

Alexsis Fleener, SWIPCO Community Development Director, says “Rehabilitation is a great way for low- to moderate-income homeowners to not only improve the health, safety, and energy efficiency of their dwellings, but to build value in their existing homes. Improving the safety and energy efficiency of homes in a neighborhood can help lift the value of all homes in the community over time, and the Iowa West Foundation’s grant will help us do more of that.”

The Iowa West Foundation is committed to helping communities achieve their dreams. Letters of Inquiry (the first step in the grant application process) are accepted year-round with deadlines of Jan. 1, May. 1 and Sept. 1 prior to each of the three grants cycles. For more information on the application process, a virtual grants workshop will be held on April 22nd. Details and registration can be found at: www.iowawestfoundation.org.