The Meskwaki Health Clinic Benefit Coordinators, Gloria Fonseca and Tamela Davenport, can assist you applying for the Iowa Rent and Utility Assistance Program. Call the Clinic at (641) 484-4094 and ask for Gloria or Tamela.

The Iowa Rent and Utility Assistance Program may provide eligible renters with help and utility bills.

Rent Payments: Past due payments and future payments up to three months of assistance at a time.

Utility Payments: Past due payments: electricity, gas, propane or fuel oil, water, sewer and/or trash removal. Future Payments: not available.

Up to 12 months of combined assistance: Eligible renters may apply for rent assistance only, utility assistance only or both.

Note: All past due payments are for costs incurred no earlier than March 13, 2020.

Eligible Households

• Renter households with incomes of no more than 80% of Area Median Income.
• One or more individuals in the household has qualified for unemployment benefits.

OR has experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs or experienced other financial hardship due directly or indirectly to the coronavirus outbreak.

• The household can demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability which may include a past due utility or rent notice or eviction notice.

Ineligible Households

• Renter households that have incomes above 80% of Area Median Income.
• Renter households in which no household members qualify for unemployment benefits at time of application or the household has not experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs or experienced other financial hardship due directly or indirectly to the coronavirus outbreak.
• Households which cannot provide all required documentation.
• Renter households with sublet or sublease arrangements.
• Homeowner households.

Assistance Programs for Renters and Homeowners

Application Period Opens March 29

Iowa COVID-19 impacted renters and homeowners will be able to apply for assistance with rent and mortgage payments through two assistance programs beginning Monday, March 29 at 2:00 p.m. Program details can be found at IowaHousingRecovery.com.

Assistance for Renters

The Iowa Rent and Utility Assistance Program will provide eligible COVID-19 impacted renters with rent and/or utility assistance for a total of up to 12 months.

General eligibility requirements require that applicants:

• Be current renters earning no more than 80% of their county’s area median income
• One or more individuals in the household must have either qualified for unemployment benefits or have experienced a documented financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic
• Can demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability which may include a past due utility or rent notice or eviction notice.

Full program details and an eligibility precheck are available under Assistance for Renters at IowaHousingRecovery.com. Renters in need of assistance are encouraged to take the eligibility precheck to see if they meet initial eligibility criteria.

Polk County and the City of Des Moines is administering the program locally. Therefore, Iowans residing in either Polk County or the City of Des Moines will be ineligible to apply for the Iowa Rent and Utility Assistance Program. More information on the program that may assist Polk County and City of Des Moines residents is available here.

Assistance for Homeowners

The Iowa Homeowner Eviction Prevention Program will be reopened to provide eligible COVID-19 impacted homeowners at imminent risk of eviction with mortgage assistance for up to four months, with a maximum assistance per household of $3,600.

The short-term program will be available until funds are exhausted or a new federal program is launched. Program funding is provided through federal CARES Act funds. Program eligibility details are available under Assistance for Homeowners at IowaHousingRecovery.com