HOUSING
We partner with cities, developers, and individual homeowners to directly address housing needs in our region. Our experienced housing staff also works with two housing trust funds to expand affordable housing opportunities in their service areas through a wide range of housing activities from preservation to new construction.
Technical Assistance
ECICOG’s staff are skilled planners, with expertise ranging from community engagement to construction management. ECICOG can perform housing studies at many levels, from informal readiness assessments to full studies of existing stock and market forces, to determine the best path forward for housing development. Staff can also help cities develop and administer programs to use funds resulting from residential TIF districts. For cities that want to proactively maintain city code compliance, ECICOG can help manage inspections, letters, and follow-ups.
Homes for Iowa
Iowa’s Council of Governments helped to develop the Homes for Iowa program, through which inmates at the Newton Correction Facility are trained in construction trades while constructing affordable homes. These “stick built” homes are available for transport around the state. ECICOG assists with Homes for Iowa placement within our region. A webinar about the program is available on YouTube at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2Rye0WUiRQ . For more information, visit the Homes for Iowa website at www.homesforia.com .
Grant Writing & Administration
Housing is an increasingly important topic of conversation throughout much of our region. We are able to help communities meet their housing goals or bring new ideas to life through grant identification, application, and requirements management. From one-time sources like disaster relief funding to recurring programs like the Federal Home Loan Bank's Affordable Housing Program, or Iowa Finance Authority's and Iowa Economic Development Authority's housing programs, ECICOG is familiar with a large variety of funding opportunities for housing programs.
Resources
ECICOG is currently accepting applications on an ongoing basis for several programs. Owner-occupied rehabilitation programs are offered throughout ECICOG's 6-county region by each housing trust fund. Income limits vary by county, and only low-to-moderate income homeowners living in the home as their primary residence are eligible to apply. ECICOG also administers an owner-occupied housing rehabilitation program for the City of Palo and the City of Marion. The program guidelines and applications for these programs are shown below.
City of Marion
Rehabilitation
Johnson County
Rehabilitation
City of Palo
Rehabilitation
Providing Assistance to Community Homeowners (PATCH) Program
ECICOG and Housing Fund for Linn County, along with area non-profits, are working to assist low to moderate income homeowners with needed repairs caused by the derecho. Providing Assistance to Community Homeowners (PATCH) was launched in November 2020 to provide financial assistance and construction management support.
Nuisance
Enforcement
ECICOG assists communities with nuisance enforcement by visually assessing properties for any nuisance violations, per the city priorities and the city code. ECICOG proactively conducts the inspections and sends non-compliance letters, then follows up to confirm compliance, relieving city staff of this time-consuming task.
Cedar Rapids
Disaster Recovery Rehabilitation
Program
The City of Cedar Rapids Disaster Recovery Rehabilitation Program purpose is to assist low-to moderate-income households to make repairs to their home from damage caused by the August 2020 derecho storm. In addition, you may also be eligible for repairs to address safety issues, code corrections, and lead-based paint hazards.
Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery
Housing Trust Funds
A housing trust fund is a community-based non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting affordable housing. ECICOG administers two Housing Trust Funds: Housing Fund for Linn County and East Central Iowa Housing Trust Fund. Tracey Achenbach, ECICOG’s Housing and Community Development Director, serves as Executive Director for both.
STAFF WHO CAN HELP
Lindsey Given Egli
Grant
Specialist
Steve Van Abbema
Housing Rehabilitation
Coordinator
