NE Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund receives grant

Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund has received a grant of about $243,000 to help low-income residents of Clayton, Allamakee, Winneshiek and Howard counties.

The Iowa Finance Authority grant was awarded through the I-JOBS state stimulus program.

Affordable Housing Assistance Grant.

The money will be used to help to improve the conditions of existing housing through rehabilitation and repair, help purchase housing through down payment assistant or in other ways that will contribute to the development of affordable housing in northeast Iowa.

Property owners can receive up to $10,000 from the fund for existing structures and up to $15,000 for new structures such as assisted living or community housing projects, while landlords have to match the money they receive dollar for dollar.

To be eligible, household income must be less than 80 percent of the statewide median family income. For a single person, that amount is $34,700; family of 2, $39,700; family of three, $44,650; and family of four $49,600.

The Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund was formed last year to ensure that northeast Iowa residents have access to well-maintained, safe and affordable housing. Total population of the four counties it serves is 62,501 in 39 cities and surrounding rural areas.

For more information, call Upper Explorerland at (563) 864-7551. Applications can be obtained at the Upper Explorerland office at 134 West Green St. P.O. Box 219, Postville, Iowa 52162.

By Pat McTaggart, Correspondent