116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Linn supervisors earmark $1 million in federal pandemic funds for housing repairs
Funds will go to PATCH program in four installments of $250,000
CEDAR RAPIDS — Linn County supervisors on Wednesday decided to give $1 million in federal pandemic funds to the PATCH housing program.
The money — from the American Rescue Plan Act (or ARPA) — will be paid in four installments of $250,000.
“The PATCH program has demonstrated its immense value and has proven to be a necessary program for our community,” Supervisor Chair Stacey Walker said.
The PATCH program (Providing Assistance to Community Homeowners) was established after the 2020 derecho to help low-to moderate-income homeowners with storm repairs. It provides forgivable loans of up to $15,000, and no credit check is required to qualify.
The Housing Fund for Linn County and the East Central Iowa Council of Governments will handle applications for the money from homeowners and organizations.
Last month, the county and the city of Cedar Rapids launched an online request for proposals — cr-linnarpa.org — for a share of the ARPA funds. The deadline to apply is Jan. 7.
Linn County will receive $44 million in ARPA funds and award around $11 million in its first round of funding. Cedar Rapids is receiving $28 million and is dedicating $3 million in ARPA funds to that initial round of funding.
Entities eligible for funding include nonprofits, businesses, cities, schools and county departments. Nonprofits with a religious affiliation must serve the overall public to qualify.
All grant recipients must have an identifier from the federal government, or a SAM number, by the time of the grant award to receive federal funding, though this is not required to submit an application. Entities without a SAM number can visit sam.gov for information.
Linn County recently said it would spend $395,000 in the pandemic fund to buy a 16,200-square-foot building in southwest Cedar Rapids to use as a permanent homeless overflow shelter in the winter.
Cedar Rapids is dedicating $10 million in its federal pandemic money to westside flood control.
Comments: (319) 398-8255; gage.miskimen@thegazette.com
Volunteers in the PATCH program in April put plywood over shattered porch windows at a house in southeast Cedar Rapids. Linn County supervisors on Wednesday decided it would give $1 million to the program, which is helping residents recover from damage caused by the August 2020 derecho. (The Gazette)
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