Iowa begins distributing awards for disaster housing assistance program

Gov. Kim Reynolds and members of her cabinet oversaw parts of northwest Iowa impacted by flooding in a helicopter tour June 21, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Gov. Kim Reynolds' office)

Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Wednesday that the award process is beginning for Iowa homeowners with properties damaged or destroyed by recent floods and tornadoes.

Reynolds said in July that more than 5,000 Iowa homes were impacted by extreme weather systems that hit the state in recent months — the most severe being tornadoes that hit the towns of Greenfield and Minden in the spring, and major flooding throughout northwest and north-central Iowa in June.

The state and federal government have launched several initiatives and funding sources to aid homeowners’ recovery efforts after the storm. One of those initiatives, the Disaster Recovery Housing Assistance Program, has begun granting conditional awards.

The state-funded initiative will provide up to $50,000 to eligible property owners for repair and rehabilitation of homes that were impacted by recent natural disasters. The awards are available in addition to other state and federal funding sources, like the Federal Emergency Management Agency individual assistance program and insurance coverage.

“Fast-tracking relief for disaster-impacted Iowans has been my priority, and I’m pleased to announce that funds have started being awarded to homeowners,” Reynolds said in a statement. “Those receiving conditional awards today, and in the days and weeks to come will be able to take another step towards recovery.”

The funding is available for homes in Iowa counties that have been named under the three major disaster declarations made this year by President Joe Biden. In order to qualify for the funding, homeowners are required to be registered for FEMA individual assistance and have been awarded housing assistance through the federal agency, according to a news release, in addition to having filed and received approval or denial of a claim with their insurance company.

More than $61 million has been approved for Iowans through FEMA assistance programs, with the majority, $56 million, through the individual assistance.

Applications for the housing assistance program are being reviewed as they are received, and will be accepted “on an ongoing basis and will remain available until funds have been exhausted,” according to the release. The program, managed by the Iowa Finance Authority, will provide $6.5 million in state grants.

There are other housing assistance programs available through the state and federal government for Iowans with homes damaged by recent storms. In July, FEMA approved the state’s Disaster Recovery Temporary Housing Program , providing mobile homes, recreational vehicles, travel trailers and modular homes for Iowans who were displaced from their houses due to weather damages. The temporary housing program was modeled after similar assistance efforts provided by FEMA in states that regularly face hurricanes.