Gov. Kim Reynolds is launching new state programs to provide transitional housing ― and funds to build new permanent housing ― for Iowans devastated by severe tornadoes and flooding in recent months.
Since April, Iowa has been inundated by several rounds of tornadoes and flooding. Reynolds said 5,000 homes have been damaged statewide, including 2,000 that suffered major damage or were destroyed, and the state has seen more than $130 million in damage to public infrastructure such as roads, bridges and water treatment plants.
She announced the new programs Thursday at a news conference at the Iowa Capitol in Des Moines, flanked by her cabinet.
"I want Iowans to know that the needs of every disaster-impacted community matter," Reynolds said. "It matters to me, and it matters to the entire emergency response team."
Reynolds said the Iowans she's met while traveling to communities damaged by severe weather are "special people" who "look out for the needs of others before they take care of themselves."
"The emergency managers in these communities and their teams, they are the real heroes," she said. "As you’ve heard, their homes have been destroyed in a lot of these cases and they are just on the ground working around the clock to make sure that their fellow citizens are being taken care of. And it is inspirational beyond inspirational to be on the ground and see this happening."
Temporary housing program will help shelter tornado, flood-affected Iowans for 6 months
Iowans who live in counties covered by a federal presidential disaster declaration are eligible to apply for a temporary housing assistance program that will place them in housing — such as an RV, travel trailer, mobile home or hotel — for up to six months.
Reynolds said temporary housing is essential as quickly as possible so that people can remain in their communities while they develop a long-term recovery plan.
"The need is staggering, and it's immediate," Reynolds said.
There is no cost for Iowans to participate in the program, Reynolds said, other than to pay utilities.
It's the first time Iowa will make use of such a program, which Reynolds said is more commonly used in hurricane-prone states such as Florida and Louisiana.
When Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell mentioned the program to Reynolds on a recent visit, Reynolds said "we jumped on it."
"When you’re walking down the streets in Spencer and you see these homes with all of their belongings on the curbs and you look at how massive the disaster is, you’ve just got to think differently," she said.
FEMA must approve Iowa's application for the program, but state officials said they expect the signoff by the end of the week.
To qualify, the damaged home must be a primary residence and be presently uninhabitable.
Once the six months of temporary housing have expired, Iowans can qualify for a FEMA housing program that will extend up to 18 months following the disaster.
New programs will help build, rehab permanent housing
Iowa is also launching two programs to help build or rehabilitate permanent housing for people affected by this year's severe weather.
The state will use $10 million in federal American Rescue Plan dollars for a new state disaster recovery grant program for new housing.
The program will provide housing developers with awards of up to $50,000 per housing unit to build single-family or multi-family housing for sale or to be rented and used as a permanent residence.
The money will go to projects that cost less than $298,021 per single-family unit and $241,643 per multi-family unit.
Developers may apply for the funding beginning July 15 at iowagrants.gov .
Reynolds said she's asked state lawmakers to pass a law when they return to the Iowa Capitol in January to retroactively make the grants tax exempt.
Separately, a state Disaster Recovery Housing Assistance Program will provide eligible homeowners with up to $50,000 to repair homes damaged by tornadoes or flooding.
Iowa will spend $6.5 million to open that program for applications on iowagrants.gov beginning July 15.
Reynolds called the funding "a good start" that can help begin meeting Iowans' immediate needs.
"We're going to continue to work with the Legislature on all of these programs next session to ensure that they are adequately funded, or if we need to add some additional funds we’ll have that conversation in the session," she said.
Reynolds said there are also five houses available for purchase through the Homes for Iowa program, which is an Iowa Prison Industries program that trains incarcerated Iowans interested in finding work in construction.
The homes cost $95,000 and are 1,200 square feet, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
And Habitat for Humanity Council Bluffs is aiming to build five homes in Minden this year after the town was hit by a tornado. The organization is also working to rebuild and repair flood-damaged homes in northwest Iowa.
State program will help farmers get lower interest rates for loans to repair damage
Iowa farmers are eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture programs to help them recover from tornadoes and flooding.
Now, Reynolds said Iowa is launching its own program to help secure lower interest rates for farmers who receive assistance from the federal government.
The Disaster Recovery Farm Interest Program will reimburse interest rate payments up to $50,000 per farm household up to 12 months on commercial loans that farmers take out to repair damage caused by the severe storms and flooding.
The program will be managed by the Iowa Finance Authority. Applications are open at iowagrants.gov and will be accepted through Sept. 30.
Special Disaster SNAP program available in flood-hit counties
Iowans in nine counties could be eligible for food assistance through a special Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program , or D-SNAP.
Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Emmet, Lyon, O'Brien, Plymouth, Sioux and Woodbury counties are covered by the program thanks to a presidential disaster declaration for extreme rainfall and flooding beginning June 16.
If residents have suffered home or business damage, lost income due to the storms or incurred temporary shelter expenses, they could qualify for assistance through the program, which is different from the regular SNAP program.
Department of Health and Human Services Director Kelly Garcia said the state has helped about 400 families access benefits so far, and she expects more to take advantage of the program.
Reynolds said some Iowans are reluctant to accept assistance because they believe others need it more urgently than they do. But she encouraged people to apply, saying "it's OK to take some help."
"Iowans tend to be just, ‘I don’t need it. Somebody else needs it worse than I do. I’m going to be able to be fine,'" she said. "And they need it. So please, just take advantage of these programs. You’re dealing with a lot. They’re there for a reason."
Counseling support available to Iowans impacted by storms
Iowa is also offering counseling and other assistance to families impacted by storms through the Project Recovery Iowa program.
Garcia said the team has counseled more than 100 people affected by flooding and more than 400 families harmed by tornadoes.
She said the counseling team will be there "until the work is done."
"Most people will focus on physical damage first, that’s absolutely understandable," Garcia said. "And so after those effects are finished we turn to the behavioral health needs that will be the next focus for individuals who have lost everything. They will see their lives change in a really significant way, and that’s where our team comes into play."
Where can I find help?
Federal resources can be found at disasterassistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362.
State resources can be found at disasterrecovery.iowa.gov .
Iowans can apply for grants at iowagrants.gov .
Iowans can find information about D-SNAP and Project Recovery Iowa at hhs.iowa.gov/disaster .
Which Iowa counties are currently under presidential disaster declarations?
There are currently 23 counties under presidential disaster declarations whose residents could be eligible for state and federal assistance.
- Adair
- Adams
- Buena Vista
- Cedar
- Cherokee
- Clarke
- Clay
- Emmet
- Harrison
- Jasper
- Lyon
- Mills
- Montgomery
- O'Brien
- Plymouth
- Polk
- Pottawattamie
- Ringgold
- Shelby
- Sioux
- Story
- Union
- Woodbury
Reynolds said the list of eligible counties is expanding as state and federal officials assess damage and work to approve more counties for assistance. Other counties are affected by state-level disaster declarations, but not federal declarations.
Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller .
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa launches temporary, permanent housing grants to help tornado-, flood-hit communities
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