Iowa

  • State Data Overview

    Across Iowa, there is a shortage of rental homes affordable and available to extremely low income households (ELI), whose incomes are at or below the poverty guideline or 30% of their area median income (AMI). Many of these households are severely cost burdened, spending more than half of their income on housing. Severely cost burdened poor households are more likely than other renters to sacrifice other necessities like healthy food and healthcare to pay the rent, and to experience unstable housing situations like evictions.

    Housing Profiles

    Iowa

    Download PDF

    Key Facts

    • 101,609 OR 26%

      Renter households that are extremely low-income

    • -61,867

      Shortage of rental homes affordable and available for extremely low-income renters

    • $30,680

      Average income limit for 4-person extremely low income household

    • $44,485

      Annual household income needed to afford a two-bedroom rental home at HUD's Fair Market Rent (FMR)

    Impact on Low-Wage Workers

    A minimum wage worker would need to work:

    • 96 hours per week or 2.4 full-time jobs to afford a 1-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent (FMR).
    • 118 hours per week or 2.9 full-time jobs to afford a 2-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent (FMR).
    Most Expensive Areas 2-Bedroom Housing Wage
    Omaha-Council Bluffs HMFA $26.31
    Des Moines-West Des Moines HMFA $25.35
    Sioux City MSA $22.19
    Ames HMFA $22.17
    Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA $21.98
    Common Occupations Median Hourly Wage
    Nursing Assistants $19.45
    Home Health and Personal Care Aides $17.82
    Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners $17.48
    Retail Salespersons $15.50
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $14.03

    Solutions

    • Provide significant resources to build and preserve homes affordable to renters with the lowest incomes through investments in public housing and the national Housing Trust Fund
    • Encourage states and local communities to reform zoning and land use regulations that prevent housing from being built and push up housing costs
    • Bridge the gap between incomes and housing costs by expanding rental assistance so that it is universally available to all eligible households or consider other innovative approaches, such as a fully refundable renters’ tax credit
    • Prevent evictions and homelessness by creating permanent tools, such as emergency rental assistance, to help stabilize families in crisis
    • Other federal housing resources, including the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, should be reformed to better address the shortage of rental housing affordable to the lowest-income households.
  • State Level Partners

    NLIHC Housing Advocacy Organizer

    Thaddaeus Elliott

    Thaddaeus Elliott

    [email protected] 
    202.662.1530 x250

    State Partners

    Iowa Housing Partnership
    400 East Court Avenue, Suite 110
    Des Moines, Iowa 50309
    P: 515-527-9509

    Dan Garrett
    [email protected]

    Become an NLIHC State Partner

    NLIHC’s affiliation with our state coalition partners is central to our advocacy efforts. Although our partners' involvement varies, they are all housing and homeless advocacy organizations engaged at the state and federal level. Many are traditional coalitions with a range of members; others are local organizations that serve more informally as NLIHC's point of contact.

    Inquire about becoming a state partner by contacting [email protected]

    Become a Member
  • Housing Trust Fund
    HTF Implementation Information

    NLIHC continues working with leaders in each state and the District of Columbia who will mobilize advocates in support of HTF allocation plans that benefit ELI renters to the greatest extent possible. Please contact the point person coordinating with NLIHC in your state (below) to find out about the public participation process and how you can be involved. 

    Current Year HTF Allocation

    $4,884,132

    See Allocation Amount for Prior Year

    HTF State Resources

    2018

    NHTF applications received (PDF)

    NHTF Allocation Plan (PDF)

    2017

    Draft HTF Allocation Plan (PDF)

    NHTF application approved (PDF)

    2016

    HUD-Approved 2016 HTF Allocation Plan (PDF)

    Iowa NHTF Threshold Checklist (PDF)

    Iowa NHTF Scoring Guidelines (PDF)

    Draft HTF Allocation Plan by Iowa Finance Authority (PDF)

    HTF Model Allocation Plan (PDF)

    State Designated Entity

    State Entity Webpage
    Iowa Economic Development and Finance Authority

    Official Directly Involved with HTF Implementation

    Carol Wells 
    HOME Program Coordinator 
    515-452-0419 
    [email protected] 

    Ashley McKenna 
    [email protected] 

    Terri Rosonke
    Housing Programs & Strategic Initiatives Manager
    515-452-0440
    [email protected]

    NHTF-specific page

    National Housing Trust Fund
    Annual Action Plans (with HTF Allocation Plans)

    Learn More About HTF

  • Resources
    Resources

    Housing Profiles

    State Housing Profile

    State Housing Profile: Iowa (PDF)

    Congressional District Housing Profile

    Congressional District Profile: Iowa (PDF)

    Research and Data

    National Housing Preservation Database

    The National Housing Preservation Database is an address-level inventory of federally assisted rental housing in the United States.

    Out of Reach: The High Cost of Housing

    Out of Reach documents the gap between renters’ wages and the cost of rental housing. In Iowa and Nationwide

    The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Rental Homes

    The Gap represents data on the affordable housing supply and housing cost burdens at the national, state, and metropolitan levels. In Iowa and Nationwide

Explore Other States