Funding to build & improve housing and services
The Polk County Housing Trust Fund allocates funds to organizations working to increase the supply and quality of affordable housing in Polk County, Iowa.
Here you can find information about funds for housing development as well as programs and supportive services for people who need housing.
Please note these funds are not available for individuals. If you are an individual who needs help with your housing, see pchtf.org/housinghelp.
Housing Development
2024 Housing Allocation Plan
Funds for most of our programs are allocated according to our housing allocation plan. The plan was last updated by the PCHTF board of directors on December 1, 2023. You can download the plan here.
You will also want to download the 2023 guide to rents and household incomes that apply under our development programs.
Last updated by HUD on May 15, 2023. Updates typically occur in April.
Development funding programs
Pre-development technical assistance
Supports affordable housing, planning, and facilitates organizations that sponsor such housing. This application remains open until funds are expended for the year.
Capital needs improvements
Supports programs to improve currently available rental units. This application remains open until funds are expended for the year. For information about how to apply, contact Mark Thompson, director of housing development, at mthompson@pchtf.org.
Capacity building
Supports programs that preserve or preserve units. The application for this program opened Monday, August 7, 2023. The deadline to apply was noon central time on August 29, 2023.
New rental development
This program supports and funds additional safe, well-built, affordable rental housing units in Polk County, Iowa.
The application for this program opened on Friday, January 26, 2024. This year, one application is available for BOTH this program and Round 4 of our American Rescue Plan Act Special Allocation (details below). See the application for complete details. The deadline to apply is February 23, 2024 at 11:59 pm.
To view the application and apply, click here.
Please note: Applicants to this program will also need to download and use our Excel budget and rent schedule template to submit your application. Please note, the Excel file has two tabs, both of which must be completed.
To download the required attachment template, click here.
Single family homeownership
This program assists low-moderate income residents in buying safe, well built, affordable single family housing units in Polk County. The deadline to apply was 11:59 pm on January 3, 2024.
Owner occupied repair
For nonprofits and local governments to sustain affordability and vitality while maintaining safe and environmentally healthy housing stock. The deadline to apply was 3 pm on October 25, 2023.
Revolving loan program
The Polk County Supervisors have provided PCHTF $3 million to seed a revolving loan fund for nonprofit developers of affordable housing working in Polk County.
The fund is intended to provide short term financing for uses including site acquisition or land purchase for affordable housing projects, construction financing for affordable housing projects, or bridge loans.
Applicants will need to download the following Excel spreadsheet to use as an attachment when you apply. It has two tabs to submit budget and rent/home price information.
Complete information about the revolving loan program is contained within the program's application.
2022 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Special Allocation
On April 5, 2022, the Polk County Board of Supervisors approved a package of housing investments using federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds including $12 million in capital funds to develop and improve multifamily housing.
This program supports the acquisition, conversion and/or construction of permanent multi-family housing with an emphasis on supportive housing for underserved populations (homeless, re-entry, senior, households with children). Supportive housing services should target lifestyle intervention with options for education and workforce training.
PCHTF is now accepting applications for a fourth (and potentially final) round of awards from this fund. The application for this round opened on Friday, January 26, 2024. This year, one application is available for BOTH this program and our regular annual New Rental Development Program (details above). See the application for complete details. The deadline to apply is February 23, 2024 at 11:59 pm.
Please note: Applicants to this program will also need to download and use our excel budget and rent schedule template to submit your application. Please note, the excel file has two tabs, both of which must be completed.
Recent funding announcements from this program
Community Investment Grant Application
This program was previously known as Programs and Supportive Services (PSS)
PCHTF Community Investment funding provides investment and support into programmatic needs for organizations managing housing-focused programs in Polk County. It bridges the gap between affordable housing and families in our community to improve resident stability and self-sufficiency for successful housing outcomes.
We will accept grant applications between April 5, 2024 - May 3, 2024.
The funds distributed through this program come from private gifts made by businesses, organizations, and individuals through our Stable, Steady Strong investment campaign.