Assistance for Individuals
The programs listed below offer a comprehensive look at the assistance available to individuals affected by the 2008 storms, tornadoes and flooding in Iowa.
Jump to:
- Jumpstart Iowa Housing Assistance Program
- "Jumpstart Express" Emergency Repair Option
- Small Business Administration (SBA) Loans
- Ticket to Hope Crisis Counseling
- Emergency Public Jobs Program
- Property/Structural Acquisition ("Buyouts")
- Tax Considerations
- Legal Services
- Iowa Unmet Needs Disaster Grant Program - EXPIRED
- FEMA Individual Assistance - EXPIRED
- Project Recovery Iowa Crisis Counseling - EXPIRED
- Disaster Unemployment Assistance - EXPIRED
- College Tuition Assistance - EXPIRED
Jumpstart Iowa Housing Assistance Program
The Jumpstart Iowa Housing Assistance Program helps disaster-affected homeowners either make a down payment on a new house, repair their current disaster-affected home, or maintain their mortgages while waiting for a potential "buyout" from FEMA. For down payment assistance and housing rehabilitation assistance, the maximum award is a $60,000 loan forgiven if the homeowner stays in the house over the life of the loan. The program is administered at the state-level through the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) and the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) and at the local level by the 11 Councils of Government (COGs) and Entitlement Cities (see "Map and Contact List" at the link below).
"Jumpstart Express" Emergency Repair Option
"Jumpstart Express" Emergency Repair is an option under the Jumpstart Iowa Housing Assistance Program. The application process for "Jumpstart Express" is the same as Jumpstart Iowa Housing Assistance, however this option helps homeowners repair their current home without having to meet all of the previous requirements. The maximum award is a $24,999 loan which will be forgiven if the homeowner stays in the house for the life of the loan.
Small Business Administration (SBA) Loans
Iowans who have registered with FEMA for disaster assistance may apply to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for additional long-term recovery assistance. The SBA provides low-interest disaster loans for eligible homeowners, renters and non-farm businesses to cover disaster damage to real and personal property.
For more information, click here to visit the SBA Disaster Assistance Loan page.
Ticket to Hope Crisis Counseling
Iowans affected by the natural disasters of 2008 have access to Ticket to Hope, a mental health program that will pay for up to eight counseling sessions with a participating provider. This program is administered by the Iowa Department of Human Services.
For more information, call the Iowa Concern Hotline at 1-800-447-1985. Information is also available through the Ticket to Hope Web site.
Emergency Public Jobs (EPJ) Program
Administered by Iowa Workforce Development, the Emergency Public Jobs (EPJ) program is a $17.1 million federal grant designed to put Iowans who have lost their job due to the tornadoes or floods back to work. Individuals may work up to 1,040 hours (about six months). Wages will be paid at the prevailing wage of the worksite. Tools and training are provided.
To view the list and contact information of the Emergency Public Jobs representatives in your area, click here.
Interested individuals can find more information under the "National Emergency Grant" header of the Iowa Workforce Development Web site.
Property/Structural Acquisition ("Buyouts")
Property or structural acquisitions (or "buyouts," as they're commonly known) is the purchasing of property from private citizens by a government entity as part of a hazard mitigation plan. Local, state or federal funds are used to buy property in areas that are at high risk in order to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to life and property from a hazard event, such as flooding.
Primarily, buyouts occur through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funded by the FEMA and the state and administered in Iowa through the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division.
State and local governments may pursue other funding sources if HMGP does not cover the buyout of "eligible" properties that want to participate. In some cases, local governments have already acquired high-risk properties through their own funding and programs.
For more information about HMGP, visit the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division Web site or contact your city or county government officials.
Tax Considerations
Individuals receiving disaster-related losses and assistance may have questions about how this affects their state and federal taxes.
View the Rebuild Iowa Office press release from April 8, 2009.
View the Department of Revenue press release from April 8, 2009.
Legal Services
Iowa Legal Aid - 1-800-532-1275
(Mon – Fri; 9 - 11am and 1:30 - 3:30pm)
Iowa Legal Aid is a non-profit social services agency which serves low-income Iowans. Iowa Legal Aid attorneys are available to assist qualified Iowans struggling to recover from the recent natural disasters by providing:
- Advice on how to apply for Federal Assistance; help with appeals of denials of Federal Assistance; information on programs available to disaster victims
- Assistance with housing related legal issues arising due to weather related damage
- Advice on submitting or pursuing insurance claims
- Representation in any civil legal matter relating to the disasters
Iowa Attorney General - Consumer Protection
1-888-777-4590 or 515-281-5926
The Consumer Protection Division has information on avoiding flood and storm related scams.
Iowa Unmet Needs Disaster Grant Program (IUNDGP)
This program has expired and is no longer active.
The Iowa Unmet Needs Disaster Grant program reimburses eligible participants with an income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level for disaster-related expenses.
Assistance is capped at $2,500 for unreimbursed expenses and current unmet needs limited to the following (incurred due to the disaster):
- personal property
- home repair
- food assistance
- mental health assistance
- child care
- temporary housing
Assistance is provided through receipt reimbursement and vouchers for goods and services. These help to ensure sufficient data collection and to discourage and prevent fraud.
The program is administered locally by Long-Term Recovery Committees. The Rebuild Iowa Office (RIO) and the Department of Human Services (DHS) will assist Long-Term Recovery Committees in determining eligibility and certification of unmet needs and help to ensure that the grants are nonduplicative.
Application for the Iowa Unmet Needs Disaster Grants is done through the Long-Term Recovery Committee in the county where you lived at the time of the disaster. Click here to view the map (pdf) containing contact information for your local Long-Term Recovery Committee or call the Iowa Concern Hotline at 1-800-447-1985.
For more information, view the RIO Disaster Recovery Case Management Page.
FEMA Individual Assistance (IA)
This program has expired and is no longer active.
The FEMA/State Individuals and Households Program, commonly referred to as "Individual Assistance" (IA), is a two-part program that consists of "Housing Needs Assistance" grants and "Other Needs Assistance" grants to renters and homeowners with eligible, disaster-related damages.
For more information, click here to visit the FEMA Disaster Assistance page.
Project Recovery Iowa Crisis Counseling
This program has expired and is no longer active.
The storms, tornadoes and flooding affected more than just homes and businesses; many Iowans are dealing with the mental and emotional effects as well. To meet this need, the Department of Human Services (DHS) administers a free crisis counseling program for Iowans affected by 2008's summer disasters. To reach a counselor, call the Iowa Concern Hotline at 1-800-447-1985. The call is free and confidential. Information is also available through the Project Recovery Iowa Web site.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)
This program has expired and is no longer active.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance, administered through Iowa Workforce Development, was a temporary program which offered assistance to those who lost their jobs due to the 2008 summer disasters.
For more information about this program, visit the IWD Web site.
College Tuition Assistance
This program has expired and is no longer active.
The Iowa Disaster Relief Grant was a one-time, state-funded grant that provided assistance of up to $5,000 to students impacted by the weather-related disasters that hit Iowa during the summer of 2008. The Iowa Disaster Relief Grant is administered by the Iowa College Student Aid Commission.
For more information about this program, visit the Iowa College Student Aid Commission Web site.