Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Option Program assists low income families that are eligible for HUD housing and Section 8 housing to become homeowners. Under this program families may choose a house for purchase anywhere in the CIRHA service area, instead of using their voucher for rental assistance.

This program does not include Knoxville and Pella. They have their own program.

Provides assistance to all eligible Veterans discharged from active military service under honorable conditions and/or their family members in applying for federal benefits and other Veteran's aid.

VA benefits and services include Disability benefits, education and training services, home loans, burial benefits, dependents' and survivors' benefits, life insurance, and healthcare aasistance.

Provides eligible homeowners assistance with mortgage payments and related property expenses. The Iowa Finance Authority will be administering federal emergency funding for mortgage assistance for Homeowners that are income-eligible, have been impacted by COVID-19 and who are, or were, at risk of foreclosure.

Eligible Households include:
-Current homeowners (must own the property)
-Must be behind at least 30 days on payments for mortgage, contract sale, manufactured home or property taxes.
-Household income may not exceed 150% Area Median Income (AMI) at time of application
-Property must be in Iowa and be the primary resident of applicant
-Must be able to show a COVID-related financial hardship

County level services provide direct emergency economic aid for vital necessities to veterans, their widow, and dependents, according to their needs and personal visits for assistance and claims to housebound veterans or dependents. Restrictions including must have an honorable or under honorable conditions discharge from active duty wartime service and must be a resident in Nebraska for the past one year and 6 months of that year in Butler County.

State level services do not require war time service and provide assistance in the following areas: completes applications for the Nebraska Veterans Aid Fund, fee exempt fishing and hunting permits, applications to the Nebraska Veterans Homes, and waivers of tuition.

Federal level services provides and/or completes veteran administration forms for claims relating but not limited to service connected compensation, disability pension, widow's pension, burial allowance, grave markers/headstones, educational benefits, home loans, and insurance.

Can assist, when funding is available, eligible individuals and families with limited resources in need of help with past due or disconnected utilities, past due rent or mortgage, emergency medical and/or dental services, costs to engage in Mental Health services, costs to maintain or gain internet or phone access, transportation, vehicle repairs, swim lessons, seasonal swim passes, and costs associated with participation in extracurricular activities.

**While some costs may be covered under Federal funding sources, the Crisis Assistance program is largely funded by grants and donations. All Assistance identified above is dependent on available funding.

Loan provider in rural areas.

Business and Industry Loan Guarantees are available for business and industrial development in rural areas to create and maintain employment, expand and to improve economic climate.

Community Facilities Direct and Guaranteed Loans and Grants are available for community service facilities in rural areas such as libraries, clinics, fire and rescue buildings and equipment, etc.

Cooperative Services helps rural residents form new cooperatives and multiple owner businesses and improve operations of existing cooperatives in rural areas.

Direct and Guaranteed Home Ownership provides loans to purchase or construct single family homes in rural areas for very low/low/moderate income households.

Direct Farm Labor Housing Loans and Grants provide housing and related facilities in rural areas for domestic farm laborers.

Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loans and Grants provide for technology equipment and facilities for linking rural schools within regions, linking schools to other educational institutions, utilizing rural libraries as distance learning centers, linking rural hospitals and medical clinics to major medical centers, interactive video, and distance rural health training.

Energy Efficiency Improvements and Renewable Energy Systems provide grant assistance in development of renewable energy and energy efficiency improvement projects. Renewable systems include wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal. Energy efficiency improvements include energy improvements to business facility including insulation, windows, doors, HVAC, refrigeration, lighting, pumping/air/motor systems, etc.

Housing Preservation Grants offers funding to selected recipient organization to develop program to help repair individual housing, rental properties or coops in rural areas owned and/or occupied by very low and low-income households.

Intermediary Re-Lending Program provides loans to ultimate recipients for community development projects, establishment and expansion of businesses, and creating and/or saving jobs in rural areas.

Rural Cooperative Development Grants establish and operate cooperative development centers in rural areas primarily to improve economic conditions of rural areas via development of new cooperatives and multiple owner businesses and improving existing co-ops' operations.

Rural Business Development Grants are competitive grants designed to support targeted technical assistance, training, and other activities leading to the development or expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas that have fewer than 50 employees and less than $1 million in gross revenues.

Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants provide for a wide range of rural economic development projects in rural areas such as business expansion and start-up, community development, etc.

Rural Home Repair Loans and Grants assist homeowners, occupying dwellings in rural areas, to complete necessary repairs to their homes.

Rural Housing Site Loans provide loans in rural areas to purchase land and develop sites for very low/low/moderate-income housing.

Solid Waste Management Grants are used to reduce or eliminate pollution of water resources in rural areas and improve planning and management of solid waste sites in rural areas.

Technical Assistance and Training Grants are used to identify and evaluate solutions to water and wastewater problems of associations in rural areas relating to water source, storage, treatment and distribution; and waste collection, treatment and disposal.

Value-Added Producer Grants help eligible producers of agricultural commodities in rural areas to develop business plans for viable marketing opportunities and develop strategies to create marketing opportunities in emerging markets.

Water and Waste Dispos

Single Family Housing Programs provide homeownership opportunities to low- and moderate-income rural Americans through several loan, grant, and loan guarantee programs. The program also makes funding available to individuals to finance vital improvements necessary to make their homes decent, safe, and sanitary.

County level services provide direct emergency economic aid for vital necessities to veterans, their widow, and dependents, according to their needs. Personal visits for assistance and claims to housebound veterans or dependents. Must have an honorable or under honorable conditions discharge from active duty or wartime service. Must be a resident in Nebraska for the past one year and 6 months of that year in Webster County.

State level services do not require wartime service. Assist in completing applications for the Nebraska Veterans Aid Fund, fee exempt fishing and hunting permits, applications to the Nebraska Veterans Homes, and waivers of tuition.

Federal level services provide and/or complete Veteran Administration forms for claims relating but not limited to service connected compensation, disability pension, widow's pension, burial allowance, grave markers/headstones, educational benefits, home loans, insurance, indebtedness, and character of service upgrades.

County level services provide direct emergency economic aid for vital necessities to veterans, their widow, and dependents, according to their needs. Personal visits for assistance and claims to housebound veterans or dependents. Must have an honorable or under honorable conditions discharge from active duty or wartime service. Must be a resident in Nebraska for the past one year and 6 months of that year in Douglas County.

State level services do not require wartime service. Assist in completing applications for the Nebraska Veterans Aid Fund, fee exempt fishing and hunting permits, applications to the Nebraska Veterans Homes, and waivers of tuition.

Federal level services provide and/or complete Veteran Administration forms for claims relating but not limited to service connected compensation, disability pension, widow's pension, burial allowance, grave markers/headstones, educational benefits, home loans, insurance, indebtedness, and character of service upgrades.

Can assist, when funding is available, eligible individuals and families with limited resources in need of help with past due or disconnected utilities, past due rent or mortgage, emergency medical and/or dental services, costs to engage in Mental Health services, costs to maintain or gain internet or phone access, transportation, vehicle repairs, swim lessons, seasonal swim passes, and costs associated with participation in extracurricular activities.

**While some costs may be covered under Federal funding sources, the Crisis Assistance program is largely funded by grants and donations. All Assistance identified above is dependent on available funding.

Centralized Financial Assistance is open to anyone in Linn County that needs help with financial assistance (e.g. rent, mortgage, utilities, etc.). Local area agencies that help with financial assistance in the Linn County area are transitioning to a Centralized Financial Assistance center that can help direct residents of Linn County to the appropriate financial assistance resources in their area. This is a collaborative effort between United Way of East Central Iowa, Linn County, Waypoint and local community agencies.

If you need help with rent, utilites or mortgage in the Linn County area you MUST call the Centralized Financial Assistance number to get help from the following participating agencies:

• Linn County General Assistance
• Salvation Army
• Metro Catholic Outreach
• Family Promise
• Helping Hands
• Willis Dady
• Marion Cares

Please note: Waypoint is reaching back out to those that leave a message with their request for help within 48 hours. Please make sure voicemails are set up and/or empty in case Waypoint calls you back and needs to leave you a message. If you would like to email your help request you can send an email to: [email protected]

Provides a long-term, no interest loan to help purchase your first home.

Assistance with home purchase down payments, closing cost payment, purchase, rehabilitation and resell of homes, and new construction.

NeighborWorks is also a packager for USDA-D home loans.

County level services include direct emergency economic aid for vital necessities to veterans, their widow, and dependents, according to their needs. Personal visits for assistance and claims to housebound veterans or dependents. Must have an honorable or under honorable conditions discharge from active duty or wartime service. Must be a resident in Nebraska for the past one year and 6 months of that year in Dixon County.

State level services do not require wartime service. Completes applications for the Nebraska Veterans Aid Fund, fee exempt fishing and hunting permits, Nebraska Veterans Homes, and waivers of tuition.

Federal level services provide and/or complete Veteran Administration forms for claims relating but not limited to service connected compensation, disability pension, widow's pension, burial allowance, grave markers/headstones, educational benefits, home loans, insurance, indebtedness, and character of service upgrades.

County level services including direct emergency economic aid for vital necessities to veterans, their widow, and dependents, according to their needs. Personal visits for assistance and claims to housebound veterans or dependents.

State level services including completing applications for the Nebraska Veterans Aid Fund, fee exempt fishing and hunting permits if eligible, applications to the Nebraska Veterans Homes, and waivers of tuition.

Federal level services including providing and/or completing Veteran Administration forms for claims relating to but not limited to service connected compensation, disability pension, widow's pension, vocational rehab, burial allowance, grave markers or headstones, educational benefits, VA home loans, government life insurance, character of service upgrades, and VA health care.

County level services provide direct emergency economic aid for vital necessities to veterans, their widow, and dependents, according to their needs. Personal visits for assistance and claims to housebound veterans or dependents. Must have an honorable or under honorable conditions discharge from active duty or wartime service. Must be a resident in Nebraska for the past one year and 6 months of that year in Merrick County.

State level services (do not require wartime service) assist in completing applications for the Nebraska Veterans Aid Fund, applications to the Nebraska Veterans Homes, and waivers of tuition.

Federal level services provide and/or complete Veteran Administration forms for claims relating but not limited to service connected compensation, disability pension, widow's pension, burial allowance, grave markers/headstones, and educational benefits.

Offers emergency rent and/or mortgage assistance to eligible households in need of help. Repayment may be required.

Can assist, when funding is available, eligible individuals and families with limited resources in need of help with past due or disconnected utilities, past due rent or mortgage, emergency medical and/or dental services, costs to engage in Mental Health services, costs to maintain or gain internet or phone access, transportation, vehicle repairs, swim lessons, seasonal swim passes, and costs associated with participation in extracurricular activities.

**While some costs may be covered under Federal funding sources, the Crisis Assistance program is largely funded by grants and donations. All Assistance identified above is dependent on available funding.

Loan provider in rural areas.

Business and Industry Loan Guarantees are available for business and industrial development in rural areas to create and maintain employment, expand and to improve economic climate.

Community Facilities Direct and Guaranteed Loans and Grants are available for community service facilities in rural areas such as libraries, clinics, fire and rescue buildings and equipment, etc.

Cooperative Services helps rural residents form new cooperatives and multiple owner businesses and improve operations of existing cooperatives in rural areas.

Direct and Guaranteed Home Ownership provides loans to purchase or construct single family homes in rural areas for very low/low/moderate income households.

Direct Farm Labor Housing Loans and Grants provide housing and related facilities in rural areas for domestic farm laborers.

Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loans and Grants provide for technology equipment and facilities for linking rural schools within regions, linking schools to other educational institutions, utilizing rural libraries as distance learning centers, linking rural hospitals and medical clinics to major medical centers, interactive video, and distance rural health training.

Energy Efficiency Improvements and Renewable Energy Systems provide grant assistance in development of renewable energy and energy efficiency improvement projects. Renewable systems include wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal. Energy efficiency improvements include energy improvements to business facility including insulation, windows, doors, HVAC, refrigeration, lighting, pumping/air/motor systems, etc.

Housing Preservation Grants offers funding to selected recipient organization to develop program to help repair individual housing, rental properties or coops in rural areas owned and/or occupied by very low and low-income households.

Intermediary Re-Lending Program provides loans to ultimate recipients for community development projects, establishment and expansion of businesses, and creating and/or saving jobs in rural areas.

Rural Cooperative Development Grants establish and operate cooperative development centers in rural areas primarily to improve economic conditions of rural areas via development of new cooperatives and multiple owner businesses and improving existing co-ops' operations.

Rural Business Development Grants are competitive grants designed to support targeted technical assistance, training, and other activities leading to the development or expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas that have fewer than 50 employees and less than $1 million in gross revenues.

Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants provide for a wide range of rural economic development projects in rural areas such as business expansion and start-up, community development, etc.

Rural Home Repair Loans and Grants assist homeowners, occupying dwellings in rural areas, to complete necessary repairs to their homes.

Rural Housing Site Loans provide loans in rural areas to purchase land and develop sites for very low/low/moderate-income housing.

Solid Waste Management Grants are used to reduce or eliminate pollution of water resources in rural areas and improve planning and management of solid waste sites in rural areas.

Technical Assistance and Training Grants are used to identify and evaluate solutions to water and wastewater problems of associations in rural areas relating to water source, storage, treatment and distribution; and waste collection, treatment and disposal.

Value-Added Producer Grants help eligible producers of agricultural commodities in rural areas to develop business plans for viable marketing opportunities and develop strategies to create marketing opportunities in emerging markets.

Water and Waste Dispos

County level services include direct emergency economic aid for vital necessities to veterans, their widow, and dependents, according to their needs. Personal visits for assistance and claims to housebound veterans or dependents. Must have an honorable or under honorable conditions discharge from active duty or wartime service. Must be a resident in Nebraska for the past one year and 6 months of that year in Dakota County.

State level services do not require wartime service. Completes applications for the Nebraska Veterans Aid Fund, fee exempt fishing and hunting permits, Nebraska Veterans Homes, and waivers of tuition.

Federal level services provide and/or complete Veteran Administration forms for claims relating but not limited to service connected compensation, disability pension, widow's pension, burial allowance, grave markers/headstones, educational benefits, home loans, insurance, indebtedness, and character of service upgrades.

Assists veterans in applying for federal and state benefits including disability compensation, pension, healthcare and burial benefits. There is also a limited amount of county assistance for utilities, rent, etc.

County level services include direct emergency economic aid for vital necessities to veterans, their widow, and dependents, according to their needs and personal visits for assistance and claims to housebound veterans or dependents. Must have an honorable or under honorable conditions discharge from active duty or wartime service and must be a resident in Nebraska for the past one year and 6 months of that year in Burt County.

State level services do not require wartime service and include the following services: completes applications for the Nebraska Veterans Aid Fund, fee exempt fishing and hunting permits, applications to the Nebraska Veterans Homes, and waivers of tuition.

Federal level services provides and/or completes Veteran Administration forms for claims relating but not limited to service connected compensation, disability pension, widow's pension, burial allowance, Grave Makers/headstones, educational benefits, home loans, insurance, indebtedness, and character of service upgrades.

Provides information and assistance for veterans and eligible dependents in filing applications for benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Federal level services provides and/or completes Veteran Administration forms for claims relating but not limited to:

Service connected compensation
Disability pension
Widow's pension
Burial allowance
Grave markers/headstones
Educational benefits
Home loans
Insurance

General Assistance provides temporary assistance for basic or special needs to low income persons who reside in Polk County.

RENTAL ASSISTANCE (Potential First Month's Rent Assistance as well) may be available to those in need. For First Month's Rent - Must be able to prove the following - property must have a valid housing certificate, must be able to show that housing is affordable, utilities must be set up in applicants name and if newly employed, must provide 2-3 check stubs.

**FOR UTILITY ASSISTANCE: November 1-April 30 anyone seeking help for Electric MUST go through the LIHEAP program first. Those applying for Utility Assistance from G.A. must have an acceptance or denial letter from LIHEAP. Must have a disconnect notice and 12 month billing and payment history from the utility company. For water help - call to check on availability of funds.

CREMATION EXPENSE ASSISTANCE may be available to those who meet the income guidelines.

HOUSEHOLD GOODS AND FURNITURE may be available to those that need assistance with beds, refrigerators or stoves.

MEDICAL EXPENSE ASSISTANCE may be available for medical supplies (no longer helps with prescription costs) and assistance with transportation to out of town appointments.

MORTGAGE PAYMENT ASSISTANCE may be available to those needing help with their mortgage payment.

PROPERTY TAX PAYMENT ASSISTANCE may be available to assist elderly (aged 65 and older) and disabled homeowners who may qualify for suspension of property taxes.

TRAVELER'S ASSISTANCE may provide transient transportation expenses to person stranded in Polk County for 24 hours or less. Applicant may be eligible if they are not a resident of Polk County and is traveling to another destination where he/she has family or other housing available to them.