Rep. Axne Announces $96,000 Grant To Fund Fair Housing Education Across Iowa

Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) announced a new $96,228 federal grant to fund fair housing trainings across Iowa, including for communities in the greater Des Moines area that may be at risk of housing discrimination.

The grant was awarded to Iowa Legal Aid in Des Moines through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP), and is expected to fund at least 20 fair housing trainings for at least 400 Iowans.

“Access to safe and stable housing is a cornerstone of protecting vulnerable communities here in Iowa, and these fair housing training sessions are critical to helping Iowans secure adequate housing – especially those who may not have the language or financial skills to navigate markets,” said Rep. Axne. “I’m pleased to see federal funding coming back to a great Iowa nonprofit like Iowa Legal Aid to help put on these trainings for folks across our state and right here in Des Moines.”

The Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) is designed to detect, prevent, and advocate for the victims of housing discrimination.

In December, Rep. Axne voted to approve $70.3 million for FHIP grants and operation in Fiscal Year 2020.