HomeMy WebLinkAboutIowa Legal Aid ApplicationHOME-ARP Application
Description
Description/General Information and Project Need:
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARP”) appropriated $5 billion to communities across the U.S. to provide housing,
services, and shelter to individuals experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable populations. These funds were
allocated by formula to jurisdictions that qualified for funding through the HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME
Program) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Eligible activities that may be funded with HOME-ARP include:
1. Development and support of affordable housing;
2. Tenant-based rental assistance;
3. Provision of supportive services (such as housing counseling, homelessness prevention, childcare, job training,
legal services, case management, moving costs, rental applications, and rent assistance); and
4. Acquisition and development of non-congregate shelter units.
Funds must primarily benefit individuals and households in the following Qualifying Populations:
1. Experiencing homelessness;
2. At risk of homelessness;
3. Fleeing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking;
4. Other popula�ons with high risk of housing instability including:
a. Households who have previously been qualified as homeless, are currently housed, and who
need addi�onal assistance to avoid a return to homelessness
b. At greatest risk of housing instability
i. Households with annual income <=30% of AMI who are paying more that 50%
of monthly household income toward housing costs
ii. Households with annual income <=50% of AMI AND meets one of the following
criteria:
1. Households who have moved two or more times in the last 60 days
2. Households living in the home of another due to economic hardship
3. Has been notified in writing that their right to occupy their current living or
housing situation will be terminated within 21 days
4. Households living in a hotel/motel not subsidized by other programs
5. Lives in an SRO or efficiency unit with more than 2 persons or in a larger
housing unit in which there are more than 1.5 persons per room, as
defined by the U.S. Census Bureau
6. Is exiting a publicly funded institution or system of care
7. Otherwise lives in housing that has characteristics associated with
instability and an increased risk of homelessness
Iowa City expects to have $1,521,981 in HOME-ARP funds available for allocation in a competitive funding round,
including up to $89,000 for non-profit operating & capacity building funds for applicants who are carrying out the eligible
activities listed above.
Section 1 - General Information and Project Need
Name
Website
UEI Number
For help obtaining a UEI: External UEI Transi�on FactSheet
Address
Organization Type
Name
Title
Phone
Email
Did you complete a survey or attend a consultation meeting for HOME-ARP?
System for Award Management (SAM) Registration Expiration Date:
Is there a secondary applicant?
Is applicant (including partners, co-applicants, etc.) currently in compliance with all federal, state, and local laws,
rules, and regulations, including CDBG and/or HOME funded projects?
Name
Address
1. Lead Organization/Agency
Iowa Legal Aid
www.iowalegalaid.org
FF47EZYZ77Z9
City
Iowa City
State / Province / Region
Iowa
Postal / Zip Code
52240
Country
United States
Street Address
1700 South 1st Avenue
Address Line 2
Suite 10
501(c)3 Public For Profit Faith-based CHDO Other
Application Contact
Laura Nelson Lof
Grants Manager/Sr. Grantwriter
319-338-3369
grants@iowalaw.org
Yes No
4/4/2023
Yes No
Yes No
2. Project
Legal Services to Increase Housing Stability
Project Type
Qualifying Populations Served
Please indicate whether your project will prioritize any populations or subpopulations:
Population/subpopulation to be prioritized
Indicate the documentation used to ensure the households served are eligible
Indicate the referral method(s) used for the project
Brief Description
City
Iowa City
State / Province / Region
Iowa
Postal / Zip Code
52240
Country
United States
Street Address
1700 South 1st Avenue
Address Line 2
Suite 10
Mark all that apply
Affordable Housing Development
Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA)
Supportive Services
Development of non-congregate shelter
mark all that apply
Experiencing homelessness
At risk of homelessness
Fleeing domestic violence
Other at-risk populations
Yes No
The project must comply with all applicable fair housing, civil rights, and nondiscrimination requirements, including but not limited to those requirements
listed in 24 CFR 5.105(a) when applying preferences. Persons who are eligible for a preference must have the opportunity to participate in all activities in
which they are eligible, including activities that are not separate or different, and cannot be excluded because of any protected characteristics or
preferential status.
Our project will prioritize low-income Iowa City residents with a housing legal issue. We will primarily serve
residents with income at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty level. Residents earning less than 80% of
Area Median Income will be eligible for legal services at our eviction diversion help desk at the Johnson County
Courthouse.
(VI-SPDAT, third-party income verification, etc.)
We do not require income verification for potential clients
unless we have reason to believe that they may not be
sharing accurate information. We use the City of Iowa City
HOME CDBG Rent and Income Table, cross-checking the
number of persons in the household and the annual income
to determine eligibility.
(Coordinated Entry, waitlist, etc.)
Low-income Iowa City residents have several options to
contact our regional Iowa City office – by telephone, through
a secure form on our website, in person at our office on
South 1st Avenue, or at the helpdesk at the Johnson County
Courthouse. We have long-established cross-referral
relationships with community organizations. We work closely
with Shelter House to make referrals for rental assistance
and to receive referrals for renters in need of legal
assistance. A member of Shelter House staff is present with
us at the weekly helpdesk at the Johnson County
Courthouse.
3. Mark goal from City Steps 2025 primarily addressed by this application
Briefly explain how the project will meet this goal.
4. How will this project respond to the impacts of COVID-19?
(include purpose, benefits, and specific activities of project)
The aim of this project is to stabilize the housing of low-
income Iowa City individuals and families by preventing
eviction, foreclosures, loss of housing benefits, housing
discrimination, utility shutoffs, and addressing unsafe rental
housing. This project was created in 2020 in response to the
pandemic and flow of housing cases coming to Iowa Legal
Aid. Evictions slowed from 2019 levels due to several
protections such as eviction moratoria in place through
August 2021. However, since August, eviction cases are on
the rise. Families still recovering from the economic downturn
caused by the pandemic are struggling with the current cost
of living and inflation. Low-income families are extremely
limited in the quality of available rental housing and are often
forced to take housing with safety and security issues
because they have no other choice. This project will address
housing instability and unsafe housing for low-to-moderate
income Iowa City residents.
Increase the number of affordable rental housing units
Provide tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA)
Serve those experiencing homelessness and reduce homelessness
Provide public services
Other Prevent eviction, foreclosure, loss of housing benefits, inhabitable rental housing, utility
shutoffs, and housing discrimination
The legal system deals with these issues represented in
these goals in significant ways. Courts and government
agencies determine issues that affect safety, security, and
stability. Decisions are made to stop or uphold evictions and
foreclosures, protect scarce income from garnishment,
enforce housing codes, issue protection orders, and approve
benefits crucial to low-income people, such as housing
assistance, food, medical, disability, and unemployment.
Without legal aid, low-income individuals have limited
knowledge of their rights, options, and legal solutions to
problems. Access to the court to get the protection and help
they are entitled to receive is limited. When one party has the
means to hire an attorney and the other does not, a deeply
unfair situation exists.
Uninformed or unrepresented individuals are less likely to
attend court or advocate successfully on their own behalf,
and direct legal services is one of the most effective means
of obtaining a favorable outcome and assisting clients
through the complex legal system. A successful legal case
can lead to numerous positive outcomes that can improve
housing for clients and their families.
Iowa Legal Aid continues to see increased housing legal
needs in Iowa City related to the economic impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic. Housing instability and the eviction
crisis were already a growing concern for low-income
residents struggling prior to the pandemic. The housing
needs of low-income residents were exacerbated during the
pandemic by changes in employment, loss of income, and
loss of childcare. A lack of safe, affordable housing is further
complicating the situation by forcing low-income residents to
choose between homelessness and paying much more than
they can afford on housing. Iowa Legal Aid has responded by
prioritizing a wide suite of housing case types and operating
an eviction diversion helpdesk at the Johnson County
Courthouse. We expect the impact of the pandemic to be
with us for many years to come.
Section 2 - Budget and Resources
HOME-ARP funds may be used to pay for up to 100% of eligible costs associated with the project.
While there is not a match requirement, please identify any additional funding allocated for the project.
Funding terms including type of assistance and affordability period are determined upon award.
Please a�ach a scope of work or es�mate for any project that involves rehabilita�on or new construc�on to
demonstrate the cost reasonableness of any proposal.
5. Summary Budget
In the applicable budget detail table(s), please submit budget details for the full scope of the project, regardless of whether HOME-ARP funds are
requested for a specific activity.
Category Amount Requested If funds requested, complete the following
budget detail tables:
Affordable Housing
Development
5a
Tenant-Based Rental
Assistance
5b
Supportive Services 5c
Development of non-
congregate shelter
5d
Nonprofit Operating &
Capacity Building
Maximum 5% of total HOME-ARP
funds requested
5e
Total
5a. Affordable Housing Development
Sub-Category Sub-
Category
Amount
Requested
Other Funds
Allocated
Committed Funding
Source(s)
Description of
Activity
Land Acquisition
Building Acquisition
Site Improvements
Rehabilitation
Construction
Professional Fees
Construction
Finance
Permanent Finance
Developer Fees
$
$
150,000.00$
$
7,500.00$
157,500.00$
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
Operating
Costs/Reserves
Relocation Costs
Other
5b. Tenant Based Rental Assistance
Sub-Category Amount
Requested
Other Funds
Allocated
Committed Funding
Source(s)
Description of
Activity
Rental Assistance
(Tenant)
Rental Assistance (Master
Lease)
Security Deposits
Utility Deposits
Inspection Costs
Administration
Total
5c. Supportive Services
Sub-Category Amount
Requested
Other
Funds
Allocated
Committed
Funding
Source(s)
Description of Activity
Child Care
Education
Services
Employment
Assistance &
Training
Food
Housing Search
& Counseling
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
Legal Services
Life Skills
Training
Mental Health
Services
Outpatient Health
Services
Outreach
Services
Substance Abuse
Treatment
Transportation
Case
Management
Mediation
Credit Repair
Landlord/Tenant
Liaison
Services for
Special
Populations
Financial
Assistance
Short-Term Rent
Assistance
Medium-Term
Rent Assistance
Total
150,000.00$
107,000.00
$ Johnson
County ARP,
Wells Fargo,
Principal
Foundation
Funding will support the provision of free
professional legal services to low-income
renters for housing stability and safety. Salaries
and benefits: $196,003; Office occupancy:
$8,051; Office expenses: $14,661; In-state/in-
town travel expenses: $2,482; Assistance to
households/litigation: $195; Insurance: $421;
other expenses include professional fees and
payroll services: $5,187.
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
5d. Development of Non-Congregate Shelter
Sub-Category Amount
Requested
Other Funds
Allocated
Committed Funding
Source(s)
Description of
Activity
Land Acquisition
Building
Acquisition
Site Improvements
Rehabilitation
Construction
Demolition
Professional Fees
Construction
Finance
Developer Fees
Total
5e. Nonprofit Operating & Capacity Building
Sub-
Category
Amount
Requested
Other Funds
Allocated
Committed
Funding
Source(s)
Description of Activity
Operating
Expenses
Capacity
Building
Total
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
7,500.00$ 3,850.00$ Wells Fargo,
Principal
Foundation
This represents 5 % of the total budget cost to
support grant administration costs, such as
salaries for ILA grant accountants and
reporting staff.
$ $
7,500.00$ 3,850.00$
Section 3 - Feasibility and Community Impact
6. Anticipated Income Levels of Beneficiaries
Households Persons
0-30% AMI
31-50% AMI
51-60% AMI
61-80% AMI
Over 80% AMI
Total
Basis for Estimates
Indicate prioritization for populations to be served:
Rate each population on a scale from 0-10. If all populations will be served without prioritization, rate all as “1”. If a population will not be served, rate “0”.
Experiencing Homelessness
At Risk of Homelessness
Domestic Violence
Previously Homeless & At Risk of Recurrence
At Greatest Risk of Housing Instability
Chronically Homeless
Veterans & Veteran Families
Elderly
Persons with Disabilities
Other (Specify)
Affordable Housing Development Projects
14,289.00$ 11,429.00$
33,446.00$ 27,216.00$
45,211.00$ 44,395.00$
67,600.00$ 51,000.00$
0.00$ 0.00$
160,546.00$ 124,040.00$
We can estimate the anticipated income levels of
beneficiaries by taking the average income level of 2021
housing clients and classifying them using the Iowa City
HOME CDBG Rent and Income Table. We estimate 420
households to be within 0-30% AMI; 48 within 31-50% AMI;
18 within 51-60% AMI; and 15 within 61-80% AMI. We
estimate 1000 persons within 0-30% AMI; 90 persons within
31-50% AMI; 25 within 51-60%; and 15 within 61-80% AMI
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
1 low-income residents experiencing a housing legal
issue
7. Housing Projects
Unit Size Total Units in Project Proposed HOME-ARP Units Proposed Contract Rent
SRO
Studio/Eff
1BR
2BR
3BR
4BR
Non-Congregate Shelter Projects
Unit Size Total Units in Project
SRO
Studio/Eff
1BR
2BR
3BR
4BR
Proposed rental assistance contract term
Unit Size Projected Households to be Assisted
SRO
Studio/Eff
1BR
2BR
3BR
4BR
9. Supportive Services Projects
Projected Single Individuals to be Assisted
$
$
$
$
$
$
8. TBRA Projects
113
0
Projected Families to be Assisted
Describe the specific environment in which the qualifying participants will present to be enrolled for services
Affordable Housing Development Projects
Number of people on housing waiting list
Total number of units owned by the organization
Number of federally funded units (CDBG, HOME, LIHTC, CoC, etc.)
Total number of units currently vacant
Total vacancy rate
Number of federally funded units vacant
Does your organization use a property management company?
If yes, please indicate the entity
Non-Congregate Shelter Projects
Number of people on shelter waiting list
Number of shelter beds/units owned by the organization
Number of federally funded shelter beds (ESG, etc.)
Number of beds not occupied as of last Point in Time Count
Total vacancy rate (Question 4/Question 2)
Number of federally funded shelter beds vacant as of last Point in Time Count
11. Proposed Project Timetable
Include milestones such as rezoning, construction schedule, application(s) for other funding, expected commitment dates, hiring dates, service delivery
start dates etc. as applicable. Attach additional sheets as necessary.
Date Milestone
500
i.e. shelter, street outreach, PSH, etc.
Low-income residents seeking housing legal assistance may
call or come to the Iowa City office during business hours,
complete a secure form on our website, or come to the
helpdesk at the Johnson County Courthouse. Staff from
Shelter House and an attorney from Iowa Legal Aid are
present at the courthouse to meet with tenants weekly during
the time when eviction cases are heard.
10. Vacancy & Property Management
July 1, 2022 – June
30, 2025
Provide legal services to help stabilize housing for 1,000 low-to-moderate income
Iowa City residents.
12. Describe how the project will promote the efficient use of funding over the compliance term and beyond:
13. Describe how the project will provide for affordable housing or public assistance at rates or prices lower than
those in the current existing market:
14. Describe in what manner or form the project will proceed if awarded less than full funding; if there are several
elements of the project, describe how they will be prioritized:
15. For Non-Congregate Shelters: HOME-ARP Funds cannot be used for operating costs of non-congregate
shelters. Describe how the ongoing operating costs will be funded, at least for the minimum compliance period:
16. For Non-Congregate Shelters: Do you anticipate the future conversion of the Non-Congregate Shelter to
Rental Housing? Explain:
October 1, 2022 –
July 31, 2025*
Provide quarterly reports as scheduled by the City of Iowa City to include invoices of
expenses incurred and information as requested.
June 30, 2025 Project close-out.
Iowa Legal Aid manages hundreds of federal, state, and
private grants. Our largest funding source, Legal Services
Corporation (LSC), is a federal entity governed by laws and
regulations imposed by Congress. As an LSC funding
recipient, we must comply with a significant array of fiscal
and administrative regulatory requirements. Our Finance
Team includes four full-time staff members with significant
experience in nonprofit award management.
Iowa Legal Aid has a history of program sustainability and
success in fundraising. We employ a full-time Director of
Development and three additional full-time fundraising
professionals who work to secure funding and manage
accounts.
n/a
Iowa Legal Aid strives to ensure the legal assistance it
provides helps clients obtain their most basic needs. Less
resources will result in fewer clients receiving the full suite of
legal services that they need. For example, a client may
receive legal advice instead of legal representation in court.
Iowa Legal Aid prioritizes staff resources by representing
those clients with the most critical legal need.
n/a
n/a
Section 4 - Capacity and Applicant History
17. HOME and/or CDBG funds received and status of the project(s) undertaken
Timeframe Budget Expended through 2021 Date Project Completed
July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017
July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018
July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2019
July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020
July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021
July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022
18. Describe your organization’s experience and capacity to administer the proposed program. Identify any prior
year funds that remain unspent. If funds remain, justify this funding request.
19. Do you anticipate receiving and/or expending over $750,000 in federal funds in a single fiscal year?
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
$ $
70,528.00$ 70,528.00$ 5/31/2022
Iowa Legal Aid has been providing free civil legal services to
low-income Iowans since 1977, including tenants facing
eviction and other housing issues in urban and rural
communities. We have extensive experience implementing
large federal, state, and privately funded projects, many of
them statewide through our ten regional offices throughout
Iowa.
From 2019 – 2021, Iowa Legal Aid has received more than
$10,269,000 in federal funds, including CARES Act funding
and disaster-related funds through the following departments
and initiatives:
-Legal Services Corporation is our largest single funder and
source of income
-U.S. Department of Justice - Violence Against Women Act
-U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - Fair
Housing Initiative Project
-Corporation for National and Community Service -
AmeriCorps
In addition to these federal grants, Iowa Legal Aid manages
awards from the State of Iowa, county boards of supervisors,
private foundations, corporations, United Way organizations,
and other funders that require accurate recordkeeping,
regular reporting on progress toward goals, and compliance
with regulations. These grants require a binding commitment
to shared terms and conditions between our organization and
those awarding the funds. Our many formal affiliations with
government agencies and other organizations outline the
development and implementation of projects to provide legal
services to vulnerable populations. These and other
examples demonstrate our expertise and 45 years of
experience conducting large scale projects. This experience
translates to our commitment to implement the goals and
objectives in this proposed project.
No prior year funds remain unspent from the CDBG-CV
award of $35,696. The grant period for this award was July 1,
2021 – June 30, 2022.
20. Describe your organization’s structure, officers, and staff.
21. Describe the education and experience of the key staff who will implement the project (excludes volunteers,
board members, and consultants).
Yes No
Iowa Legal Aid has been meeting the civil legal needs of low-
income Iowans for 45 years. We help our clients secure
income, housing, and safety by increasing benefits,
preventing evictions, and stopping domestic violence. We
stabilize individuals, families, and communities through
strategic initiatives to help children, seniors, veterans,
disaster victims, people with disabilities, and survivors of
domestic violence. Iowa Legal Aid operates ten regional
offices across the state and is the only legal services
provider serving all 99 counties.
Nick Smithberg serves as executive director. Jackie Pullen is
chief financial officer. Alexander Kornya is our litigation
director. Angela Broughton-Romain and Shelley Whitcher
serve as deputy directors. More than 110 attorneys,
paralegals, support staff, and other professionals are
dedicated to making hope, dignity, and justice available to
low-income Iowans through legal assistance.
An 18-member board of directors meets quarterly and
provides oversight for the organization. Our bylaws require
11 members to be attorneys admitted to practice in Iowa.
Appointments are made to reasonably reflect the diversity of
our clients and staff. Six members are persons who are
eligible to receive services at the time of their appointment.
There is one at-large member who is not required to be an
attorney, nor eligible to receive services.
22. Describe your organization’s business/operations plan approach and identify the relevant factors that help
verify the demand for the proposed project. If another organization provides the same services, explain why both
projects are needed to address the need.
23. Describe your organization’s activities and portfolio, including projects currently underway. For housing
providers/developers, include number of units owned/managed.
The key project staff in the Iowa City Regional Office have a
combined 48 years of experience practicing public and
poverty law and have spent their careers providing legal
services for low-income clients.
Jim Kringlen, Managing Attorney, earned his undergraduate
degree from Iowa State University and his Juris Doctor from
the University of Iowa College of Law. Jim has more than 30
years’ experience working in legal services in West Virginia
and in Iowa. He joined Iowa Legal Aid as a staff attorney in
the Iowa City Regional Office 26 years ago. As managing
attorney, Jim supervises eight staff attorneys, three intake
paralegals, and AmeriCorps service members in the Iowa
City Regional Office. He maintains a varied case load,
including public and private housing and consumer matters
with an emphasis on access to utilities and safe housing.
Charles Pierce, Staff Attorney, completed his undergraduate
degree at Stanford University and earned his Juris Doctor
from the University of IA College of Law. Charles has been a
member of the Iowa City Regional Office since 2002. He
completed an internship during law school in the Ottumwa
Regional Office of Iowa Legal Aid. Charles works with
housing and consumer law as well as family law. He
represents Iowa Legal Aid through his service with the
Johnson County Coalition Against Domestic Violence and
received the Pat Meyer Vision Award for his contributions.
Emma Shimanovsky, Staff Attorney, is a graduate of the
University of Iowa and earned her Juris Doctor at Drake
University Law School. Emma has worked on more than
1,250 cases in the eight years she has been a staff attorney
with Iowa Legal Aid. Her focus is largely on family, consumer,
and housing law and has worked for both the Black Hawk
and Johnson County eviction helpdesks. Emma also
completed an internship with Iowa Legal Aid in the Central
Iowa Regional Office in Des Moines during law school.
Data provided by the National Equity Atlas shows that 1,930
households in Iowa City are behind on rent and collectively
owe an estimated $4,050,000. The average rent debt per
household is estimated at $2,100. An estimated 1,700
children are a part of these households. This data is current
as of May 9, 2022.
Over the past 12 months, Iowa Legal Aid received 251 calls
and inquiries from Iowa City residents on housing related
issues. Of those calls, 184 clients worked with Iowa Legal
Aid staff to resolve their legal issues – just ten percent of the
1,930 households reported by National Equity Atlas. With the
new HOME CDBG Income and Rent Table with increased
income levels, more of the families we serve are falling into
lower AMI groups. These new income levels will identify
more individuals and families as income-eligible for our
services in this project.
24. Describe any identity of interest (IOI) relationships with the applicant and/or project owners. (i.e. General
Partner has a financial interest in the construction company, etc.)
25. Describe how you will incorporate sustainability initiatives into your project to help carry out the City’s
Climate Action Plan.
26. Explain how your agency promotes racial equity and inclusivity for marginalizes populations (including, but
not limited to; people of color, LGBTQ+, immigrants/refugees, individuals with disabilities)
Iowa Legal Aid makes hope, dignity and justice available to
low-income Iowans. We provide legal assistance education
that protect fundamental rights, basic necessities, and
access to the judicial system. We challenge policies and
practices that harm low-income persons. We stabilize
families and communities and help them achieve economic
development. We empower clients to advocate effectively for
themselves and their communities.
The services provided by Iowa Legal Aid range from legal
advice and brief service to representation before state and
federal courts and administrative agencies.
During the past 12 months, Iowa Legal Aid has closed 1,343
cases of all types for 1,002 low-income Iowa City clients. The
total number of individuals involved in these cases is 2,847
and includes 1,200 children. Clients from communities of
color represented 54 percent of all clients in the past 12
months. Sixty-two percent of clients were women. Twenty-
three percent of clients reported having a disability.
Housing makes up 37 percent of all Iowa City cases. Nearly
25 percent of cases involve family law and include issues of
child custody, divorce, domestic violence, and protective
orders. Nine percent of cases involved unemployment
benefits. Consumer law cases include bankruptcy,
garnishment, and collections. These represented eight
percent of cases in the past 12 months.
We operate numerous specialized projects to help meet the
unique needs of Iowa's most vulnerable populations. In
addition to eviction diversion, other projects include:
• Legal Hotline for Older Iowans: We advise Iowans 60 years
of age and older on issues impacting the elderly, such as
Medicare, long-term care, and end-of-life planning.
• Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic: We assist Iowans in resolving
tax controversies.
• Race Equity Project: We help individuals who have been
involved with the justice system overcome barriers to
housing, employment, and educational opportunities.
• Veterans Project: We assist veterans and their families with
VA compensation and pension claims, overpayments, issues
involving the VA medical center, and discharge upgrades.
Our work is augmented by private attorneys who participate
in our Volunteer Lawyers Project. Through this project local
attorneys agree to accept referrals from us and provide their
services free of charge.
n/a
n/a
Nearly all our clients live at or below 125 percent of Federal
Poverty. Women, people of color, and people with disabilities
are disproportionately represented compared to the
population at large.
Civil legal services for people with low-income reduces
disparities for people who face inequities. There is no
constitutional right to legal counsel or representation in civil
matters as there is in criminal cases. There is no court-
appointed lawyer for clients who cannot afford to hire an
attorney for civil cases.
Without legal aid, individuals have limited knowledge of their
rights, options, and legal solutions to problems. Access to the
court to get the protection and help they are entitled to
receive is limited. When one party has the means to hire an
attorney and the other does not, a deeply unfair situation
exists. Limited access to justice is an example of systemic,
institutional, and historical barriers predicting socioeconomic,
education, education, and health outcomes.
Addressing these systemic causes of economic, racial, and
ethnic in any community is the goal of legal services. When
people with low-income have access to legal services for any
civil matter, they make informed decisions, are empowered
rather than disenfranchised, and have some level of equality
in accessing the judicial system. Our legal staff educates
every client about their rights under the law, which is
something that many people with low-income, seniors, and
persons with disabilities are not aware they have. Even if
they are fully aware of their rights, there are very few people
who can navigate the judicial system without legal
assistance. For those who cannot afford to hire an attorney,
this often leads to resignation that nothing can be done. This
is where free legal services provided by organizations like
Iowa Legal Aid seek to interrupt that ongoing pattern of
disparity. A successful legal case can lead to numerous
positive outcomes that can improve the financial and
economic well-being and health for clients and their families.
Section 5 - Required Documentation
Description Requirement
W-9 Form (Requested for Tax ID & Certification)Required
SAM.gov Registration
All subrecipients must register on SAM.gov before a legally binding
agreement can be signed.
Attach your SAM.gov Entity Registration Summary as evidence that this
has been completed.
Required
Unique Entity ID (UEI)
Effective April 2022 the federal government stopped using DUNS numbers
to uniquely identify
entities and transitioned to utilizing UEI numbers issued by SAM.gov. For
help obtaining a UEI:
External UEI Transition FactSheet
Attach documentation of your UEI.
Required
Organizational Status
Go to https://sos.iowa.gov/search/business to look up the organization
applying for funds.
Provide a copy of the Business Entity Summary screen.
Required
Commitment Letters
Attach the following for committed funding sources listed in Section 2.
Non-Congregate Shelter Projects: Attach documentation indicating
secured sources for ongoing
operating costs and any operating gap that will require additional
assistance. If a gap is identified,
attach a plan for securing additional funding for successful operation of the
project.
Non-Congregate Shelter
Projects:
Required
All other projects:
Required if other sources
identified as recommended.
(Match not required)
Evidence of Relevant Experience
Attach evidence of the applicant’s previous experience carrying out the
proposed activities.
Non-Congregate Shelter Projects: In addition to attaching evidence of the
applicant’s experience
operating shelters, also attach evidence of the developer’s skills and
experience related to the
development of shelters or similar facilities.
Non-Congregate Shelter
Projects:
Required
All other projects:
Recommended
Evidence of Fiscal Capacity
Evidence of fiscal capacity is required. Sufficient alternative financial
information may be
accepted. Attach:
• 3 years Balance Sheets
• 3 years Profit & Loss Statements
• Most recent audit (if applicable)
Required
Evidence of Organizational Capacity
Up to four pages of additional information about the capacity of the
organization may be
included. Example of possible evidence may be:
• Resumes of key staff
• Additional description of organizational activities
• Complete list of board members & their contact information
Required
Scope of work
Include a write up of the work to be completed and include copies of cost
estimates that are the
basis of the budget tables.
Required, if the project includes
development of affordable
housing or non-congregate
shelter.
Pro forma
Acquisition, rehabilitation, or new construction projects MUST include
completed pro forma.
Excel format is provided by the City. Applications for acquisition,
rehabilitation, or new
construction projects without the City’s pro forma will not be considered.
Required, if the project includes
development of affordable
housing or non-congregate
shelter.
Upload Documents *
Iowa Legal Aid Form W9 v3.29.2022.pdf 315.8KB
ILA SAM Entity Registration Summary.pdf 105.05KB
ILA Unique Entity ID documentation.pdf 103.62KB
ILA Iowa Business Entity Summary.pdf 82.06KB
Iowa Legal Aid Evidence of Relevant Experience.docx 12.93KB
Iowa Legal Aid 2021 Audit Report.pdf 532.66KB
ILA Evidence of Relevant Experience.pdf 50.21KB
ILA Evidence of Organization Capacity.pdf 227.1KB
ILA Commitment Letters or Agreements.pdf 899.2KB
ILA Evidence of Fiscal Capacity.pdf 88.76KB