March 2, 2025, Des Moines - The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) Board of Directors today awarded $100,000 in State Housing Trust Fund grants to Habitat for Humanity affiliates to support the construction of homes in Boone and Knoxville. The funding is made available through the State Housing Trust Fund’s Project-Based Housing Program.
“We are proud to support Heart of Iowa Habitat for Humanity and Habitat for Humanity of Marion County through the State Housing Trust Fund,” said IFA Director Debi Durham.
The awards granted today will help provide two families with quality, affordable housing while further strengthening the Boone and Knoxville communities.
Heart of Iowa Habitat for Humanity, Boone - $50,000
The Heart of Iowa Habitat for Humanity will use a $50,000 State Housing Trust Fund grant to assist in the construction of a 1,280-sq.-ft. home on an infill lot in Boone. This project will feature grant awards from John Deere and US Bank as well as donated labor from the local Carpenter’s Club. The group of about 10 retired carpenters from the community volunteer every year on home builds with the Habitat affiliate and will assist in constructing the home.
Habitat for Humanity of Marion County, Knoxville - $50,000
Habitat for Humanity of Marion County will use a $50,000 State Housing Trust Fund grant to assist in the construction of a 1,200-sq.-ft. single-family home on a vacant infill lot in Knoxville. The project is a partnership between Habitat for Humanity of Marion County, the Weiler Foundation and the Knoxville Community School District. Students in Knoxville High School’s Building Trades class will work on the construction of the new home. This collaboration helps reduce costs while also providing skills and experiences to students who are interested in the construction industry.
Both Habitat for Humanity homes will be sold to income-qualified homebuyers who will receive financial, home repair, homeownership and foreclosure prevention education and must also complete the required sweat equity hours prior to closing on the homes.
The State Housing Trust Fund has awarded more than $136.4 million in funding and has assisted more than 41,500 affordable housing units since the program’s inception in 2003. These awards have leveraged an additional $187.5 million or $1.37 in other resources for every dollar of State Housing Trust Fund funding.