The Iowa Finance Authority Board of Directors approved more than $5.7 million in grants to assist 42 agencies with homelessness assistance initiatives during the 2026 calendar year. 

The funding is made available through the State-funded Shelter Assistance Fund (SAF) and the federal Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) programs. 

The Iowa Finance Authority conducted competitive application processes for the ESG and SAF programs, while HOPWA funding is distributed by formulas based upon Iowa Department of Public Health data. Applications were scored in several categories, including program design, experience and capacity, community partnerships, performance, budget and grants management.