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IowaAtwork.com is an interactive map of 3,240 infrastructure projects totaling more than $13 million in federal investments in Iowa. (Progress Iowa)

IA group offers successful messaging as national blueprint

An Iowa advocacy group has won a high-profile award from the Analyst Institute, which measures how well a group's message reaches citizens. …

In its annual reports, the Annie E. Casey Foundation notes indicators of child well-being are derived from federal government statistical agencies and reflect the best available state and national data for tracking yearly changes. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa Ranks High in Healthy Kids Report, but Advocates Seek Improvement

Compared to other states, Iowa ranks sixth nationally in overall child well-being, according to the 2023 Kids Count Data Book, released today by the …

In 2020, 52% of U.S. homeowners who renovated their home were from the Baby Boomer generation, according to Statista. (Adobe Stock)

USDA Makes Loans, Grants Available for Low-Income Iowans' Home Repair

AARP Iowa is working to raise awareness of loans and grants the U.S. Department of Agriculture is making available to very low-income seniors for …

In January 2019, the United States had a shortage of 7 million affordable homes for low-income renters, resulting in only 37 affordable rental homes for every 100 low-income renter households, according to the Center for American Progress. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates in Iowa Work to Make More Housing Available

Advocates are working to make 42,000 new homes available to Iowans by 2030, which is spearheading efforts to create more affordable living …

More than 10 million households headed by someone over 65 spend <a href=

more than one-third of their income on housing. Half of these pay more than 50%, according to a Harvard University study. (Adobe Stock).">

More Affordable Housing for Seniors: An AARP Iowa Priority

As housing prices continue to rise, AARP Iowa is asking cities and towns to change their rules to allow more livable space on a home site. The group …

Only about 21% of the nation's housing stock can be found in rural communities. (Adobe Stock)

Getting Creative to Fix Affordable Housing Issues in Rural Iowa

Higher mortgage rates and skyrocketing rents have fueled the nation's housing crisis. In states like Iowa, rural communities deal with the same …

A new report says during the pandemic, Iowa's Black, Latino and multiracial households with children were three times as likely as white households to worry about making their next rent or mortgage payment. (Adobe Stock)

Despite Ranking, Pandemic Clouds IA's Child Well-being Outlook

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Iowa gets some high marks in the latest 50-state report on children's wellbeing, but the annual findings show the pandemic is …

Various studies have shown that between 75% and 90% of people remain housed a year after going through a

Housing First Movement Expands in Iowa

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- One of Iowa's largest cities will soon see another project that centers around the "housing first" philosophy in addressing …

A bill in the Iowa Legislature would require landlords to disclose monthly utility costs before renting out a unit, but unlike similar laws, would not require that they make energy-saving upgrades. (Adobe Stock)

Some IA Lawmakers Want Renters to Know More About Utility Costs

DES MOINES, Iowa - Landlords of larger apartment complexes in Iowa would have to disclose monthly utility costs to potential renters, in a bill now …

Alexis Ostlund, a homeless woman, was chased off by Des Moines police for panhandling outside a local coffee shop. (aclu-Iowa)

ACLU Calls City Panhandling Ordinances in Iowa Unconstitutional

DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa is among 12 states targeted for its panhandling ordinances by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty and …

Just over 3,000 homeless people were counted during the 2016 Point-in-Time Count in Iowa. (Pixabay)

Iowa Homeless Count Gets Underway Tonight

DES MOINES, Iowa – Volunteers in communities across Iowa will undertake the daunting task Wednesday of counting the number of people they can …

Social-service groups say evicting people from Des Moines' homeless camps simply moves the problem instead of solving it. (tom stovall/Flickr)

Fight for the Homeless Ramps up in Des Moines

DES MOINES, Iowa — A fight for the homeless is ramping up in Des Moines. Eviction notices with a deadline of August 29th went up at several …

Thirteen people have died in the Louisiana floods and an estimated 40,000 homes are damaged. Some Iowans are among the relief workers there. (Tink Tracy/Flickr)

"Being a Good Iowan" – Volunteers Help Louisiana Flood Victims

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Nearly a dozen Iowans are among the hundreds responding to the devastating flooding in Louisiana. Volunteers with the American …

A bill using funds already in place says Iowa recovery efforts could be better coordinated after a natural disaster. (National Weather Service)

Iowa Could Update, Coordinate Disaster Response Efforts

DES MOINES, Iowa - After a major weather incident like the tornado that hit Stanton in southwestern Iowa last week, water, food and shelter can …

Almost two-thirds of families with a parent in prison, such as the Anamosa State Penitentiary, can't pay for necessities for their kids. (Klepper66/Wikimedia Commons)

Report: Kids Need Support when Parents are Behind Bars

DES MOINES, Iowa - Eight percent of kids in Iowa, that's 58,000, have a parent behind bars, a number that has risen significantly in the last few …

Flooding, such as that seen in Iowa in 2008, could be avoided in part through better topsoil management. (Newtben33/Wikimedia Commons)

Iowans Work to Save "Actual" Earth on Earth Day

DES MOINES, Iowa - The nutrient-rich topsoil that's taken away to level the land when homes and other new buildings are constructed doesn't often get …

Jeremy Rosen, who heads the ACLU of Iowa, disagrees with Gov. Terry Branstad's decision to bar Syrian refugees from coming to the state. Courtesy: ACLU of Iowa

Branstad's Policy Change on Syrian Refugees Sparks Controversy

DES MOINES, Iowa - This week, Iowa has become the 17th state to halt integration of Syrian refugees, following an order by Gov. Terry Branstad…

PHOTO: People looking for a perfect place to call home need to look no farther than Iowa. Cedar Rapids (pictured above) and Marion have both made the top 10 in the Livability Index for cities their size. The index is from AARP and ranks communities based on categories such as housing, transportation, environment, health and opportunity. Photo credit: Stijn Debrouwere/Flickr.

Cedar Rapids, Marion Among Nation's Most Livable Communities

DES MOINES, Iowa - Some Iowa communities are being called among the best in the nation for people being able to remain active and engaged, get where …

PHOTO: Swing vote Justice Anthony Kennedy swung in favor of

Another Supreme Court Decision Favors Big Spenders

ALTOONA, Iowa – Another important campaign finance decision handed down Wednesday by the U.S. Supreme Court is provoking both celebration and …

PHOTO: Appanoose Rapids Microbrewery and Loft Apartments in Ottumwa. Photo credit: Appanoose

Cheers to Iowa Revitalized: From Battered Down to Brewing Beer

OTTUMWA, Iowa - What was once a building considered for demolition in the town of Ottumwa is now being called a shining example of the positive …

Spring Cleaning Across the State: Get Rid of the Clutter

DES MOINES, Iowa - With spring set to officially arrive later this week, many people across the state are in the mood to do some cleaning, and with a …

Limpieza de Primavera en todo el estado: elimine el tiradero.

DES MOINES, Iowa – No es asunto de organización solamente, sino también de seguridad; ante la cercanía de la primavera, mucha …

PHOTO: A new analysis finds there are still a lot of folks across the state and nation on the edge financially, and part of the reason is the high cost of housing. Photo credit: Jo Naylor

Nearly Half of Iowa Renters Overburdened by Housing Costs

DES MOINES, Iowa - Affordable housing can be key to helping working families gain and keep financial stability, but for many across Iowa the costs of …

PHOTO: The American Cancer Society's Hope Lodge in Iowa City provides a free place to stay for those traveling to the area for treatment. Courtesy ACS

A Free "Home Away from Home" for Iowa Cancer Patients

IOWA CITY, Iowa – For those from across the state who have to travel to Iowa City for cancer treatment, it truly is like a home away from home…

Need for Housing for Iowans With Disabilities Outstrips Supply

DES MOINES, Iowa - There are more than 350,000 Iowans with disabilities, and many of them need affordable and accessible housing, which currently is …

Smart Planning the Iowa Way

GREENFIELD, Iowa - Sustainable development through smart planning will be showcased Saturday in Greenfield during the annual meeting of the …

Net Neutrality and Occupy Wall Street – Making A Connection

CHICAGO - The U.S. Senate may vote this week on overturning Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules aimed at guaranteeing an open Internet…

Nominations Needed for 2010 Best Development Awards

DES MOINES, Iowa - Some of the best developers in Iowa will be honored with a 2010 Best Development Award for projects they have undertaken which …

What the New Consumer Finance Agency Means for IA Families and Economy

DES MOINES, Iowa - The financial meltdown at the start of the current recession was rooted in part in predatory lending and ballooning consumer debt…

Wall Street Home “Resale” Fees Raise Ire, and Eyebrows

HELENA, Mont. - With real estate values still low in most of the country, a new investment device has surfaced - and a coalition of consumer groups …

Iowa Seeing More Homeless

DES MOINES, Iowa - A new study backs up what homeless shelters statewide have been reporting; a big jump in homelessness in the last year. The report…

ID Cards for Illegal Immigrants: A Good Thing?

President Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderon on Wednesday criticized Arizona's law that makes failure to carry immigration documents a crime…

Report: Barriers for Iowa Families on the Financial Edge

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Many struggling families, in Iowa and throughout the upper Midwest, are simply not getting the help they need. A new report from …

'Best of the Best' Iowa Developments Honored

DES MOINES, Iowa - The 'best of the best' are being recognized in Iowa. The group 1000 Friends of Iowa, which promotes responsible land use planning…

Iowa’s Best “Smart Growth” Developers Honored

Des Moines, IA – Many responsible developers in Iowa build projects that protect natural resources while revitalizing towns, cities and …

National Suicide Prevention Week Focuses on Iraq War Vets

The U.S. is losing 18 soldiers a day - on a different battleground than those in Iraq or Afghanistan. This is "National Suicide Prevention Week," and …

Financial Security Uncertain for Iowa Seniors

Des Moines, IA – From the early 1990s until last year, the rate of bankruptcies among U.S. senior citizens has skyrocketed. According to the …

Much Left Undone in Katrina Recovery

New Orleans, LA - As the holidays approach, Iowans are being asked to remember those still struggling in the wake of hurricane Katrina. Recently…

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IA: Housing/Homelessness