2017 Spencer Comprehensive Land Use Plan

Spencer, Iowa  2017  Comprehensive Plan

SPENCER AFFORDABLE HOUSING

In Spencer, several housing organizations provide affordable housing and rental assistance to income qualifying persons. Rental assistance is a type of housing subsidy that pays for a portion of a renters monthly housing expenses. This rental assistance can come in the form of Section 8 housing voucher, public housing, USDA rental assistance, as well as HUD Section 202 properties. The organizations providing rental assistance to tenants include the Northwest Iowa Regional Housing Authority; the Sunset Retirement Home South; the Sunset Retirement Home East; the Spencer Manor Apartments; the Northwest Apartments; and the Sunset Retirement Home North.

- Community Housing Initiatives (CHI) Originally started in Spencer, CHI now has management offices in both Spencer and Des Moines and proudly offers more than 1,500 housing units to people and families across the State of Iowa through rental housing and new housing development projects. CHI primarily works with low and moderate income affordable housing options for their clientele. Most of CHI’s apartments were developed under two federal housing programs, the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and the HOME program.

- The Northwest Iowa Regional Housing Authority (NWIRHA) Located in Spencer Iowa, is the regional housing authority assisting low income residents in Spencer with finding housing and rental assistance. The NWIRHA provides low-rent housing options and Section 8 voucher program for those persons in need in a multi-county region in northwest Iowa, including the residents of Clay County and the City of Spencer. The NWIRHA does business in accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Law (Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 as amended by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974), and does not discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, sex or national origin, disability and familial status.

- Clay County Local Housing Trust Fund The Clay County Local Housing Trust Fund’s mission is to ensure that Clay County residents have access to well maintained, safe and affordable housing in both the rural and urban areas of the county. - Habitat for Humanity Habitat is a nonprofit, Christian housing ministry, who believes that every person should have a decent, safe and affordable place to live. They build, renovate and repair houses all over the world using volunteer labor and donations, as well as welcome all people to work with them in partnership. The main advocacy is to increase access to decent, affordable housing around the world

- Rebuilding Hope A nonprofit charity that helps members of the community with home improvement and beautification who otherwise might struggle financially to get the work completed

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NW Iowa Planning & Development