Housing and financial assistance for women combines federal programs (HUD, TANF, SNAP, LIHEAP) with state and local efforts. Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and public housing are administered by local Public Housing Authorities (PHAs), with VAWA giving survivors of domestic violence priority and emergency transfer rights. Emergency shelter and rapid rehousing run through HUD's Continuum of Care and Coordinated Entry. Mothers with custodial children typically qualify for TANF cash assistance and family-priority housing. Community action agencies and 211 lines coordinate utility help, emergency funds, and rent assistance. This directory covers PHAs, shelter systems, 211 referral lines, and community action agencies.
Iowa district courts hear family cases in all 99 counties, with the Child Support Recovery Unit under the Department of Human Services managing enforcement. Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, and Sioux City are the largest metros. Iowa Legal Aid and the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence support women, with self-represented litigant coordinators in every county.
IFA at 1963 Bell Avenue in Des Moines administers the federal LIHTC, HOME, and Iowa's own state housing trust fund, plus first-time homebuyer mortgage and down-payment programs targeted at moderate-income women. The IFA call center at 515-725-4900 can confirm eligibility and connect callers to participating lenders.
515-725-4900 · 1963 Bell Ave Suite 200, Des Moines, IA 50315 · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm · Visit Website
DMMHA on East Euclid Avenue administers public housing and the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program for the city of Des Moines. The waiting list is opened periodically by lottery; preferences include displacement by domestic violence and households with disabilities. Reach the agency at 515-323-8950 to check current waitlist status.
515-323-8950 · 100 E Euclid Ave, Des Moines, IA 50313 · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm · Visit Website
Cedar Rapids' city housing agency manages Section 8 vouchers and a small public housing portfolio for Linn County, with a separate Housing Recovery Program established after the 2008 flood and 2020 derecho. Phone intake at 319-286-5872 can confirm whether the waiting list is currently open.
319-286-5872 · Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm · Visit Website
Greater Des Moines Habitat at 2433 Scott Avenue builds and rehabilitates 30+ homes per year sold to qualifying low-income families at zero-interest mortgages. Selection criteria include 300 hours of sweat equity, completion of homebuyer education, and income between 30-80% AMI. Apply by calling 515-471-8686.
515-471-8686 · 2433 Scott Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
The state association coordinates Iowa's 17 Community Action Agencies, which administer LIHEAP, weatherization, Head Start, and emergency rent and utility assistance in every county. The Des Moines office at 515-244-7010 can direct a woman to her local CAA, which is the first stop for crisis aid.
515-244-7010 · Des Moines, IA 50309 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
Iowa's LIHEAP program runs October through April and pays a portion of heating costs directly to the utility for qualifying low-income households; women on fixed income or facing winter shut-off should apply through their local CAA. The state office at 515-281-0859 can confirm income limits, which change annually.
515-281-0859 · Statewide Service · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm
The Salvation Army's Des Moines Citadel and regional corps in Cedar Rapids, Davenport, and Sioux City offer emergency rent and utility assistance from earmarked funds, often the last resource before eviction. Walk-in hours vary by location; the state coordinating office reachable at 515-282-4621 can confirm where help is currently available.
515-282-4621 · Multiple IA locations · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website
Sioux City Housing Authority at 405 6th Street manages public housing units and Section 8 vouchers for the city, with preference categories for working families and victims of domestic violence under the VAWA housing protections. Waiting list updates are by phone at 712-279-6286.
712-279-6286 · 405 6th St, Sioux City, IA 51101 · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm
HUD's main site indexes the agency's regional and field offices, the public housing authority directory, and the searchable list of HUD-approved housing counseling agencies. Iowa women preparing for foreclosure mediation or for a homebuyer education class can find HUD-certified counselors here at no cost.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
HUD's Continuum of Care pages list the lead agency for each CoC in Iowa, which is the entry point into coordinated entry — the centralized assessment that ranks every homeless or near-homeless household for available rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing slots in the region.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
The federal LIHEAP page at the Administration for Children and Families explains how the block grant is distributed to states, links to the Iowa application portal, and lists weatherization providers who can reduce winter heating bills longer-term through insulation and air-sealing work.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
The national Salvation Army locator returns the nearest corps community center by ZIP, with current hours and the contact for the social services coordinator. Programs vary by site — some run thrift store vouchers, some have transitional housing, some specialize in disaster relief — so it pays to call before walking in.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Catholic Charities of Sioux City, Des Moines, Dubuque, and Davenport cover the four Catholic dioceses of Iowa with rental assistance, refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, and counseling. Services are offered to women of any faith or no faith; the national locator at catholiccharitiesusa.org finds the right diocesan agency.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
United Way's national 211 service is the umbrella for local 211 lines that index every community-based emergency assistance program in Iowa — food pantries, rent and utility funds, transportation help, and crisis hotlines — with referrals customized to the caller's ZIP and presenting need.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Habitat International coordinates more than 1,000 US affiliates including six in Iowa — Greater Des Moines, Iowa Valley, Quad Cities, Cedar Valley, Siouxland, and Heart of Iowa. The national locator at habitat.org returns the nearest affiliate along with the average wait time for a homeownership application.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Family Promise runs the national network of interfaith hospitality networks that shelter homeless families with children through partnering congregations. The Iowa affiliates in Des Moines and Linn County keep families together while providing case management toward permanent housing within 90 days on average.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website