Bank of America recently awarded more than $100,000 in grants to seven Iowa nonprofit organizations, including Habitat for Humanity of the Quad Cities, to help address barriers fundamental to economic mobility in Iowa.
Habitat for Humanity of the Quad Cities received a $17,500 grant from Bank of America.
“We will use the funds to continue our mission of building, safe, decent and affordable housing in the Quad Cities,” Tom Fisher-King, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Quad Cities told the QCBJ.
This is the second round of local grants from Bank of America, which this year is focused on strengthening broader community vitality by addressing needs related to affordable housing, small business resiliency and neighborhood revitalization.
Access to safe, decent housing is critical for an individual’s overall well-being, including health, educational success and future employment opportunities, the bank said in a news release. With the rising cost of living making access to affordable housing for many further out of reach, supporting organizations working to create healthy living environments, increase access to a mix of affordable housing options and build pathways to stable homeownership is essential.
Meeting Iowa’s needs
According to the Iowa Finance Authority, Iowa must add more than 61,000 housing units by 2030 to help meet the needs of Iowa’s growing economy and to support housing access for all Iowans.
The release said grant recipients, Polk County Housing Trust Fund and Habitat for Humanity of the Quad Cities, are helping make this a reality. The Polk County Housing Trust Fund allocates community funds to increase and improve the inventory of affordable places to live, ensuring everyone in the Greater Des Moines region can access equitable housing. In addition, Habitat builds and provides homes for individuals and families, helping them build strong, stable and self-reliant lives.
“Partnering with organizations like the Polk County Housing Trust fund and Habitat for Humanity of the Quad Cities demonstrates how Bank of America is taking action to provide the resources and support needed to help Iowa thrive,” Heidi Parkhurst, president of Bank of America Iowa, said in the release. “This second round of philanthropic funds builds upon our longstanding efforts to help strengthen community vitality by addressing important issues like affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization.”
Other organizations receiving grants in this round are: Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity, Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity, Forest Avenue Outreach, Lutheran Services in Iowa and Bravo Greater Des Moines. Since 2019, Bank of America has awarded $3.7 million to Iowa organizations as part of its longstanding commitment to advancing economic mobility.
