Iowa Department of Human Rights Newsletter

August 20, 2021

The Iowa Department of Human Rights (DHR) brings strength to Iowa's rich heritage. Our three divisions - Community Action Agencies, Community Advocacy and Services, and Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning - work to reduce cultural, social, and economic barriers to opportunities for Iowans to succeed.

Disaster Assistance for Howard County

On August 9, Governor Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Howard County in response to severe weather beginning July 27. The governor's proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of this severe weather. The proclamation activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program for qualifying residents, along with the Disaster Case Management Program, in Howard County for the July 27 severe weather event.

Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program
The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and temporary housing expenses. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery. The grant application and instructions are available on the Iowa Department of Human Services website at https://dhs.iowa.gov/disaster-assistance-programs. Potential applicants have 45 days from the date of the proclamation to submit a claim.

Disaster Case Management Program
The Disaster Case Management Program addresses serious needs related to disaster-related hardship, injury, or adverse conditions. Disaster case managers work with clients to create a disaster recovery plan and provide guidance, advice, and referral to obtain a service or resource. There are no income eligibility requirements for this program; it closes 180 days from the date of the governor's proclamation. For information on the Disaster Case Management Program, contact your local community action association or visit www.iowacommunityaction.org.

Residents of counties impacted by the recent severe weather are asked to report damage to help local and state officials better understand the damage sustained. Damage to property, roads, utilities and other storm-related information may be reported. This information will be collected by the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and shared with local emergency management agencies. Damage may be reported at www.homelandsecurity.iowa.gov.

Additional Resources

Community Action Agencies - Disaster Assistance Programs
Iowa Legal Aid 1-800-532-1275 Serves low-income Iowans
Iowa State Bar Association - Find a Lawyer
Disaster Assistance and Mental Health (DHS website)
Iowa Concern Hotline 1-800-447-1985 2 Disaster crisis counseling 24/7

2020 Iowa Population and Housing Data

The 2020 Census data shines a light on many key areas of change that have happened in Iowa over the past decade. In addition to the aggregate information that many Iowans have already examined, it can be useful to see more detail about the results. Click here to access Census Bureau 2020 population and housing data.

City Population Trends Dashboard

You may also be interested in the population trend reports prepared by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach available here. .

Upcoming Census Product Releases

The annual population and housing unit estimates are released on a flow basis throughout the year, beginning with the national and state total estimates release in December and ending with the release of population estimates for the nation, states, and counties by demographic characteristics during the following summer. Learn more about the schedule of upcoming Census releases here.

2021 Child Tax Credit and Advance Child Tax Credit

Multilingual resources available on the 2021 Child Tax Credit and Advance Child Tax Credit Payments: Resources and Guidance page include:

A step-by-step guide to using the Non-filer Sign-up Tool in Spanish, Chinese Simplified, Korean, Vietnamese, Haitian Creole and Russian.
A basic YouTube video on the Advance Child Tax Credit in Spanish and Chinese, as well as English.
Several e-posters in various languages.

The IRS has other tax-related tools and resources available in various languages, including information about IRS Free File in seven languages for people who may still need to file a 2020 tax return.

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/multilingual-resources-help-families-see-if-they-qualify-for-advance-child-tax-credit-payments

National Immunization Awareness Month

August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). This annual observance highlights the importance of getting recommended vaccines throughout your life. We know the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all aspects of life, including your ability to attend important appointments and receive routine vaccinations. During NIAM, consider talking to your doctor, nurse or healthcare professional to ensure you and your family are protected against serious diseases by getting caught up on routine vaccination.

Visit https://vaccinate.iowa.gov to find vaccine providers and more information.

COVID Recovery Iowa Grant Extended Through End of Year

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has extended COVID Recovery Iowa's grant through December. The grant was last set to expire at the end of May.

The Iowa Department of Human Services administers COVID Recovery Iowa, and five providers operate it across the state. COVID Recovery Iowa offers free virtual counseling, support groups and assistance to any Iowan. Language assistance is available.

COVID Recovery Iowa provides Iowans with information on resources such as housing, utilities and food security. The program also offers groups and activities on their dedicated social media platforms including their COVID Recovery Iowa Facebook page. All of it free of charge to all Iowans in all 99 counties.

Visit https://covidrecoveryiowa.org/ for more information.