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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
On May 31, 2022, Governor Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for six counties in response to recent severe weather. The governor's proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to, and recover from, the effects of this severe weather in Boone, Des Moines, Hamilton, Ida, Lyon and Webster counties.
In addition, the proclamation activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program for qualifying residents, along with the Disaster Case Management Program, for the six counties. 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 for a family of three. 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.
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 agency which can be found here: Locate local agency.
Iowa Community Action Association Training Conference
Iowa's community action agencies offer programs and services to reduce conditions of poverty, make energy more affordable, promote the health and safety of Iowa families, and enable low-income families and individuals to become self-sufficient. The 2022 Iowa Community Action Association Training Conference will be held July 20-21, 2022, at the West Des Moines Marriott, 1250 Jordan Creek Pkwy, West Des Moines, IA 50266. You may attend in-person or virtually. To register and view the Conference Program and description of workshops, click here: ICAA Conference.
Juneteenth
Juneteenth commemorates the day that enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, learned that they were free — two and a half years after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Although there has been a long history of celebrations, Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021.
Want to know how you can observe Juneteenth?
The Iowa Juneteenth Observance has a list of statewide events that highlight African American culture, history, education, and entertainment. Visit https://www.iowajuneteenth.org/events.html.
Iowa PBS, Iowa Public Radio and xBk will present a Juneteenth holiday special featuring performances and interviews from Black artists across Iowa. Iowa PBS Juneteenth: The Movement will premiere on Iowa PBS on June 18 at 7:00 pm. For more information, visit https://www.iowapbs.org/shows/juneteenth.
Learn more about Juneteenth by visiting the Iowa Department of Human Rights' website by clicking here: Juneteenth.
June is Immigrant Heritage Month
Did you know that immigrants from Mexico, China, India, Vietnam, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and many more countries around the world, have come to call Iowa home within the last 10 years? As Iowa grows, our immigrant neighbors have helped to shape Iowa through the exchange of knowledge culture, economy, history, and identity. To learn more about resources and to see some of the stories of our own immigrant neighbors, visit https://humanrights.iowa.gov/immigration-resources and iowaculture.gov.
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Iowa Department of Human Rights
Lucas State Office Building
321 E 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
515-242-5640 or 1-800-351-4659
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