Iowa Rent Reimbursement

If you’re a low-income Iowan aged 65 or older or a low-income disabled adult you may be eligible for a partial reimbursement of your rent. You can now apply for reimbursement for 2023 and 2022 claims using any device that connects to the internet. To be eligible you need to be 65 or older in the claim year or be at least 18 and totally disabled in the claim year. You can access a printable form here.

Income Limits

• To be eligible for Rent Reimbursement for claim year 2022, your total annual household income must be less than $25,328
• To be eligible for Rent Reimbursement for claim year 2023, your total annual household income must be less than $25,328

Iowa City Revises Zoning Code to Encourage ADU Development

By: William Gorman, Chair of JCLC Housing Action Team

It has been an initiative of JCLC’s Housing Action Team (HAT) to encourage cities to adopt zoning code to allow Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). In November 2022, HAT sponsored a Public Forum in conjunction with the Homebuilders Association and the Realtors Association to invite elected officials, home builders and realtors to learn about ADUs. HATs goal is to increase affordable housing stock, not only for seniors, but all age groups.



Subsequent, to the training, HAT submitted zoning code recommendations to all the cities in Johnson County. Iowa City Planning staff took the recommendations seriously and began to look at how to revise their existing ADU zoning code to make improvements which might increase the number of ADUs throughout the city. Their recommendations were considered throughout 2023 by the Planning and Zoning Commission and ultimately by the City Council. In November 2023, the City of Iowa City Council approved major zoning code changes for ADUs.

Some of the major changes to the zoning code are as follows:

1.    ADUs are now allowed in all residential districts;

2.    ADUs may be attached to the primary residence or detached;

3.    Off-street parking is no longer required.

4.    The size allowance for ADUs has been increased to 1,000 sq. feet;

5.    A detached ADU no longer has to match the exterior finishes of the primary residence. An attached ADU will still need to match the exterior finishes of the primary residence;

6.    Entrance locations for an ADU do not have to face the side or rear lot line;

7.    The term “accessory apartment” was changed to “accessory dwelling unit” to match the generally accepted national term for a separate small dwelling on the same lot as a primary residence.

8.    The requirement for owner occupancy was maintained with the understanding they may revisit this issue in the future.

The Housing Action Team with continue its effort to encourage other cities in Johnson County to adopt zoning code allowing ADUs throughout 2024 and into the future.

League of Women Voters 2024 Legislative Forum

The League of Women Voters Johnson County (LWVJC) is hosting three legislative forums this winter with a focus on Education, Healthcare and Public Safety.

Each forum will open with legislators sharing important information about what they are working on in Des Moines. The LWVJC will then ask a question to get things started. The floor will then be opened up to anyone in attendance to ask a question. Questions are limited to one minute in length.

All three forums will be held in the Assembly Room at the Iowa City Senior Center, 28 S Linn St, Iowa City, IA 52240 and may also be viewed live on the https://www.facebook.com/LWVJCIA/

For additional information, visit https://lwvjc.org/