What programs are available for homeowners in need of assistance in maintaining their property?

In July of 2007 the Metro Home Improvement Program was formed. This program is an expansion of the WestHELP. The Metro Home Improvement Program is a collaborative effort of nine metro cities with the purpose to preserve affordable housing stock in these communities. The participating cities are Ankeny, Altoona, Clive, Grimes, Johnston, Pleasant Hill, Urbandale, West Des Moines and Windsor Heights. The program has a Management Committee, consisting of one representative per city, which oversees the policies decisions for the program. Assistance is for housing repairs and correcting code violations. The awards are in the form of a five-year forgivable loan to eligible households with income less than 80% of the Area Median Income. Eligible property types are single family dwellings and do not include mobile homes, homes being purchased on contract, duplexes or rental units. The house assisted must be the primary residence of the applicant. WestHELP, the original program, was in existence for five years and assisted over 78 homes.

The Metro Home Improvement Program is administered by the City of West Des Moines. The program is funded through the participating cities and the Polk County Housing Trust Fund. See http://www.wdm-ia.com/Index.aspx?page=87 for additional information and program application.
The program began in Windsor Heights in 2002. Since that time, $186,695 has been invested in houses in Windsor Heights. A total of 17 houses have been assisted.