Wednesday, February 8, 2012

City of Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission is awarded $100,000

For Immediate Release

Harkin Announces $420,000 for Fair Housing in Iowa


WASHINGTON D.C.-Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) has awarded $422,622 to seven Iowa cities. FHAP aims to assist state and local agencies that administer fair housing laws. The assistance includes support for complaint processing, training, technical assistance, data and information systems, and other fair housing projects. The program is also designed to provide incentives for states and localities to assume a greater share of the responsibility for administering fair housing laws. Senator Harkin is a senior member of the Appropriations subcommittee that funds HUD.

“Quality, affordable housing is one of our most basic needs,” said Harkin. “I am pleased the federal government is providing funding to Iowa cities that will allow each of them to take responsibility for fair housing laws and projects in their communities.”

Details of the funding are as followings:
Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission-$100,000
Davenport Civil Rights Commission-$64,285
Des Moines Human Rights Department-$44,680
Iowa Civil Rights Commission-$37,200
Mason City Human Rights Commission-$86,802
Sioux City Human Rights Commission-$23,655
Waterloo Commission on Human Rights-$66,000

Note: Robin Tucker, Realtor with Tommy Tucker Realty Co. serves on the 11-member Civil Rights Commission for the City of Cedar Rapids.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Section 8 and Lawful Sources of Income

As a Realtor and Property Manager for Tommy Tucker Realty Co., we consider all lawful sources of income from customers in the application process for houses we operate for rent. Not all properties or property owners are suited for use of Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. In talking to a prospective customer (applicant) today, we discovered that the property they seeked was above the price guidelines for the prospective tenant's voucher.

City to Offer Free Section 8 Landlord Orientation Sessions

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – January 25, 2012 – The City of Cedar Rapids Housing Services/Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program will be offering free landlord orientation sessions for all landlords, leasing agents, rental managers and maintenance personnel.

The two hour presentation will include an overview of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program, tenant demographics, common forms and leases, evictions/program violations, and Section 8 inspections and common repairs.
Individuals can register to attend one of the four sessions scheduled for the following dates:


  • Wednesday, February 8, 2012 from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

  • Wednesday, May 2, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

  • Wednesday, August 8, 2012 from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

  • Wednesday, November 7, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m.

The February 8 and May 2 sessions will be held at the Housing Services Office Conference Room, located at 1211 6Th Street SW. Locations for the August 8 and November 7 sessions are yet to be determined. Future updates and more information can be found at the following website under Landlord Resources:

www.cedar-rapids.org/government/departments/community-development/section8rentassistance. To find out more the Section 8 landlord orientation sessions, please contact Jim Borschel at (319) 286-5181 or j.borschel@cedar-rapids.org.