Iowa City Council agrees to fully fund Direct Assistance Program gap

Hunter
08/17/22

The Iowa City Council formally agreed Tuesday night to cover the funding gap in the Johnson County Direct Assistance Program.

The program, announced earlier this year, targeted county residents who experienced a negative impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and did not qualify for pandemic relief payments provided by the US Government.

Johnson County received 2,411 applications. Of those applications, 2,238 were determined eligible after initial review and an appeal process. The Direct Assistance Program was able to fund 1,919 residents. Through the respective investments, Coralville funded 19 residents; Iowa City funded 472 residents; and Johnson County funded 1,428 residents.

The initially selected applicants received a mailed check for $1400 after being emailed with notification of approval. That left 319 people who qualified for the assistance but were not chosen.

It was pointed out at previous city council meetings that Iowa City residents received two-thirds of the relief money but only funded about 25 percent of the total. The Council agreed to consider the matter, and on Tuesday agreed to fund the remaining $446,600 in direct payments and another $9400-plus in check processing fees.

The council passed the motion unanimously.