The Housing Authority works to improve the quality of life for clients, acting as a community leader on affordable housing by providing information and education, housing assistance, and public and private partnership opportunities. The Housing Authority is a division of the City of Iowa City established in 1969 to administer housing assistance programs. We currently assist more than 1,500 low-income families to acquire and maintain affordable housing through rental and ownership programs. 

The Housing Authority is not accepting applications for our Housing Choice Voucher or Public Housing Program waitlists at this time.

If you are experiencing homelessness, call Shelter House at 319-351-0326, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Shelter House operates a 70-bed Shelter that serves Johnson and Washington Counties. If you are at risk of homelessness, visit https://www.iowahousinghelp.com/ to connect with resources available through Coordinated Entry.

Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS)

Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) is a voluntary program available to Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) participants. The purpose of the program is to assist families in improving their economic situations and reducing their dependence on welfare programs.

Participant Briefing Video

To learn more about the benefits of a rental assistance voucher and participant responsibilities, please view this participant briefing video.

Public Housing

Public housing is federally-funded subsidized rental housing for low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) distributes federal subsidies to the Housing Authority, which owns and manages housing for low-income residents at affordable rents.

Voucher Assistance

Voucher assistance allows very low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities to choose and lease or purchase safe, decent, and affordable, privately-owned rental housing.

Top Five Participant Head-of-Household Characteristics

• Disabled and/or elderly (57%)
• Households without minors (55%)
• Working families (49%)
• One-person households (50%)
• White (49%)

Iowa City Housing Authority Online Payment System

• Make an Online Payment

Community Resources

• Johnson County Social Services