(Red Oak) The Southwest Iowa Housing Trust Fund (SWIHTF) Board recently approved four applications submitted by the city of Red Oak for the demolition program.
The demolition program, which is funded through SWIHTF, is designed to assist cities with the cost of demolition of blighted, residential properties. SWIHTF will pay 50% of the cost, up to $15,000, for demolition of the city owned properties. Over the past seven years, the trust fund and partnering cities have demolished 37 dilapidated houses that were beyond repair.
All cities within the SWIHTF region of Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, and Shelby Counties can apply at any time. The SWIHTF Board meets quarterly to review, score, and approve the applications. Scoring criteria includes: city utilized the grant last year, asbestos inspection has been completed, condition of the building/collapse, inherent danger of the property, impact on the neighborhood, and plans for the space after demolition.
For questions or to request/send an application contact Sandy Hansen at 712-243-4196 or sandy.hansen@swipco.org.
