The Norwalk City Council has approved acceptance of a Central Iowa Housing Trust Fund grant along with a related forgivable loan agreement, continuing the city’s efforts to support housing maintenance and preservation for qualifying residents.

Norwalk City Manager Luke Nelson tells KNIA News the program helps homeowners who may struggle to cover the cost of necessary repairs, particularly in a community with a wide range of property values.

“That’s been a very successful program. Norwalk has a lot of high-value property in town. We also have some more moderate value property, and we have some folks that might have some financial needs to make some improvements to those homes.”

Nelson says eligible homeowners can apply for assistance if they meet certain income guidelines, with funding often used for improvements such as roofing, siding, or other maintenance-related needs. The city has contributed local dollars to the effort for several years, and the acceptance of the grant allows those funds to be leveraged further through matching support.

City officials say the program is designed to help residents maintain safe, quality housing while preserving neighborhood stability across the community.

The full interview with Norwalk City Manager Luke Nelson can be heard below: