The Johnson County Board of Supervisors voted Thursday, February 24, to establish the eligibility, selection, and requirements for the DAP, funded with Local Fiscal Recovery Funds through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
The Board of Supervisors recognizes that the pandemic caused a wide range of impacts which affected many households across the County. The DAP will provide relief to residents who faced severe economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and support a robust, resilient, and equitable recovery for Johnson County.
Johnson County has invested $2 million of Local Fiscal Recovery Funds in the DAP. The Iowa City City Council has discussed contributing additional ARPA funds to Johnson County’s program.
The DAP provides a one-time, $1,400 payment to eligible Johnson County residents who experienced a negative economic impact due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Board of Supervisors acknowledges that the number of applicants may exceed available funds and prioritizes equity through the application process. Therefore, the Board has decided to utilize random selection—a precise, scientific procedure whereby each individual in a population has an equal chance of selection for inclusion—to determine which eligible applicants receive assistance.
To be eligible to apply for the program, residents need to demonstrate: identity, residency in Johnson County since March 1, 2020, low to moderate annual income, and at least one of the following COVID-19 impact(s): Unemployment or reduction in work hours, food insecurity, housing insecurity, exclusion from federal stimulus payment(s) and/or expanded unemployment benefits and enrollment in eligible federal programs.
Program details, including required documentation, application timelines, and FAQs will be released soon. Additional information is available at https://www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/direct-assistance-program.
More information about ARPA and how it impacts Johnson County is available at https://www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/arpa.