The Johnson County Social Services Department will expand its capacity to help those who are most in-need by hiring an additional General Assistance Specialist. The position is a result of Johnson County’s investment of funds received from the federal government through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
Johnson County’s General Assistance Program (GA) provides short-term help to County residents in extreme financial crisis and those most at risk of homelessness. GA offers a safety net for those who are often ineligible for other governmental programs and promotes community strength by encouraging individual stability and self-sufficiency. Financial assistance is available for rent, utilities, food and provisions, transportation, prescriptions, pet food, and burial or cremation expenses.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnson County expanded the GA guidelines beginning Aug. 1, 2021, to serve a larger number of households in need of urgent financial assistance.
The changes include
• Increasing income eligibility from 130% to 200% of Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG);
• Increasing months of assistance for households over 50% FPG from one time in a 12-month period to up to three times in a 12-month period;
• Expanding eligibility for recipients of other state and federal benefit programs who were previously excluded, including those receiving Family Investment Program (FIP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and unemployment;
• Expanding eligibility regardless of immigration status;
• Increasing the maximum monthly assistance amount by $150;
• Providing pet food and gas vouchers.
For more information visit https://www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/social-services/general-assistance-program or https://www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/arpa.