Iowa Legal Aid received a Legacy Grant from Prairie Meadows to help low-income Central Iowans remain safely housed by providing free legal assistance to individuals and families facing eviction, domestic violence, and income-related legal challenges.
The grant will support Iowa Legal Aid’s work across nine Central Iowa counties, helping individuals and families overcome legal challenges that threaten their housing and financial stability. Through free legal assistance, Iowa Legal Aid helps clients remain safely housed, maintain access to essential resources, and build more secure futures for themselves and their families.
“Access to legal help can make the difference between a family remaining in their home and facing homelessness,” said Nick Smithberg, executive director of Iowa Legal Aid. “Prairie Meadows’ investment helps us connect more Central Iowans with the legal assistance they need to maintain housing stability and move forward with greater security.”
“Organizations like Iowa Legal Aid enrich the lives and experiences of Iowans, creating opportunities and a brighter future for all,” said Julie Stewart, chief operating officer at Prairie Meadows. “We’re proud to invest in initiatives that help our communities grow and thrive.”
Iowa Legal Aid’s Eviction Diversion Help Desk at the Polk County Courthouse connects renters facing eviction with attorneys and paralegals who provide legal advice, explain tenants’ rights, identify potential defenses, and offer representation in negotiations and court proceedings.
The need for these services is significant. Nearly 11,000 eviction cases were filed annually across the nine-county Central Iowa area in 2024 and 2025. Meanwhile, Iowa Legal Aid assisted approximately 3,000 people facing eviction each year in the region, underscoring the gap between the need for legal assistance and the resources available to meet it.
Beyond eviction prevention, Iowa Legal Aid helps survivors fleeing domestic violence obtain protective orders and address child custody, divorce, and possession of the family home. Attorneys also help clients pay their rent or mortgage by resolving debt issues, preventing garnishment and repossession, protecting income, and obtaining public benefits.
In 2025, Iowa Legal Aid closed 4,084 cases in Central Iowa, benefiting 9,676 household members, including 3,953 children. These cases provided clients with $3.14 million in financial benefits.
“Preventing housing instability benefits not only the individuals and families directly affected, but also the broader community,” Smithberg said. “When families can remain safely housed, children have greater stability, neighborhoods are stronger, and communities can avoid the far-reaching costs of homelessness. By helping people resolve legal problems before they escalate, we’re building a stronger foundation for all Iowans.”