A grant from the Iowa State Bar Foundation will help Iowa Legal Aid continue its statewide housing stability project, providing free legal help to low-income Iowans facing housing issues. The funding will support attorneys, paralegals, and advocates who assist tenants dealing with evictions, unsafe housing conditions, loss of housing subsidies, foreclosure, and housing discrimination.
“The Iowa State Bar Foundation is pleased to award this grant to Iowa Legal Aid for its statewide housing stability project,” said Mark Schuling, President of the Foundation. “We’re proud to support the vital legal services Iowa Legal Aid provides to low-income Iowans.”
A key part of the project is Iowa Legal Aid’s Eviction Diversion Project, which operates in six counties that account for nearly 70% of eviction filings in Iowa. By providing courthouse-based legal assistance, Iowa Legal Aid helps tenants understand their rights, negotiate with landlords, and, when necessary, receive representation in court. Legal intervention can often prevent families from losing their homes and experiencing homelessness.
The need for these services remains significant. More than 21,000 evictions were filed in Iowa in 2025, and housing cases made up nearly half of Iowa Legal Aid’s total caseload last year. Many tenants appear in court without an attorney, while landlords often have legal representation. Iowa Legal Aid helps level the playing field and ensures that vulnerable Iowans have meaningful access to justice.
Through this project, Iowa Legal Aid expects to assist more than 15,000 clients and household members in 2026, including more than 5,700 children. Support from the Iowa State Bar Foundation strengthens Iowa Legal Aid’s ability to stabilize families, prevent homelessness, and promote fair and just outcomes in Iowa’s housing courts.
“Stable housing is the foundation for family stability, child well-being, and economic security,” said Nick Smithberg. “This grant from the Iowa State Bar Foundation will help Iowa Legal Aid provide critical legal assistance to low-income Iowans facing eviction and other housing crises. By helping people understand their rights and access legal representation, we can prevent homelessness and keep families together.”