Polk County Board Staff Meeting (8/11/26)

The Polk County Board Staff Meeting held on August 11, 2026, focused primarily on a proposed $2.44 million emergency rental assistance project aimed at preventing homelessness among low-income working families in the Tri-County area (Dallas, Polk, and Warren counties). The project includes a scientifically valid research study conducted by Grinnell College economists and sociologists to determine the most effective length of emergency rental assistance. The study will enroll 780 participants and is planned over two years, with findings expected in August 2028. Funding for the project has secured approximately $1.9 million from 14 organizations, including local governments and private foundations, leaving a $460,000 gap. Polk County is being approached to contribute to this funding gap, with an anticipated 70% of participants residing in Polk County. The project also includes community education efforts and public-private partnerships to optimize rental assistance programs already in place. Board members expressed support for the initiative and discussed potential county funding contributions.