A share of $6.4 million in grants has been awarded to the local housing trust fund to support affordable housing initiatives. The Iowa Finance Authority awarded $230,534 to the East Central Iowa Housing Trust Fund which serves Washington, Iowa, Jones, and Benton Counties. The grant funds are used in a variety of ways including programs that preserve aging houses, subsidize local rental and down payment assistance, low-interest loans or grants for home rehabilitation, financing construction of new single-family housing for low-income families, supporting housing for persons with disabilities, and homeless assistance programs. Overall, the $6.4 million is expected to assist more than 2,500 families across Iowa’s 99 counties.