(West Des Moines, Iowa) – Iowa REALTORS® distributed more than $609,000 in housing relief grants to 547 households across the state following devastating spring and summer storms this year.  According to the organization, Iowa REALTORS® is dedicated to ensuring Iowans impacted by natural disasters are afforded the resources to rebuild their homes and sense of community through relief grants. Iowa Realtors CEO Gavin Blair said in a press release, “The sense of home for thousands of Iowans was diminished this spring and summer as a result of destructive severe weather events. As Iowans, we know that helping one another is the first line of action. Iowa REALTORS® stand behind our communities and are proud to provide needed support to those who faced the unimaginable.”

Through three separate grant relief campaigns, Iowa REALTORS® distributed $609,373 in funding to 547 Iowans. The funding was available to individuals impacted by storms in April, May and June to assist with mortgage and rental payments or hotel reimbursements.  Recipients received funding through a simple application process, sharing the stories and photos of the devastation they encountered following these deadly storms.

A woman from Minden- identified only as Jennifer – said she and her family experienced the total loss of their home following tornadoes that struck this past May. She said “The shock of this traumatic event still haunts us. Not only did we deal with wind damage, but the rains that followed for the following days made it extremely difficult to salvage anything that remained.” When flood waters filled the basement and five feet of the first floor of their home in Rock Valley, Stacia and her family lost all of the contents on the two floors. Because of the nature of the disaster – flooding – Stacia’s insurance claim was denied. The ability to obtain relief from Iowa REALTORS® will help her family as they begin to pick up the pieces.

In order to provide needed assistance following three major storm events and their subsequent flooding, Iowa REALTORS® received generous grant funding from the National Association of REALTORS’® REALTORS® Relief Foundation.