City invites applications for homeownership through ROOTS

Housing costs are continuing to rise nationwide, leaving many Iowans concerned about being able to afford buying a home.

A program through the City of Cedar Rapids aims to make that purchase easier.

ROOTs, which stands for Rebuilding Ownership Opportunities Together, aims to provide single-family housing to low-to-moderate-income households. The program offers up to $35,000 in down payment assistance, with homes featuring a maximum price of $175,000.

Properties approved for ROOTs are newly-built single family units located throughout Cedar Rapids.

Developers participating in ROOTs were identified through a competitive review process. Proposals were scored based on affordability, architectural design, green building principles and developer experience.

Funding for ROOTS comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program through the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Construction on ROOTS homes began in 2024 and continues through this year.

Key program criteria include:

• All housing units must be sold to low-to-moderate-income households which make 80% of the area median income or less. (For a family of four the income limit is $81,300)
• Households must have the ability to secure their own mortgage.
• Maximum sales price is $175,000 per unit.
• Downpayment assistance up to $35,000 is available to eligible buyers.
• All units will incorporate green building practices.
• The affordability period will be for 15 years, enforced by a forgivable lien on the property.

"The ROOTs program represents the City's continued commitment to addressing affordable housing needs," said City Manager Jeff Pomeranz. "The program has been transformative, and we are already seeing an impact as families move into high-quality homes."

"Affordable housing remains a key focus area for our City Council and in our City planning efforts," said Mayor Tiffany O'Donnell. "We encourage all eligible individuals to take advantage of this opportunity to secure stable housing for themselves and their families."

Prospective applicants are encouraged to visit CityofCR.com/Roots for more information and to access the application form and eligibility criteria.

You can view an FAQ about the program here.