ARP-HCY Mini Grants

The Iowa Department of Education is using state set-aside money from American Rescue Plan-Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) to create two mini grant opportunities to give local education agencies (LEAs) more tools in meeting the needs of their students and families who are experiencing homelessness.

Resource Hub Mini Grant

The Resource Hub Mini Grant is intended to help LEAs create a space in a school building where students and families experiencing homelessness can access basic necessities that may be causing them to disengage from school. The mini grant offers the opportunity for LEA’s to provide PK-12 students with the necessary resources to children and youth experiencing homelessness in their school building. Examples of allowable onsite resource hub purchases include:

• Personal hygiene supplies
• Clothing (specifically for homeless families) 
• Food (specifically for homeless families)
• Purchases necessary to create sustainable food pantries/clothing closets (shelving, refrigeration units, storage containers, signage)
• Washer/Dryer
• Emergency supplies
• Portable shower units

Eligibility Requirements

Any school district who has reported to have served at least one homeless student in the 2022-23 school year, as reported in the SRI data collection, may apply for the grant.

Priority for awarding a grant will be based on the needs of children and youth experiencing homelessness within the LEA, the plan the LEA has for meeting those needs, and the plan the LEA has for sustainability after relief funds expire. 

Program Funds

There is a total of $372,538 available for the resource hub mini grant opportunity. LEAs may apply for up to $10,000 for the resource hub mini grant. The funds must be obligated by Sept. 30, 2024 and liquidated by Jan. 30, 2025 in accordance with the federal guidelines outlined in ARP-HCY.

Transportation Mini Grant

The Transportation Mini Grant is intended to help LEAs defray the cost of transportation of students experiencing homelessness. Transportation continues to be a major barrier for LEAs in serving students experiencing homelessness. The mini grant offers the opportunity for LEAs to provide PK-12 students with the necessary transportation needed to facilitate positive school attendance patterns of children experiencing homelessness. Examples of allowable purchases include:

• Vehicle purchases (LEA assumes all liability and maintenance of the vehicle after initial purchase)
• Public transportation services
• Private transportation services
• Gas cards

Eligibility Requirements

Districts that meet the federal definition of “rural" and reported serving at least one student experiencing homelessness last year can apply for up to $30,000 to address transportation needs and to help facilitate positive school attendance for students and families experiencing homelessness. Allowable uses of grant funds include the purchase of gas cards, public transportation services, private transportation services, and in certain cases, vehicle purchases. Assurances must be agreed upon by the LEA in the application.

Program Funds

There is a total of $372,538 available for the transportation mini grant opportunity. LEAs may apply for up to $30,000 for the transportation mini grant. The funds must be obligated by Sept. 30, 2024 and liquidated by Jan. 30, 2025 in accordance with the federal guidelines outlined in ARP-HCY.

Mini Grant Timeline (Resource Hubs and Transportation)

Guidelines

ARP Homeless Children and Youth Program - Applicants are encouraged to thoroughly read this document prior to completing the application and budget forms in IowaGrants.gov.

Apply

Application and budget forms available in IowaGrants.gov

• Apply for the Resource Hub Mini Grant
• Apply for the Transportation Mini Grant