The COVID-19 Iowa Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Program

IFA Partners with Global Reach to Aid Those Affected by COVID-19

An Opportunity for Strength to Prevail

We are living in a time in history unlike any other. From the global COVID-19 pandemic to record unemployment and civil unrest, America is being tested. Some people feel hopeless. Others feel lost. Some see an opportunity. They find passion and drive and commit to making things better. This is a time when people can come together to help others in their hour of need.

With issues revolving around health, equality, income, politics, and more, we all (understandably) have a lot on our minds. People fear losing their health, their jobs, and their homes. When the future is uncertain, history has taught us that people often seek hope and try to gain a sense of control by taking control of what they can. They look for resources to help get through the struggle.

“If necessity is the mother of invention, discontent is the father of progress.” – David Rockefeller

Help is available in times of struggle; you need only know where to look.

COVID-19 Iowa Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Program

Global Reach has announced a project that was the result of a partnership with the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) to create the COVID-19 Iowa Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Program.

Last week, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced the approval of funds for a program to help Iowans who lost their jobs after March 17^th, due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The program will assist those at risk of eviction or foreclosure for up to 4 months.

“Reynolds has so far allocated $22 million to the program, but additional funding could be added as demand warrants, said Ashley Jared, communications director with the Iowa Finance Authority” – The Des Moines Register

The website, created by Global Reach, matches applicants with various programs to help them avoid losing their home due to unforeseen COVID-19 related circumstances that caused a reduction in income. Those who qualify for the program will be provided with up to four months of rent or mortgage payments with funding available to cover current payments, or up to two months of missed rental payments (dating to April 1). Payments will be made directly to the landlords and mortgage service providers. The maximum claimable amount is a total of $3,200 per person for rent or $3,000 per person for mortgage payments, according to the program overview provided by the IFA.

“This will be a great tool for those who need help. The team at Global Reach did a great job bringing the project to life and I am very proud of the dedication of my team. Utilizing SiteViz, our team completed this three-month project in just 10 days."

- Iacovos Zachariades, President and CEO, Global Reach

The application is hosted at the Global Reach High Availability data center and was developed to be able to handle 100,000 applications on day one.

Delivering Solutions

The COVID-19 Iowa Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Program was a 3-month project that Global Reach was able to deliver in 10 days by using SiteViz as the foundation for this solution. SiteViz is an enterprise-level CMS and e-commerce solution developed in Iowa by Global Reach. SiteViz is the preferred solution for government agencies that are allowed to have a choice of their CMS. It is currently serving the needs of:

• Treasurer of the State of Iowa

• Iowa Attorney General

• Iowa Judicial Branch

• Iowa Board of Regents

• Iowa State Auditor

• Iowa Finance Authority

• Iowa Department of Agriculture

A History of Partnerships to Help Others

This is not the first time that the Iowa Finance Authority has helped those who lost their homes. In 2005, when Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, Iowa decided to help those in need. When the IFA needed help with developing a web application capable of handling the demand for assistance, they turned to Global Reach. The whole company worked over a weekend to deliver on the needs of the project, and within 3 days had a complete solution.

Other Ways to Help

The struggle is real for many in these uncertain times. Others feel blessed to not be feeling the impact of COVID-19 so intensely. Ironically, social distancing has provided us with an opportunity to come together in ways we never would have considered before.

“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” – Dali Lama

If you are fortunate enough to find yourself in a position to help others, you can do so by donating your time, resources, and expertise to the causes that need them most. Time is the most valuable finite resource we have, so investing yours in others has the potential to be infinitely rewarding.

Lending your ear to those who struggle is a great start. Only when we fully understand a problem can we work to fix it. When we live the struggle of those we seek to serve, we move beyond sympathy and empathy to compassionate action. When you understand the struggle, you can work to create a plan of action. Often these plans require you to move your resources to others who can help beyond your expertise. When this time comes, seek Partners.

The Right Partner

Partner with experts who understand your needs and the needs of those you seek to serve. If your current partner isn’t listening, find a new one. Find a partner who can help you get the job done right, the first time.

At Global Reach, we are proud to partner with our clients to deliver whatever they need. From design and development to marketing and strategy, we get the job done, we get it done well, and go out of our way to do advanced things that no one else can do. Our clients often tell us that they truly appreciate the effort we put into getting to know them and their needs.

We are proud of our diversity, a cornerstone of our culture, and employ people from all around the world- from varied backgrounds and experiences. We actively seek out unique talent and are always looking for opportunities to grow and help others do the same.

For more information about the COVID-19 Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Program please visit the Iowa Finance Website

If you’d like to learn more about Global Reach and how we can help you with your goals, we encourage you to contact us today!