How to create an account in the Neighborly Participant Portal

In our 2026 fiscal year, the Polk County Housing Trust Fund will begin using Neighborly as our platform for program applications as well as managing fund draws and other processes.

Using Neighborly allows you to log in and see your application, funding agreements, and other information all in one place. Here's how you can get started to submit a funding application to the Polk County Housing Trust Fund.

To get started, you'll need to create an account.

1. Visit our Neighborly Participant Portal.

2. Select Sign up now at the top of the page.

3. You will be directed to enter the e-mail address you wish to use to log in. Neighborly will send a code to that e-mail address to verify your identity.

4. Complete the instructions to verify your email, then enter your name and create a password.

For login help: If you need help creating your account or logging in, choose the Technical Support link on the portal login page. Requests for this type of technical support are handled by Neighborly.

To start an application: Applications for funding are only visible during the time they are open. To begin an application, simply select it from the list. For users who have applied to PCHTF before, the application process is similar to our prior system from that point on.

Remember, to see the schedule of when applications are available, visit www.pchtf.org/apply.

We're transitioning to Neighborly for PCHTF funding applications

In our 2026 fiscal year, the Polk County Housing Trust Fund will begin using Neighborly as our platform for program applications as well as managing fund draws and other processes. The process for applying for our programs will feel similar to our past Formstack applications, but with many new features we are excited to offer to you:

• You will be able to log in to manage your applications and funding from PCHTF, so if you manage multiple applications in different programs, you can access all your information in one place.

• It will be easier to save your work on an application and have other members of your team contribute to an application.

• All the documents and details from the life-cycle of your funding (application, contract, loan agreement, compliance, etc.) will all be available in one location.

The transition to Neighborly will continue throughout the coming year, and we are excited to work with applicants and funded partners to make adjustments and provide the most efficient experience possible.

State awards tax credits to Goldfinch Lofts; more multifamily funding decisions expected soon

Funding announcements are occurring or expected soon for several new affordable multifamily projects planned for Des Moines.

At its March Board meeting, the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) approved awards of $1,000,000 in low income housing tax credits (annually for 10 years) as well as a $500,000 HOME program Award for Goldfinch Lofts In Des Moines.

Goldfinch Lofts, which is being developed by Cutler Development LLC and Arch Icon Development Corp., won the state’s second-annual Housing Innovation Pitch Competition at the HousingIowa Conference in 2025, giving the project a priority lane to receive this housing tax credit award.

Rendering of Goldfinch Lofts courtesy of the developers.

Goldfinch Lofts is planned for 3404 Ingersoll Avenue in Des Moines (across from Price Chopper). The property is planned to be Iowa’s first Low Income Housing Tax Credit project to use mass timber construction, a method the developers have used previously including on Star Lofts a few blocks to the east. The property will feature 28 income-restricted apartments.

Anticipating IFA’s award of credits, the Polk County Housing Trust Fund’s board in February awarded $459,000 in new rental development funds to support Goldfinch Lofts.

IFA is expected to announce the remaining Housing Tax Credit awards in this year’s 9% credit round in early May. PCHTF’s board also approved $250,000 awards for two projects with applications pending in this round, provided they are successful in receiving credits. Those projects include Newbury Commons and Foundry Lofts, both planned for the Market District (along Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway just east of the Des Moines River) in Des Moines.

Both of those projects could be the beneficiary of the Thriving Communities designation awarded to Des Moines in 2024 to encourage multifamily affordable development in communities that demonstrate development readiness.