Cedar Rapids boasts affordable housing, yet still has homeless

A new study this week says Cedar Rapids ranks #11 as the most affordable place to live in America.  It's a new poll by CNN and Money Magazine.

Yet, also this week the Iowa Institute is releasing a new study that says the population of homeless in Cedar Rapids grew again last year, and the total numbers in the city landed at 5.3% of all Cedar Rapidians were either homeless or at risk of being homeless last year.  Of all the homeless, 56.3% of them were in the situation for the first time.

It's a perplexing situation, and Cindy Carson is on the front lines.

Carson works with Coldwell Banker Hedges Realty, and helps sell homes built by the Affordable Housing Network and Block by Block.  One of the program's latest accomplishments is at 1221 8th St NW, Cedar Rapids.  It's listed at $89,000 and is slated to close on a deal next week, said Carson.

“Some of those I've listed and sold, we didn't even have a chance to do open houses because they sold so quickly,” said Carson.

The home is even more attractive considering the program offers free kitchen appliances, and the realtor's fee is reduced from the usual 7% to 5%, said Carson.

“But even $89,000 is too expensive for some of the homeless or at-risk homeless in Cedar Rapids,” said Ann Hearn,  Deputy Director of Linn County Community Services.

With all the available homes, or at least the modestly priced homes, according to the CNN poll, Hearn said there still isn't enough housing for the 6,729 people that the Iowa Institute said sought help at a shelter last year in Cedar Rapids.

The Iowa Institute's latest survey shows 2,651 people in Cedar Rapids didn't have homes last year.  It also shows a 73% increase in people who were at-risk of becoming homeless.  The rest of the state averaged 20%, according to the survey – Des Moines averaged only 7%.

“We'd like to paint a great picture of our community because it is a great community.  But there's still people out there that aren't having their needs met,” said Hearn.

And those needs aren't necessarily a cause of the flood.  The Institute's survey cited 42% of the homeless families attributed their situation to economics.  The flood played a minor role, according to the Institute.

Also, 56% of the homeless families said last year was their first time being homeless.