Come together to combat homelessness

Homelessness is an issue in Cedar Rapids. It may not be as visible as in larger cities; however it exists and has grown continuously over the past several years.

In January, I was fortunate to take part in Cedar Rapids' homeless point-in-time count. Twice a year, larger communities across the nation spend a night counting homeless individuals living on the street and those staying in shelters, transitional, and permanent housing. The point-in-time count gives us an accurate portrayal of homelessness in Cedar Rapids, knowing how many individuals and families are truly affected.

On Jan. 28, 2015, 461 homeless individuals were counted in Cedar Rapids, of whom 43 were living on the street. This number has grown by 25 percent in just the past four years and will continue to grow if something is not done.

Current barriers homeless individuals face are: strict landlord regulations, limited access to affordable housing and limited access to supportive services to assist with substance use and mental health problems.

Having shelter is a basic need and no one should be without a stable, safe place to call home. As a community, we need to expand options for permanent and affordable housing and develop more extensive outreach and support services.

We need to stop ignoring this issue and come together to build on efforts supporting homeless individuals in our community! Thank you.

If you are homeless and are in need of assistance, contact Waypoint Services 24-hour Crisis & Support Line at (319) 363-2093.

' Abby Martin is a University of Iowa Master of Social Work student from the Marion/Cedar Rapids area working part-time at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics and completing her practicum at United Way of East Central Iowa. Comments: abigail-martin@uiowa.edu