Waypoint sees historically high numbers for housing needs

CEDAR RAPIDS — Waypoint Housing Services usually serves around 3,000 individuals each year who are experiencing a housing crisis or need emergency shelter, but in the last fiscal year, that number jumped to more than 13,000 and the organization is asking for donations to meet the need.

The Cedar Rapids nonprofit officials said the historically high demand is mostly due to the pandemic, aftermath of the derecho and now the economy as it struggles with inflation.

“This has created a loss of safety and stability among the highest need and vulnerable populations,” officials said in a news release.

Waypoint serves as the central point of contact for all households experiencing a housing crisis or seeking emergency shelter. The Coordinated Entry program helps ensure the most in need have fair and equal access to housing services.

Coordinated Entry is a communitywide response effort to addressing homelessness, according to Waypoint. The program uses data and strategy program coordination to help quickly identify, assess and connect those in crisis to community resources that best address their needs. Waypoint is designated as the lead agency for this system in Linn, Benton and Jones counties.

Before the pandemic and derecho, Waypoint housing services served 3,003 people, but this last fiscal year — July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022, — served 13,039 individuals, which shows how much recent world events have affected this community, Waypoint officials said in the news release.

In response to this increase, the nonprofit has hired additional staff, expanded programming, and created efficiencies to help meet this unprecedented demand for housing services.

To help continue meeting these growing and urgent needs, Waypoint is asking the community to consider making a monetary donation, especially as winter approaches when safe housing and shelter become a priority. The funds will be used for staffing and program costs to ensure Waypoint can meet the high need.

Waypoint’s other housing programs:

— Madge Phillips Center Shelter which provides women and families with children experiencing homelessness with overnight shelter, basic needs, and case management. It served 183 individuals last fiscal year and 90 percent found permanent housing.

— Rapid Re-Housing helps those in need to secure permanent housing through housing search, landlord advocacy, case management, and limited financial assistance. This program served 315 individuals last fiscal year and 68 percent found permanent housing.

— Homeless Prevention supports households who are at risk of entering the homeless service system with referrals to community resources to support housing stabilization. This program served 1,039 individuals last fiscal year and 91 percent found permanent housing.

— Tenant Academy is a nine-hour course providing people with “certification of completion” to show reliability and knowledge to potential landlords.

The nonprofit’s other programs are Domestic Violence Victim Services, Survivors’ Program and KidsPoint Child Care.

Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com