Articles Tagged: Homelessness

After a slight delay, the Linn County overnight winter weather shelter is set to open Saturday as a “last resort” for those seeking shelter during the harsh winter months.

Also in this week’s roundup of local government notes, the Iowa City school district will replace an Iowa City High turf soccer field and football practice field with turf.

In March 2024, a report revealed that more than half of Latino immigrants were chronically homeless in Johnson County. Since then, living conditions and affordability have deteriorated further for Latino immigrants as families’ providers are arrested.

A collaborative of area health care providers and Linn County social service agencies is exploring the feasibility of creating a street medicine team to help deliver health care to the unhoused.

The development will provide rapid rehousing and supportive services for community members experiencing literal homelessness.

Housing insecurity remains a complex issue with myriad underlying causes and challenges, but evidence is mounting that ongoing collaborations and newly established initiatives are starting to make a difference.

The victims of an Iowa City man charged with intentionally driving his car into five people after a dispute Friday were staying in a homeless encampment near the Iowa City Shelter House, according to a statement released Monday by the nonprofit.

Willis Dady, a nonprofit based in Cedar Rapids, was one of 100 grant recipients from the Lowe’s Hometowns project, which is dedicated to improving communities through revitalized public and private property. The funds will be used to make ADA renovations to a house that provides a home for veterans.

Also in this week’s Government Notes, Cedar Rapids is supporting a new initiative to address homelessness.

In Iowa, where Trump’s executive order pushing for forcible hospitalization over supportive housing could have significant implications, one homeless services provider says “Nothing in the order does anything that is proven to end homelessness. And in fact, it does the opposite.”

A Linn County housing program that launched last year — and initially struggled to find landlords to participate — is up and running with seven people currently being housed through the pilot program.

County leaders say the project should increase space, safety at the seasonal overnight shelter.

One year ago, J’nae Peterman started charting a new way forward for Cedar Rapids and Linn County. Now, the route to help end homelessness has been outlined with five pillars.

The Cedar Rapids City Council’s top priorities will remain unchanged for the year ahead, with members signaling their intent to pursue those goals with an eye for population growth through intentional investment.

The county purchased the 15 unit property at 1102 Hollywood Blvd. in Iowa City, in 2024 for $1.7 million, marking the first time the county has directly owned housing stock. Under a plan proposed by Iowa City, federally funded rental assistance vouchers, combined with VA support services, would be offered to veterans living in the units.