'Housing first,’ a novel response to homelessness, is expanding in Iowa City

Shelter House is expanding upon the innovative “housing first” project it started three years ago.

The Iowa City homeless shelter last week hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking for its new 501 Project, which will be the organization’s second facility offering low-barrier access to permanent supportive housing.

Many shelters impose barriers to entry, giving priority to clients who meet certain criteria for drug treatment or employment. The “housing first” model, by contrast, provides housing to people experiencing chronic homelessness regardless of those conditions, while also offering help to deal with behavioral health issues.

It’s something of a chicken-egg problem: Should housing be reserved for people who already are making progress, or is supportive housing a necessary precursor to addressing deeper problems? Advocates increasingly believe the latter is a better path.

“Consistently, requiring that someone heal before they be housed, it just doesn’t work. We know that housing is actually what allows for stabilization,” said Shelter House development director Christine Ralson, as reported by The Gazette’s Caleb McCullough.

The construction is being collaboratively funded through support from the Iowa Finance Authority and the Johnson County Housing Trust Fund. Organizers also are hosting community builds for volunteers to pitch in.

The 36 forthcoming units in the 501 Project will be a follow-up to Cross Park Place, another Shelter House offshoot completed in 2019 with 24 “housing first” units that was meant to be a statewide demonstration site for the concept.

The idea is to break the cycle of homelessness, which involves shifting in and out of support programs, jail and temporary housing. Police interactions and emergency room visits are not only a poor way to assist the unhoused, they also can be a waste of limited resources.

“Housing first” has been around for a few decades and is increasingly popular among experts and service providers, but its reach in Iowa is limited. The new 501 Project will join Cross Park Place and Cedar Rapids’ CommonBond Crestwood Ridge Apartments as a few of the only such facilities in Iowa

We are encouraged to see Shelter House not only sustaining its “housing first” model, but also expanding it with a new facility to serve even more people. We hope other service providers explore the idea as well.

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