Serving the individuals and families who,

if not for assistance from us or agencies we work with,

they would be homeless...

Goals

Our newest program at the Family Resource Center fills a gap that exists in many rural Iowa communities. There was no formal or established process for dealing with homelessness issues. This agency wrote for a grant through the Iowa Finance Authority last winter hoping to obtain funding to address those situations where someone finds themselves "one check away or less from being homeless", evicted, without electricity or lights or heat. Many of us have been misinformed that we don't have homeless in rural western Iowa. That is a myth - we DO, but they're probably not sleeping under a bridge, hopefully. Instead, they are moving themselves and their two kids into a two-bedroom apartment with mom, dad, and another sibling -- it's called "Doubled Up". When people have to start choosing between putting food on the table or being a couple weeks late with rent, they'll opt for the food. Life begins to snowball, and later implodes with eviction and cut-off notices.

What We Do

Our agency has a strong collaborative network established with other agencies to work together and ensure services fill gaps without overlap. We can assist with . . .

• Rent payments

• Rental deposits

• Utility payments and deposits

• Budget counseling

• Creditor negotiations

• Tenant-Landlord disputes over fitness for habitation issues through referral to Legal Aid

• Cleaning products to restore sanitary living conditions

• Financial management

In partnership with county relief coordinators, Department of Human Services, community action agencies, extra effort and food pantry agencies, local planning groups, faith-based groups and others, we function as an "assistance of last resort" either through direct help or referral.

 

Who We Serve

 

Families currently receiving homelessness benefits reside in Audubon, Carroll, Greene, and Guthrie counties in Iowa.

 

 

 

If you want to help families with homelessness prevention issues, you can:

• Donate to our Client Needs funds, which we use to match with other grants and foundation funds. Those funds help families pay for rent, utilities, counseling, case management, and transportation or childcare while families are addressing and resolving housing issues and conflicts.