Hunter
01/12/23
The Iowa City Council has allocated $1.4 million to Shelter House to administer a program helping those with housing issues.
The Press-Citizen reports the 3-year Housing Stability Pilot Program is aimed at establishing a more efficient and effective homeless response system, prevention and diversion of evictions and improving housing retention. The program, which will serve clients in Johnson and Washington counties, will initially be funded from the city’s federal American Rescue Plan Act allocation. The program will have to be funded from different sources once that allocation expires.
The money will be used to fund a full-time specialist and translation subscription service as a first point of contact, two full-time specialists to build relationships with local landlords and property managers to expand housing options, and two full-time specialists to help with financial assistance for those in need finding and/or retaining housing.
A risk-mitigation fund will also be established to persuade landlords to rent to low income individuals, those with poor rental or credit histories, or criminal backgrounds. The funds could be used to guarantee landlords wouldn’t be on the hook for excessive damages to a unit or lost rent not covered by security deposits.
Shelter House will also use funds to partner with Johnson County Legal Aid and the county Courthouse to go over criminal records of offenders with the goal of reducing or removing convictions that cause barriers to getting a driver’s license, an apartment, or a job.