Hunter
06/18/21
Shelter House has broken ground on a second “Housing First” project to provide permanent housing for the city’s chronically homeless.
The Gazette reports that the new building will be adjacent to Shelter House on Southgate Avenue, and take about a year to construct. When it’s finished, there will be 36 apartments. That will give the organization a total of 60 units to work with, as Cross Park Place has 24 units.
According to Shelter House, the “Housing First” model provides housing first, then works on the other issues that have contributed to the individual’s situation, whether it’s mental health problems or addiction issues.
Tenants pay 30 percent of their income as rent, which is adjusted as job situations change.
Funding for the project comes from the Iowa Finance Authority, who granted $2.7 million to the project, as well as help from the Johnson County Housing Trust Fund.