HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-11-19 Proclamation City of Iowa City
PROCLAMATION
Whereas, homelessness is the result of a complex set of circumstances that push
people into poverty and force impossible choices between food, shelter and other
basic needs; and
Whereas, hunger and homelessness remains one of our nation's most pressing
domestic issues; and
Whereas, hunger and homelessness is an issue faced daily by hundreds of men,
women, and children throughout our own community; and
Whereas, this community continues to work towards developing shelter resources
and capacity to meet the needs of the men, women, and children who are
homeless in our community; and
Whereas, we may never end homelessness, but do recognize that our work touches
the lives of hundreds of men, women, and children who are hungry and homeless
in our community every day - offering them hope, opportunity, and dignity.
Now, Therefore, I, Ernest W. Lehman, Mayor of Iowa City, do hereby proclaim
November 17th through November 23r~ to be
Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week
in Iowa City, Iowa, and urge all citizens to join in recognizing the important roles we
each can and do play in making a difference in the lives of men, women, and children
who are hungry and homeless in our community.~~) ~an~..
, Mayor
Signed in Iowa City, Iowa,
this 19th day of November, 2002.
City of Iowa
Whereas, is the result of a set of circumstances that push
people and force impossible s between food, shelter and other
basic needs; and
Whereas, hunger and one of our nation's most pressing
domestic issues; and
Whereas, hunger and is an issue faced daily by hundreds of men,
women, and children throu >wn community; and
Whereas, this community work towards developing shelter resources
and capacity to meet needs the men, women, and children who are
and
Whereas, we may do recognize that our work touches
the lives who are hungry and homeless
opportunity, and dignity.
l~OW, Emest W. Lehman, City, do hereby proclaim
to be
HungerHomelessness ness Week
in Iowa City, and urge all citizens to join in reco the important roles we
each can and play in making a difference in the lives women, and children
who are hun ~ and homeless in our community.
Ernest W. Lehman, Mayor
City, Iowa,
this day of November, 2002.
Summer 2002 Newsletter / Annual Report
~t wtlat EHP
the ~ ~usir
~d Otl'i~r serv~es.
Thank you very mucl~
The~EHP staff i~faced
continued on back..
VI 'AIlC) YMOI
~'g ll~J:j :1d /LJML~dq@~/sn'e!'X~!3-eMO!'UOg!'MMM#:d)),LJ
LUOO'lOe~dLla
alVd 9~F[~-~'~'~§ VI '/g,!O BMOI
::l~)VJ. SOd SIq 9ffl ~ xo8 'O'd
!DEIO J.I:JO~Jd-NON
~.3a.l'o J d ~u!snoH
2
Current Programs & ActiVities
As it has been some time since £HP has produced a newsletter, it woul~ be good to provide an
overview of EHP as it exists today and a basic overview of homelessne$~i~ ~ocal and
national contexts: ~
Program 1: Progra~ :~ ~ ~
Emergency and Transitional Drop~ ~enter
Shelter ~ ~ ~
Fr~5:OOpm -
The Emergency Housing daily~ EHP operates J~on work boots, a social security ~$~nave peen assisted and
Project EHP) ~vides both County's only drop-~ter, card, a drivers cense. [~us now ~ure ~using witr~
emergency/transient and short- This aspect of. ~ogram- passes, any puDIIC assistance an average of Ie~ th~ $150
term transitional housing to ming is av~l~ t~ all in for which the client may quail- n EHP assistance p~
those who desire to achieve need--f¢~ c~ients, homeless fy, child care, and medical hold. This program i~ designed
their maximum pOssibte self- pers~$~net currently staying in attention. Roughly 90% of all ~ ~ to provi~ assistanc~t9 indjvid-
sufficiency. In 2001, EHP pro- the ~er, and other Iow- EHP clients participate in the ualS an~ [amilies in ~curjng
vided shelter and supportive inc~e citizens of Iow~ ~ity, counsehng program receiving rental housing, EHP. r~lieso~
services to 725 individuals for Cor~e,~hd~ohnsoR ~unty. case management type set- client contribution, o~side
a total of 11,252 nights Men, women, ~n~i ~hiidren uti- vices. Participants have an don¢ions and financia~ssis-
stayed. Women and children lize the EHP Drop-in Center average stay of 45 days and tance of other agencies and
constitute about 30% of those Program for laundry and shower meet with a counselor for a organizations to secure the full
sheltered. Veterans constitute facilities, clothing, food, mail, minimum of one hour weekly deposit amount.
about 17% of those served, telephone use, messages, toi- for the first two weeks and one
The shelter component also letries, and most importantly half-hour weekly for the
consists of breakfast and a access to EHP staff and out- remaining weeks of their stay. ~ Access
mghtly meal. EHP provides reach workers from Community
food, shower and laundry facih- Mental Health and the STAR Clients are actively involved at ~
t~es, maiting address and mes- Program. In an average month, every level of our work. We This E~P program is designed
sage service for residents. For our services are utilized over regard our work with clients as to e age
the past two years, EHP has 500 times by people not stay- a partnership an interactive 18~ess,
remained open 24 hours a day lng at the shelter, agreement between EHP staff an~ically?n~:¥,d.
on weekdays and closes down and the individual responsi- STAR~ -' ~is a collaboratl~ nture
from 1lam to 5pm on Program 3: bility borne on both sides. Our involving a consortiu~ over
Saturdays and Sundays year In-Ho~e Couns~ling hope is that we are able to 2(3 agencies that pro~¢¢ job
round. Transient clients stay assist the individual and/or trai~ng, employmen~o~portu-
only a few days at a time; usu- EHP's strengths based anchor family to realize their goa~s niti~, and include~ ~ch coroF
ally to access one of the med- program, formerly ca~l~ "Early provid*ng the opportunity of a lary ~ ~ ~bstance
ical or mental health facilihes Bird", has been fully i~egrated new potential. Often barriers to abuse and m~tal health coun
in the community, wait for a into the fabric of the agency. It economic independence may seling. STAR utilizes a team
soon to arrive check, or to is fully expected that anyone be as complex as addressing approach tailored to meet the
escape from inclement weather, intending more than a transient chronic substance abuse prob- expressed goals of the individ-
The EHP Program participants stay will participate on some lems and maintaining extended ual. Clients have access to the
can stay at the shelter for up to level. EHP staff work with par- stays of sobriety or addressing program resources for up to two
90 days ~n so much as they ticipants to design thei~ own mental health issues gaining years. Case managers and out-
comply with house rules and self-sufficiency goal~a~ then access to clinicians and main- reach workers assist clients in
programmatic requirements, agree in~c, fiting~to pursue taining med-compliancy. This attaining vocational goals while
There is one EHP counselor them. As of ~995, nearly 60% can only be achieved through providing assistance with trans-
staffing the shelter per shift, of all program participants have collaboration with partnering portation, medical needs, child
This individual is required to ach*eyed 100% of their goals, agencies, care, life skills, education, and
perform intakes with new Staff work with clients to rent and utility deposits. STAR
clients, perform assessments of access community resources. Program 4: is a three-year grant funded by
clients, respond to both emer- Clients are expected to address John E. Thoma~ ~urity HUD currently managed and
gency and on going needs of substance abuse and mental Deposit Assist~n~e.~rogram staffed by MECCA.
clients and others, answer the health issues where relevant.
phone, coordinate volunteers, Staff work with clients to find In July of.~01, E~P~ was Future program directions:
provide information and refer- and/or maintain gainful awarded ~,000 f~ CDBG to Community-based responses
ral, and maintain a safe and employment. Clients are be utilize~d for Secl~r~y Deposit to needs such as tenant land-
orderly house. Other than the expected to save up to 75% of Assist~e. Befor~ died in lord education, transportation,
police station and hospital their earnings while staying at No~er of 20~, ~ormer and employment needs of
emergency rooms, we are the the shelter to be utilized staff pe~ ~ ~:.~mas the homeless.
only facility open throughout towards the costs of setting up gi~$~,~ ~ ~e
the night directly assisting their own households. The ser- utilized for secur~eposits.
individuals in crisis throughout vice coordinators work with all To date, a sum t~[~f $5,500
the night. This level of access clients to access resources has been expend~owards
has never been restricted to throughout the community from security depositsto[aling over
current residents of the shelter, a pair of glasses to a pair of $17,500. Thirty-seven house-
Johnson County consists of two EHP's abdity to achieve change continues to increase. More
distinct regions; relies on our ability to further Americans experience home-
develop partnerships with agen- lessness each year (requests for
1) the Urban Area - which cies, programs, and policy shelter increased by ]-5%
includes Iowa City and the makers at the local, state and nationally last year alone).
adjacent Cities of University federal levels positioned to ini- More of our nation's youth are
Heights, Coralville and North tiate change in the four primary experiencing extended stays of
Liberty, and focus areas that comprehen- homelessness. There ~s much
sively describe why over seven data indicating that homeless-
2) the remainder of the percent of our nation's popula- ness has permanent and nega
Johnson County which is pre- tion has experienced homeless- tive health and educational
dominantly rural in nature, ness. They are: impacts for the child.
Johnson County has experi-
enced substantial growth over · The shortage of permanent ° The lack of jobs that pay a
the
last
two decades increas- affordable housing. Nationally, living wage. The American
lng by 33% between 1970 and according to government data, economy continues to become
1990 alone. This trend contin- three extremely poor house- more and more service oriented
ues today. Affordable housing holds compete for every unit of losing its once manufacturing
is a primary concern for the affordable housing. Experts base. Service based jobs typF
area. The median price of a have identified a national cally are lower paying, and do
single-family home in Iowa City deficit of 4.4 million units of not come with medical benefits
(second quarter of ].999) was affordable housing, or s~ck leave. A single mother
$].20,000. This ranks Iowa would have to work 92 hours a
City among the highest cost · The shortage of mental week at m~nimum wage to
single-family housing markets health and substance-abuse afford (30% of income) the
in the state. Rental costs in treatment centers and pro- median priced two-bedroom
Iowa City and its immediate grams. A recent national report apartment.
surrounding communities are published by HUD indicates
very high relative to the rest of that 62% of the homeless Homelessness is often the
the state due to the number of demonstrate alcohol depen- result of a complex set of cir-
students attending the dence, 58% demonstrate drug cumstances that push people
University of iowa and job cre- addiction, 57% suffer from into poverty and force impossi-
ation. This influx of persons mental health problems, and ble choices between food, shel-
saturates the rental housing 47% have a dual diagnosis ter, and other basic needs. We
market with consumers, caus- demonstrating both a sub- understand the complexity of
lng an increased demand for stance abuse problem and co- homelessness and the necessi-
rental housing, especially the occurring mental illness, As the ty of coordinated care. Beyond
affordable units. Very Iow homeless continue to lack the basic provision of shelter,
vacancy rates contribute further access to much needed corol- EHP's primary purpose is to
to the increasing cost of both lary services, demands for and provide and promote access to
rental and owner-occupied on shelter programs exponenti- existing resources, to identify
housing. Despite the continued ate. Shelters typically do not unmet needs that manifest as
expansion of the local housing have mental health and sub- barriers to self-sufficiency and
stock, demand continues to stance abuse clinicians on staff work towards developing a
outdis~ supply. The burden and lack the financial meaningful and community-
is felt most by those least able resources to do so. based response. To that eRd;
to compete in the private hous- we continue to not only.~tabi-~
lng market - Iow and very Iow- · The lack of medical insur lize the infrastruct~r~of the ~
income households, The lack of ance - 55% of the homeless agency but are aggressively
population has no medical cov- moving to reaffirm existing coi-
erage. Across the general ~borationS Whil~developing~
hgmel~s population, 26% suf- nm partnerships with othor ~
fer fr~ acute infectious condi- se~ice provid~i buslnesse~
tions, ~f% from acute rmninfec- fu~ers and volunteers. (}ur
tious c~nditions, and 46% from eb~ctive is ~ broaden the
chronic health conditions, base~f ~u~l:~and under,
Homeless children are sick four stand~mg. We may never end ~
~ ;'t~es ~0~ than those with homele~ness, but our work ~s
secure housing. M~and more touched~the lives of thousan~
of our nation's youm experF of ~en, ~men, and chddrer'~-
ence homelessaess. The trend offetin8 hbpe and the opport~
for ack of medical coverage nffy of a new potential.
The Local & National
Context of Homelessness.'
Recent Local Health Initiatives:
The Nursing Outreach Program Both the EHP and Free Lunch In the Spring of 2002, the
- a University of Iowa College services provided by the University of Iowa College of
of Nursing Initiative Nursing Outreach Program have Medicine was awarded a Caring
proven to be very popular with for Community Program Grant
EHP clients benefit greatly chents and staff, sponsored by the Pfizer
from the on-site presence of Medical Humanities Initiative.
oatreach workers from As part of their clinical This grant will prowde for the
Community Mental Health practicum with the homeless, implementation of a mobile
and Mecca. A new outreach nursing students also engage in medical clinic that will serve
resource offered in partnership projects that complement their the homeless men, women, and
with the UI College of Nursing clinical work. For example, a children of our community and
assists in addressing the student spent a semester those at risk of homelessness.
on going health needs of developing strategies to The initiative is an interdiscF
many who are homeless in improve the nutritional con- plinary approach that involves
our community, sumption of homeless chents, parhcipation from students and
She created a "DASH Diet" faculty of the Colleges of
During Spring 2001, Susan poster (~ Dietary Approaches to Medicine, Nursing and
Lehmann, MSN, RN, a UI Stopping Hypertension"), con- Pharmacy and the School of
College of Nursing faculty suited with EHP staff on food Social Work. The Free Medical
member implemented the choices from Table to Table Clinic of Iowa City has been
beginning stages of a nurse donations, role modeled for instrumental in guiding the
case management program for staff and clients ways to pre- Mobile Clinic effort. We look
the Iowa City homeless pare fruits and vegetables in forward to keeping our support-
population. With the assistance palatable and nutritious ways. ers informed of the develop-
of undergraduate nursing stu Nursing students team up peri- ments of this innovative and
dents, clients at Emergency odically with students from the collaborative project that will
Housing Project had the oppor- College of Medicine and Family provide much needed health
tunity to: Nurse Practitioner students to care to those in need.
· Ask questions related to med- have Interdisciplinary Health
ications or a health condition, Clinics onsite at EHP.
· Have a mini-health assess- ·
ment completed, The Nursing Outreach Program ~
· Receive health and parenting provides health and hygiene ~
coaching, and items to clients as funds and ~
· Receive assistance in access- resources are available. St.
lng the health care system on a Anthony's Bread, a local service
weekly basis, mission of St. Mary's Catholic
Church in iowa City recently
Since Fall 2001, cursing stu- donated funds to assist in pur-
dents have since branched out chasing health supplies, which
into the Free Lunch Program at will be put to good use. If you
the Wesley House. Services the have comments, questions or
students are providing to the wish to make a donation to fur-
homeless population include: ther the work of this initiative,
· Blood Pressure and Blood please feel free to contact
Glucose screening, <susan-lehmann@uiowa.edu>.
· Dietary and lifestyle
counseling on ways to manage Future Mobile Medical Clinic
hypertension and diabetes, a University of Iowa College of
· Foot Clinics to prevent and Medicine Initiative
manage minor foot ailments, The Emergency Housing
· Smoking Cessation Project enlisted a group of
counseling, medical and nursing students
· Dental Health education, and and supervising physicians for
· Health Education on various a health chnic at the facdity
health related questions, last fall during National
Primary Care Week. This
endeavor was so successful
that EHP staff requested it be
repeated on a regular basis/ ~
this planted the seed for the ~ ~
Mobile Clinic concept. ~
HP:
~t?" To Providing on site counseling to supporting this cause. As we
~ the women, men, and children continue to broaden our ser-
number in need is also a key compo- vices to better serve our
erent nent of EHP· Finding the best clients, and as we increase the
time in approaches and the needed offerings at EHP, your support
avenues of support that will becomes even more valuable.
~ in provide the greatest opportuni-
· ties for the success of our Again, we thank you for all you
clients - that's what drives our have done, and continue to do,
;tion for dedicated staff on a daily for EHP and we hope we can
:hildren basis, continue to count on you as we
have in the past.
our Last year, 40 percent of our
operating budget came from Sincerely,
the gifts and support provided
, and I by wonderfully generous people Crissy Canganelli
like you. That is an impressive Executive Director
number - thank you! We are
sure that it will come as a sur- Dottle Persson
~ night's prise to no one that this year President, Board of Directors
hun- we have had to fight to main-
tain our funding levels from
sta~ state and local government
ter, more than 500 others were sources. We have succeeded in
helped last year through EHP maintaining this support in
providing them access to free these difficult fiscal times,
laundry, bathing facilities, because of the high value our
morning and evening meals in elected officials place in EHP.
partnership with the Salvation That being said, we are still in
Army and Table to Table, a need of your support. If you
phone, a mailing address, and have already provided a gift to
clothing from our many EHP this year, thank you. If
donations of new and slightly you have yet to give this year
used items, we ask that you please consider
~ ¥. Your gift of:
~ $100 will sponsor a week of shelter and supportive services for someone trying to restart a life·
~ ~ $90 will sponsor the shelter's women and children's room for one night.
~ $60 will sponsor one of the shelter's four-person rooms for one night
$50 will sponsor a night of shelter and supportive services for a family in need·
$15 will sponsor one night of shelter and services for a person who is homeless in our community·
Yes! I want to support The Emergency Housing Project!
Please use my tax-deductible contribution to help homeless people get a jump start to independence.
Name
Address
Phone Number
I am enclosing: ( ) $200 ( ) $100 ( ) $50 ( ) $25 ( ) other amount
I would like to volunteer on a: ( ) weekly ( ) monthly ( ) quarterly ( ) yearly basis
If you would like to donate any items, please drop them off at 331 N. Gilbert Street, Iowa City, Iowa 52240.
If you would like to give a monetary donation(s), please make cheques payable to Emergency Housing Project and post to:
P.O. Box 3146, Iowa City, IA 52244
Emergency Housing Project
2001 Income
Income Source Contribution
County and City $21, 050
United Way $34, 570 06% Corps and Organizations
Faith Groups $21, 486 01% Misc
State of Iowa $45, 600 09% County and City
Federal Government $41, 281 ' 14% United Way
Individual Giving $63, 355 09% Faith Groups
Corps and Organizations $15, 858 19% State of Iowa
Misc. $ 2, 640 17% Federal Government
25% Individual Giving
$245, 840
Costs Totals
£mergency and 18% Non-Directed Administrative Expenditures
TransF~ional Shelter $83, 610 34% Emergency and TransitionaJ SheJter
Drop-In Center $29, 510 12% Drop-In Center
In-House Counseling $66, 400 27% In-House Counseling
Security Deposit 03% Security Deposit Assistance
Assistance $ 7,377 06% STAR
STAR $14, 755
Non-Directed
Administrative
Expenditures $44, 265
$245, 917
$25O 000
Budget Year Total EHPand Grants ---'-~""~~
Revenue $200 000
From Gifts
· '---- $150 000
1997 $156,635
1998 $168, 555 $100 000
1999 $187, 607
2000 $240, 440 $ 50 000
2001 $245, 840
6
Counting Our Blessings...
EHP is truly blessed with broad support throughout this community and it is only because of this
support that we are able to continue to serve - able to keep our doors open to those in need every
night of the year and we thank you. As space is limited, I can share with you only a few of the most
recent examples of this support:
· In honor of the Chinese New · The General Mills foundation
Year, the ESL Students of recently awarded $7,500
Roosevelt Elementary sold for- to EHP.
tune cookies. All of the pro- · A recent graduate from the Ways to Make a Difference:
ceeds of the sale were donated U of I master's program in
to The Emergency Housing Graphic Design is assisting in
Project and sponsored shelter developing a new agency logo Homele~sness is a complex bowls, bed linens, blankets,
and supportive services for a and identity and has been a issue. It is consuming and can pillows, toiletries, coffee, and
family in need. critical resource in the produc- be overwhelming. It can make laundry detergent.
· The Trinity Episcopal tion of this newsletter, us feel like there is nothing · Support an individual or
Confirmation Students are cur- that we as individual citizens family as they move out of EHP
rently sponsoring a supplies Sometimes contributions come can do to make a difference, through contributions of house-
drive for the shelter, with an added gift - a brief But there is! For it is indeed hold goods, furniture and
· The Youth of the Amana note a mention as to what through individual contribu- moral support.
Junior High School continue to inspired the gift or a few sim- tions that we continue to · Raise funds for EHP. Ask
prepare the evening meal once pie words of encouragement, exist today, your group to abstain from one
a month and have been doing Please know that these are meal and donate the proceeds
so for more than a year now. read and do mean so very There are as many ways to con- to the shelter. Organize an
· In December, parents and much to us! It was just such a tribute as there are needs to be event, for example a yard sale,
youth of Amana organized a note that prompted the title of met. Here are just a few ideas: and donate the proceeds.
Christmas Party for children this article and I wou~d like to · Gift phone cards to help EHP
currently in the shelter and share it with you. As a mother · Sponsor a night(s) of shelter clients stay in touch with
those who had recently moved of three children it did give for a person or family who is loved ones.
into their own homes. Children me pause: homeless in our community · Assist EHP clients in getting
and their parents played through a financial contribution to work. Transportation is a
games, made pizzas, and "In honor of our five children, to the shelter, serious issue for folks trying to
baked cookies. With the spon- and in appreciation that none · Consider sponsoring an get to work or other appoint-
sorship of Target Stores and in of them are homeless, evening meal for the residents ments. Transit tickets for Iowa
celebration of the holidays, all I enclose a check for $500 at the shelter as a family, City and Coralville are atways
children participating in the for the Emergency Housing through a community organiza- needed and greatly
event exchanged gifts. Project. Keep up the tion, or your faith organization, appreciated.
· Raody's Carpets and interiors good work? · Assist the evening staff with · Remember our clients when
contributed $1,000 in mated- the basic tasks of the Drop-In you have employment opportu-
als and labor to provide new EHP Contributor, December Center. nities available. Most men and
flooring for the EHP staff · Remember us when you're women we serve desperately
office. And what a striking dif- Thank you to all for your cleaning out your closets. The want to work, but need an
ference it has made! continued gifts of time, lack of clean, well-fitting employer to give them a
treasure, and talent! clothes and shoes causes great chance. If you have work avail-
hardship beyond exposure to able, please give us a call!
the elements; it hurts one's · Contribute to our security
self-image and one's chance to deposit program so as to assist
get ahead. No matter how families with the prohibitive
many clothes folks used to up-front expenses of moving
have, they must travel light. On into their own apartment.
job interviews, a poorly dressed · Continue to educate yourself,
person has little chance for your children, and your com-
success, munity on homelessness and
· Contribute in-kind services the work of the
and materials such as copying, Housing Project. EHP
printing, food, transportation, board members wel
; marketing assistance, computer opportunity to s.
equipment and assistance, group and I~ a
.'~ electrical work, building materi- group. ~r~n
als, plumbing, administrative to
ass~tance, et(; .... ble f¢
· Donate h~use~ld goods of ter
~ other items such as: kitchen ~
~.~ ; ~ ~ utensils, flatware, pots and
pans, coffee cups, dishes, ~
In Closing...
I offer the following letter, which was submitted by a recent
client of EHP. It is intended for all of those who through gifts of
time, treasure and talent make EHP possible:
Dear Crissy,
When I look back on the time I am sincerely £rateful to those
before I became homeless, I who had the courage and will-
remember throwing away ingness to provide such a need-
clothes or things that I no ed service to this community.
longer used. It's not that there After living at the shelter for a
were rips or tears in the clothes month and a half I was able to
or that something was broken: I get my own place and become ,~ ~ ~
would just get the new and a productive citizen in the Iowa ~
improved or updated model or City community. I am so thank-
fashions. Recently through my ful that there were people will
own experience with homeless- lng to sacrifice their time and
ness I have found that the very talents so as to help me get
things that I once considered back on track. Now that I am
one man's trash became my headed ~n the right direction I
treasure. I really did not under- will do my best to return, that
stand what this meant until I which was freely given to me.
myself was in need. When I got
to Iowa I had no clothing with Former EHP Client, 2001
me. I only had what I was
wearing. So when I first came
to the Emergency Housing
Project, I not only needed a
place to stay, but I also needed
clean clothing, food, and for
some one to give me direction
so that I could find employ-
mont. Needless to say I found
everything that I needed.
continued from cover...
Given the growing program, banking. This board is ready to
EHP required a board of direc- develop plans for a new facility
tors that was able to provide and to gather the funds to
expertise and professional make it a reality.
guidance to the EHP Director.
To create a board of directors On behalf of the EHP Board of
with the expertise to handle Directors, we ask all of you to
these challenges, the by-laws continue to assist the homeless
were rewritten, through your contributions.
Also, encourage others to think
Faith communities are no about the needs of the home-
longer assigning representatives ~ess in our community and
to the board. This change does to support services provided
not mean that EHP's relation to them.
ship with the faith communi-
ties is not essential. In reality, We especially ask that you
this relationship is more ~mpor- look ahead with the EHP Board
rant. As EHP grows, financial to the exciting time of a new
and philosophical support from building and improved services
the faith communities becomes for the homeless in Johnson
more critical. County.
The EHP Board consists of Sincerely,
members who have expertise in
public health, urban planning, Dottle Persson, President
architecture, personnel man- Joan Eimas, Past President
agement, fundraising and
Anonymous Donol
Funds Study for a New Facility: ®
An anonymous University of meets the health, safety arid Du~e the c~l~ity
Iowa faculty member has given welfare demands of this aDrisk tro~i~ natOre,
$25,000 to EHP to complete a and dive~e p~Ulation, th,
planning study for a new facili-
ty. The study will be compre- EHP staff and board of d~ec-
hensive in scope. Not only will tors are par~tieularly concerted
it address the sensitive issues regarding the issue ~ caPacity
of capacity, location, acquisi- ~ related ~ number of shelter ot~i~pver~he
tion, design and construction of ~ds. The population of la~year~ d~l~
a new facility but so too will it Jot'mson County has increased in~ t~ad~
investigate new program oppor- sig~ff~antly since 1983, t~
tunities and on-going funding yea~ in which EHP was fou~- in~r~
sources for operations. There ed. Trie capacity of the she~er d~
are serious health, safety, and ~as ac~tuall~/~ecreased sin~
welfare concerns presented that time due to fire code
daily due to the chronically restricti~s going from 40 ¢r!
over-crowded conditions and sons per r~ght to 30 ~rso~
the diverse needs of the popu- per night (as of Febru~' ~ in
lation we serve. The majority of ~995). E~ does not 6Perat~ that is
the shelter clients have special in a vacuLm~ and does~e~lize~ ultima~l~ sup-p~ythe
needs relating to mental ill- that any dis~ssion i~i~ ~ ~ommunity.
ness, substance abuse recovery, capacity bui~ing, location, a~
and/or medical disability. Of program development will ha~ We look forward to keeping the
additional concern, is the fact spi~-off effects, wedo not many friends of ~HP through
Emergency Housing Project that EHP continues to serve a want to go for~rd with a plan o~t our com~nity a~d beyond,
greater number of families. A that is untenable by the larger ir~formed of ~r progress wit~
P.O. Box 3146 new facility is needed, one that community or on~ that some- the study a~d planningfor the
Iowa City, IA 52244-3146 how creates unreasonable pres- new facility.
ehp@aol.com sures on other organizations.
http://www.jcc n.iowa-city, ia.us/~eh phwh/
I Does Johnson County need more affordable housin l?
The answer is yes; here's why. There is no jurisdiction in the United States where a full-time minimum
wage worker can afford the fair market rent for two-bedroom unit. Being the most cost-burdened
county in Iowa, Johnson County is no exception. This affordable housing crisis is especially difficult for
people with very Iow-incomes, defined as at or below 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
Housing affordability is defined as paying no more than 30% of income on rent and utilities
combined? As a result, too many Iow-income people are paying more than
30% of their income for housing which is also known as cost burdened. The Johnson County
following figures show the housing wage, which is the amount a full-time is the most cost
worker (40 hours per week) must earn in order to afford a two-bedroom unit burdened
at the area's Fair Market Rent (FUR).2 county in Iowa.
Renters
Almost half of all renters in Johnson County (48.3%) lack affordable housing.3 The AMI is $64,800 of
which 30% is $19,440 or $9.35 per hour. However, the housing wage in Johnson County in $11.73 per
hour or $24,398 per year. Johnson County's housing wage is 228% of the federal and Iowa minimum
wage ($5.15 per hour).
This means that in Johnson County:
· A very Iow-income household (earning $1620 monthly)
Out of Reach Data can afford monthly rent of no more than $486, while
Johnson County the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit is $610.
· A minimum wage earner (earning $893 monthly) can
Renter's Housing Wage afford monthly rent of no more than $268, while the
For 2 BR at FUR $610 Fair Market Rent for a one-bedroom unit is $473.
$11.73/hr · An SSI recipient (receiving $545 monthly) can afford
monthly rent of no more than $164, while the Fair
$24,398/yr Market Rent for a studio unit is $367.
In other words, full-time minimum wage workers who pay Fair Market Rate have a housing cost
burden of 68 percent for a two-bedroom unit. In fact, 81 percent of renter households earning less
than $10,000 are cost burdened, most at over 35 percent of their income.4
Homeowners
Fifteen percent of all homeowners in Johnson County are cost Out of Reach Data
burdened. There are 24,967 owner-occupied housing units in
Johnson County, and the median price of single family home Johrlson County
is $127,900.5 The cost of buying a home at that price would Owner's Housing Wage
be $959 monthly.6 A household would need to make $3,197 $127,900 median sale price
monthly (or $38,370 per year) to afford this price. In other $18.45/hr
words, the housing wage for homeowners would be $18.45
per hour, which is over 50 percent more than the housing $38,370/yr
wage for renters. In fact, 73 percent of owner-occupied
households earning less than $10,000 are cost burdened,
most at over 35 percent of their income7
~ Determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2002.
2 The term housing wage was coined by the National Low Income Housing Coalition in their report, Out of Reach, 2002
~ U.S. Census. Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income in 1999: 2000.
~ U.S. Census. Profile of Selected Housing Characteristics: 2000.
5 U.S. Census. Price Asked and Rent Asked: 2000.
(' Based on a 30-year mortgage at 6.9%.
7 U.S. Census. Selected Monthly Owner Costs as a Percentage of Household Income in 1999: 2000.
Johnson County Local Homeless Coordinating Board