HomeMy WebLinkAboutA034 - June 24, 2025, Regular Meeting of the Ames City CouncilITEM #:36
DEPT:ADMIN
June 24, 2025
Staff Report
UPDATE ON OUTREACH EFFORTS TO INDIVIDUALS/FAMILIES EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS
BACKGROUND:
In November 2024, members of Alternative Response for Community Health (ARCH), the City
of Ames Mental Health Advocate, the Social Worker with Mary Greeley, and The Salvation
Army staff started conducting street outreach together to connect individuals experiencing
homelessness with services. Since November, the team has conducted outreach once a
week. In March, the team expanded their efforts and started holding service coordination
meetings, inviting other service providers to attend. The purpose of the broader service
provider meetings is to more effectively and efficiently coordinate care for individuals in need
of assistance. These additional meetings have been beneficial for direct service providers.
In January 2025, the City Council allocated $11,250 towards the outreach team, now known
as the Homelessness Outreach Services Team (HOST), to pilot the concept of a flex fund to
meet needs encountered during outreach activities. The flex fund not only covers expenses
that can be difficult for any agency to provide for varying reasons but also allows HOST
members to build trust amongst unsheltered individuals encountered. The HOST members
have been, and continue to be, diligent about learning what services already exist and utilizing
those services before using the pilot flex funding. As of May 27, 2025, $6,517.66 of the
$11,250 has been spent.
Listed below are some important observations the HOST group would like to share:
The estimated number of people assisted during their weekly team outreach is
approximately 7 people per week or *168 in the last six months.
The team estimates that approximately 25% of the individuals assisted are unique
individuals (of the estimated 168 people encountered, there are 42 unique individuals).
Of the individuals encountered more than one time, the majority are likely to struggle
with mental health, substance use or have some sort of justice-system involvement.
The team estimates there are roughly 15-20 chronically unsheltered individuals in Ames
that have been in Ames for several years.
The team estimates that approximately 30% have minor children where the State of
Iowa Health and Human Services have or are involved. It’s important to note that not all
individuals are comfortable disclosing if they have children for fear of the children being
removed.
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Most of the outreach activities have been in the central area of Ames (downtown and
immediate surrounding areas). Some outreach activities have happened in west Ames
and in City parks.
According to what is shared or known, the most common reasons why individuals
encountered are homeless are related to:
Landlord is not allowing a renewal on the lease.
Individuals/families are unable to afford rent. Several have jobs but employers
provide varying hours of work per week.
Some have eviction records- sometimes for non-payment. Sometimes for
behavioral reasons.
Some do not want to be housed.
Some of the people HOST has encountered aren’t from Ames but come to Ames
believing Ames has greater services only to learn the resources are already at capacity.
Some of the gap services HOST believes exists are:
Assistance helping people apply for jobs; applying for rental housing; and obtaining
IDs, especially birth certificates.
The lack of case management during sheltering. This can negatively exacerbate
the situation.
It is difficult to declare an adult a dependent adult so for those with an intellectual
disability, it is challenging to help them get a guardian who can help them access
services.
There is a shortage of mental health services.
There is a shortage of shelter beds.
There is a shortage of affordable housing opportunities.
There is a significant amount of health illiteracy in the community so it’s hard for
people to understand how to navigate accessing health services.
A common challenge encountered is the lack of a storage space or locker for
unsheltered folks to keep their belongings.
Pilot Flex Fund Uses
Of the $11,250 Council made available to the HOST team, $6,517.66 has been used as of
May 27, 2025. The table below summarizes the amounts and types of uses the flex fund has
covered:
Type of Purchase Amount
Bus pass $214.50
Cleaning supplies $102.48
Clothing $3,702.16
Equipment (batteries, storage tub, move-in
shelter items like hangers, baskets, etc.)$376.57
Grocery/Food $317.63
Fees for obtaining IDs $317.62
Laundry/Cleaning $136.05
Personal hygiene $618.61
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Phone – minutes or devices $732.04
Grand Total $6,517.66
Remaining Funds Available $4,732.34
What’s next for HOST?
The team has found it invaluable to take a team approach to conducting outreach and
addressing needs. HOST will continue to conduct outreach weekly and to hold the
service provider coordination meeting once a week.
The HOST team would like to find ways to continue building the knowledge of all service
providers in this space. They would like to convene monthly lunch-and-learns to increase
knowledge sharing and seek professional development opportunities.
The HOST team would like to develop a logo or obtain some identifying clothing or ID so
they can be easily identifiable.
The HOST team would like to figure out a way to continue supporting the service
provider care coordination meeting, including assistance with note-taking, figuring out
release of information forms for agencies that participate, and finding a central system
where notes can be shared.
On June 27, HOST will be piloting a new training session offered by ISU Extension and
Outreach on "Creating Purposeful Partnerships Through Effective Meetings."
The Iowa Finance Authority currently has a grant opportunity available known as the
"2025 Iowa Innovation in Homelessness Incubator" program. The HOST team intends to
coordinate with other service providers to put forth an application. Funding is available
up to $100,000. The specific program being recommended is still being determined,
however, HOST believes a regional application may increase the chances of being
selected.
STAFF COMMENTS:
Near the end of this calendar year, the HOST team will provide another update.
ATTACHMENT(S):
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