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HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action Form dated July 14, 2026ITEM #:17 DEPT:ADMIN July 14, 2026 Staff Report UPDATE ON HOMELESSNESS AMES AND STORY COUNTY ACTION PLAN 2025 REPORT BACKGROUND: On May 13, 2025, the City Council accepted the "Homelessness Ames and Story County Strategic Plan 2025" report and directed staff to work with other Analysis on Social Services Evaluation Team (ASSET) funders (Story County, United Way of Story County and ISU Student Government) to identify and work on priority items. On May 27, 2026, approximately one year since the report was available, the City of Ames, in partnership with Story County held an "Update on the 2025 Homelessness Action Plan" event at the Ames Public Library, open to the public. The event was held from 1:00-3:00 pm and approximately 60 people attended, including the media. During the session, attendees could read about actions taken in the last year from various entities and interact with City, Story County, and service provider staff members that were present. Attachment A includes a few photos and a list of media coverage of the event. Attachment B is the one-page document outlining the nine recommendations from the Homelessness Action Plan report. Attachment C outlines the activities taken by the City as it relates to the nine recommendations. Attachment D is the handout Story County provided about actions they have taken related to the nine recommendations. Although City Council was invited to attend the May 27 event, City staff wanted to present this information formally to the Council as well. The next steps in the process will be to continue working on the priority recommendations from the report, in addition to strengthening the ASSET process where over $2 million from City funds are used to purchase human services from nonprofit agencies in Ames. Below is an overview of the work ahead as it relates to supporting homelessness services: FY 2026/27 WORK AREA PRIORITIES: Issuing a City Request for Proposal for case management services to support individuals at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness. The City Council allocated $100,000 towards this effort from its ASSET allocation for FY 2026/27. Continuing to support the Homelessness Outreach Support Team (HOST) through applying for grants and seeking additional partners to financially support their efforts. As 1 of 2025, the City has been the only entity to provide flex fund ($21,250). Earlier this month, the City once again applied for an IFA grant on behalf of HOST. Becoming involved in the Homelessness Task Force as appropriate once the task force is created. Story County has indicated they are gathering information to begin forming this group. Working with the ASSET agencies to further strengthen and support service delivery. STAFF COMMENTS: Approximately a year has passed since the release of the Homelessness Action Report. Providing an update to the community is important. While there is no one silver bullet or strategy to implement, the updates indicate that action is being taken and there are ongoing efforts to implement solutions that help this vulnerable population. ATTACHMENT(S): Attachment A: Photos and Media Coverage - May 27, 2026.docx Attachment B: Homelessness Action Plan Handout.pdf Attachment C: 2026 Updates on the Nine Recommendations - City Actions.docx Attachment D: 2026 Story County Update on Homelessness Action Plan.pdf 2 Homelessness Action Plan Update Event Ames Public Library – May 27, 2026 from 1:00-3:00 PM Media Coverage:  We are Iowa Local 5 News – “One Year In: Here’s how Ames is addressing homelessness: May 27, 2026 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpZBjCJb6WA  Ames Tribune: June 8, 2026 - “How much has Ames accomplished in battling local homelessness? Photos from the Event: Photo above: Interactive display where participants can provide input Photo above: Homelessness Outreach Support Team (HOST) talking to attendees Photo above: Homelessness Outreach Support Team (HOST) talking to attendees Photo above: Attendees and representatives from Story County and the Ames Public Library 3 Conversations on Homelessness Ames and Story County Strategic Plan 2025 Year One (FY 2025-2026) • Continue to Support on-the-Ground Service Provider Partnerships • Build Peer Navigator Program • Expand Partnership with IowaWORKS Mobile Workforce Center Job Fairs • Expand Emergency Shelter Capacity • Provide Robust Case Management Services Across the County Year Two (FY 2026-2027 ) • Create a Task Force on Homelessness • Support Developing Efforts to Provide All-Weather Daytime Refuge • Align with or Supplement Local Funding for Emergency Housing Year Three (FY 2027-2028) • Plan and Fund Permanent Supportive Housing Provider Coordination Improving Homelessness Prevention Increased Case Management Expanding Emergency Shelter Permanent Supportive and Affordable Housing. 4 May 2026 Status Update on the 2025 Homelessness Action Report available at www.cityofames.org/homelessness 1 RECOMMENDATION #1 CONTINUE TO SUPPORT ON -THE -GROUND SERVIC E PROVIDER PARTNERSHIPS Actions taken by the City:  City staff helped HOST put together an educational display about who they are and what they do. This display was originally featured at the Library and is now a traveling exhibit.  The City of Ames has provided $21,250 towards a flex fund that can be used to meet needs of the unsheltered population. This flex fund is critical because it is often used to procure services that are challenging for any one organization to provide to individuals/families experiencing or are at risk of experiencing homelessness. The flex fund has been used to purchase items such as cleaning supplies, first aid kit materials, over the counter vitamins, bus tickets, phone minutes, and more.  The City of Ames, on behalf of HOST, applied for the Iowa Finance Authority 2025 Homelessness Incubator Program. Although not selected, the collaboration to put forth a regional, multi-agency application is notable.  In June 2025, the City of Ames worked with ISU Extension and Outreach to pilot a new training on “Creating Purposeful Partnerships Through Effective Meetings”. This training was offered at no cost to core HOST members.  HOST holds monthly “lunch and learn” series for service providers to learn together while making new connections. These lunch and learns have been successful and the group intends to continue it. RECOMMENDATION #2 BU ILD PEER NAVIGATOR PROGR AM 5 2 This is currently not a priority for the City of Ames. RECOMMENDATION #3 EXPAND IOWAWORKS MOB ILE WORKFORCE CENTER JOB FAIRS TO INCLUDE SOAR AND BEN EFIT APPLICATIONS ASSISTA NCE. This initiative aligns closer with work of Story County. RECOMMENDATION #4 EXPAND EMERGENCY SHELTER CAPACITY Actions taken by the City:  As a short-term solution, in FY 2024/26 the City of Ames contributed $230,844 to support emergency shelter services from ACCESS ($80,844), The Salvation Army ($120,000), and YSS ($30,000).  In FY 2026/27, the City of Ames will contribute another $240,422 towards purchasing emergency shelter services from ACCESS ($88,929), The Salvation Army ($30,000), YSS ($29,650). An additional $91,843 is reserved for purchasing emergency shelter services from ASSET agencies that can provide that service. RECOMMENDATION #5 PROVIDE ROBUST CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES ACROSS THE COUNTY Actions taken by the City:  The City has reserved $100,000 in Fiscal Year 2026 -2027 towards hiring an organization to provide additional case management services for individuals/families in Ames. A Request for Proposal will be issued in summer 2026. 6 3 RECOMMENDATION #6 C REAT E A TASK FORCE ON HOMELESSNESS Actions taken by the City:  A Housing Assistant Position at the City has been researching other homelessness task force or council models that are in Iowa. This information will be shared with ASSET Funders staff (City of Ames, Story County, United Way of Story County, and ISU Student Government).  There is no clear lead agency identified in this report, or any dedicated staff member to this initiative as is, to help lead this effort. The purpose of the taskforce as described in the report is broad. More work needs to be completed in order to define the purpose and objectives of this recommendation before a task force can be formed. RECOMMENDATION #7 SUPPORT DEVELOPING E FFORTS TO PROVIDE AL L -WEATHER DAYTIME REFUGE Actions taken by the City:  The City of Ames staff have participated in the collaborative effort led by Story County Supervisor, Linda Murken, to open a warming place. RECOMMENDATION #8 ALIGN WITH OR SU PP LEMENT LOCAL FUNDING FOR EMERGENCY HOUSING Actions taken by the City:  ASSET Funders (the City of Ames, Story County, United Way of Story County, and ISU Student Government) spent a significant amount of time in the summer of 2025 working on identifying joint funding priorities. Although a joint list of priorities was not established, some progress on alignments have occurred, allowing the funders to maximize dollars where possible. 7 4  ASSET Funders have spent time in 2026 conducting Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threat sessions, allowing stakeholders involved the time and space to reflect on collaborations and how to have an even greater impact on the community.  Collectively, in 2026/27, the ASSET Funders (City of Ames, Story County, United Way of Story County and ISU Student Government) have alloca ted up to $5,516,536 to purchase human services on behalf of the community. RECOMMENDATION #9 PLAN AND FUND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSIN G Actions taken by the City:  In July 2025, the 38 units at Townhomes At Creekside in the Baker Subdivision opened. Lead by the City of Ames using $2.1 million dollars of its federal HOME funding, servicing residents earning less than 50% of the Ames area median income. The total $13 million development was designed to serve households at 60% Ames median income limits, adding additional affordable housing options for Ames residents.  The City sold eight lots to Habitat for Humanity for first time homebuyers at 80% or less of the Ames median income limits in the Baker Subdivisi on.  The City will be adding six additional single family housing for first time homebuyers at 80% or less of the Ames median income in the Baker Subdivision.  The City of Ames, as part of their 25/26 CDBG Renter Affordability program, assisted low-income households at 60% or less with deposit assistance for rent or utilities and up to two months for rental assistance.  The City of Ames continues to work with developers to build workforce housing. 8 9 10 11 12