On Sept. 16, the Des Moines City Council passed a pair of ordinances designed to prevent unsheltered citizens from sleeping or living on public property. The first ordinance will make sleeping in public places like sidewalks, streets, doorways, pedestrian and vehicular entrances punishable by a $15 fine, and bans camping under bridges, in parks, and […]
affordable housing
Posted inCommunity/News
Nonprofit Matthew 25 has the tools to serve Cedar Rapids — and they’re happy to loan them out
“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me,” reads Matthew 25:40 in the NIV Bible. “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.” It’s a message heard loud and clear by […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Shelter House seeks assistance helping people affected by fire in Iowa City
A fire on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 4, destroyed much of an encampment near the Iowa River as it approaches the 1400 block of Gilbert Street in Iowa City. The individuals living there lost much of their possessions, and Shelter House is working to replace what was lost in the fire. “These people need new tents, […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Film spotlighting North Liberty’s Golf View Mobile Home Park community to screen in Iowa cities
A Decent Home played to packed houses at FilmScene when director Sara Terry held screenings of the documentary this spring. The film tells the story of mobile home park residents as they try to preserve their communities and their homes after the parks are bought by private equity funds and other investors determined to maximize […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Watch: Interview with Sara Terry, director of ‘A Decent Home’
The new documentary A Decent Home tells the story of mobile home park residents, including those in North Liberty’s Golfview, as they try to preserve their communities and their homes after the parks are bought by private equity funds and other investors determined to maximize profits at their expense. Ahead of its sold-out screening at […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Affordable housing, art and excellent tacos: Angie Jordan is leading efforts to build up Iowa City’s South District
Angie Jordan believes every neighborhood has doers. But Iowa City’s South District is chock full of them. “This is a daily grind,” said Jordan, president of the South District Neighborhood Association. “This isn’t something one person did or one organization did. This was a forever commitment that started in the neighborhood with those who wanted […]
Posted inCommunity/News
A Des Moines furniture bank needs volunteers to continue helping families start over
Coming out of COVID, more families than ever are looking to start over and get the assistance they need to thrive. The FreeStore is a Des Moines furniture bank helping locals leaving domestic violence housing (temporary or intermediate) and other unsafe conditions. They provide furniture and other household items to help furnish a new residence […]
Posted inCommunity/News
For Sudanese immigrants in Iowa City, visiting home is a long, expensive and all too rare privilege
When Dalia Musa moved to the United States, her youngest child was in the second grade. Musa, a mother of three, emigrated from Sudan in 2013. By the time her family traveled back to Sudan, her children were high schoolers. “They didn’t see their family since the elementary, and when they come back, they are […]
Posted inCommunity/News
HUD may sue Iowa if bill allowing landlords to discriminate against federal housing aid recipients is signed into law
The Iowa Senate passed a bill allowing landlords to discriminate against anyone receiving federal housing assistance on Wednesday. The Senate had previously passed the bill on a party-line vote, but Republicans in the Iowa House amended SF 252 (formerly SSB 1079) when it passed the bill on Monday, so the Senate had to approve the […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa House passes bill allowing landlords to discriminate against people receiving federal housing assistance
On Monday, the Iowa House of Representatives passed a bill already approved by the Senate, which would overturn ordinances in Iowa City, Marion and Des Moines that prevent landlords from discriminating against people who receive federal housing assistance. In addition to invalidating existing ordinances, SF 252 (formerly SSB 1079) would also prohibit any local government […]
Posted inLetters
Op-ed: Yes, there is a housing crisis in Iowa City, and it includes downtown
By Nicholas Theisen, Iowa City On June 16 of this year, the Iowa City Council passed a 17-point resolution “addressing the Black Lives Matter Movement and Systemic Racism,” to much fanfare. Buried within the rather chaotic discussion that produced this document was a back and forth concerning the Iowa Freedom Riders’ demands with regard to […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Cedar Rapids wants to hear from the public about the city’s housing needs
Cedar Rapids residents will have an opportunity at an open house on Wednesday to offer their input on the city’s housing needs and what community services the city should offer to help people overcome barriers to affordable housing.
