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 […]
homelessness
‘I am my sister’s keeper’: Trans femmes in Central Iowa share home and resources through the Trans Housing Project
Zoie Taylor has owned two houses, across the street from one another in her Des Moines neighborhood, for a while now. They’re hers outright, mortgages paid off. And for a […]
Cooler temperatures and cold attitudes towards Des Moines’ houseless spur supply drive — ‘We keep us safe’
As temperatures drop, the Des Moines Black Liberation Movement Collective, Supply Hive and Des Moines Mutual Aid have joined forces to make sure unhoused people have access to warm clothing […]
Thriftmart, Joppa’s nonprofit thrift store, to open in Des Moines on Thursday
There’s almost nothing more satisfying to a shopper than when money from your purchases goes towards supporting a cause — especially when that cause is hyper-local, benefitting folks that live […]
Des Moines City Council member crowdfunds fine for man ticketed while panhandling
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Councilmember Indira Sheumaker raised more than enough money this month to pay a local man’s $95 ticket based on an ordinance she says “criminalizes poverty,” and may violate his […]
Every summer, lease gaps leave Iowa City renters scrambling for housing and storage
Paul Holdefer faced a worrying prospect. The University of Iowa graduate research assistant’s lease was set to expire July 25, a week before his new one began. He tried to […]
ACLU of Iowa warns Coralville its panhandling ordinance is unconstitutional, calls for its repeal
The ACLU of Iowa sent a letter to Coralville and three other cities on Tuesday, warning that their ordinances against panhandling are unconstitutional. As part of an ongoing review of […]
Homelessness was increasing in Iowa. Then COVID-19 and the derecho hit.
A total of 2,647 Iowans were homeless on a single night in January 2020, a 14.3 percent increase from January 2019. The number of people experiencing homelessness in Iowa was […]
Iowa City teen Kasey Dawson overcame homelessness and loss to graduate high school. A year later, she’s still fighting for a place to call her own.
In January 2019, Little Village received an email submission from a City High senior named Kasey Dawson titled “My Life Story.” “I never understood what it meant to be depressed,” […]
Fillmore Center in Cedar Rapids will be used as a cooling center for people experiencing homelessness
With temperatures rising and many buildings closed to the public due to COVID-19, people experiencing homelessness or individuals who don’t have access to air conditioning have limited options for where […]
Shelter House continues serving the community while COVID-19 forces changes and funds run short
Everyone is being told to stay home to help limit the spread of COVID-19. But what does that mean for people experiencing homelessness? And how does social distancing work in […]
PICs: Interview with an anonymous homeless man living on a bench in the Ped Mall
The homeless community in Iowa City, if it can truly be called a community, is one that isn’t new to cities or towns with larger populations. And yet for many of us…