Shelter and Direct Services

Emergency shelter is available for 68 men and 34 women from 4 p.m. — 8 a.m. daily. The agency also offers a 14-bed transitional dorm, for a total of 116 beds for the homeless, as well as the following:

• Two Nutritional Meals Daily – Daytime program participants also receive lunch
• Clothing and Transit Assistance
  
• Shower and Laundry Facilities
  
• On-site Medical Clinic, Substance Abuse and Peer Group Counseling Sessions
• Needs and Program Readiness Assessment
• Individualized Development Plan and Case Management
• Health (mental and physical) and Treatment Management (addictions)
• Guest Supervision, Supplemental Lifeskills Instruction and Counseling
• Training and Employment Resources, Referrals and Placement
• Public Benefits Eligibility Determination Assistance and Placement
• Housing Placement

Guests not working with a case manager toward achievement of self-sufficiency goals within 30 days of intake are referred to other providers for appropriate assistance. The following Central Iowa Shelter programming has been developed to further respond to core issues and barriers affecting homeless and extremely low-income persons residing in Polk County.

Central Iowa Shelter Community Kitchen

The Community Kitchen is a United Way program that provides more than 1,500 free meals weekly for extremely low income families. Three of meal sites are located in Polk County neighborhoods where poverty levels range from 25%-33% (US Census – 2000). Participants range in age from 9 months to 81 years. The average family unit assisted through the program is made up of 1.8 individuals, with 85% of these families surviving on less than $10,000 annually.

“We were in a bind where we had no money, and there was almost no food in the house at all. My husband and I were skipping meals so the kids could eat. I thank God for your Kitchen and the blessing it has been in our life.” - Young married couple with 3 children ages 2-6

Day Shelter Health Initiative

With this safe daytime alternative, the homeless are being released and referred earlier from community-funded medical facilities, and some are able to avoid the need for hospitalization entirely. To date, the program has assisted nearly 900 health-impaired guests that received supplemental case management and services from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Click here for details about the expanded Health Assistance Project!)

Veterans Per Diem Program

In partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Administration, Central Iowa Shelter provides a 14-bed transitional housing dorm where eligible veterans can reside for up to 24 months, and are assisted with supplemental case management, job training, housing placement and resources.

Transit Shuttle Service (TSS)

TSS provides van transit assistance for guests needing to access employment and other Polk County community services outside existing public transportation routes and schedules. The service goal is to improve access to job training, education and placement services for extremely low income adults, while improving opportunities for sustainable self-sufficiency.