Willis Dady Emergency Shelter Inc

TO PROVIDE SHELTER, PREVENTION, AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SERVICES TO THE HOMELESS AND NEAR-HOMELESS.

EMERGENCY SHELTER WITH CASE MANAGEMENT: IN 2023 WE SERVED 210 HOUSEHOLDS, A TOTAL OF 216 INDIVIDUALS, WITH EMERGENCY SHELTER SERVICES. THIS INCLUDES 53 VETERANS AND 8 FAMILIES. IN 2023 61% OF OUR SHELTER CLIENTS EXITED TO HOUSING. WE PROVIDE SHELTER AND CASE MANAGEMENT FOR SHORT AND LONGER-TERM STAYS FOR VETERANS THROUGH A GRANT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. IN SERVICE-INTENSIVE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, THE VETERAN CAN STAY FOR UP TO 2 YEARS. PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES AND CARE COORDINATION. PARTICIPANTS IN THE BRIDGE HOUSING PROGRAM CAN STAY IN SHELTER UP TO 6 MONTHS. THESE PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE CARE COORDINATION WITH THE VA AND NON-VA VETERAN SERVICE PROVIDERS, WITH A GOAL OF LEAVING FOR HOUSING AND INCREASING INCOME. IN 2023 65% OF THE VETERANS IN THIS PROGRAM HAD POSITIVE EXITS. IN 2022, WILLIS DADY PARTNERED WITH A LOCAL NON-PROFIT TO PROVIDE ONSITE MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY TO INDIVIDUALS AT OUR EMERGENCY SHELTER. SINCE PILOTING THE PROGRAM IN AUGUST 2022, WE HAVE PROVIDED 80 CLIENTS IN EMERGENCY SHELTER WITH THERAPY SESSIONS AND OVER 8,280 HOURS OF GROUP ART THERAPY.THE OVERFLOW IS THE WORK OF MORE THAN 15 ORGANIZATIONS WHO GUIDE THE POLICIES AND MANAGEMENT OF THIS WINTER EMERGENCY SHELTER. WILLIS DADY PROVIDES STAFFING AND AS IS THE FISCAL AGENT. THIS SHELTER IS LOW-BARRIER, ACCEPTING ANYONE WHO WOULD OTHERWISE SLEEP OUTSIDE. OVERFLOW OPERATES DURING THE COLDER MONTHS OF THE YEAR, FROM NOVEMBER THROUGH MARCH.

SUPPORTIVE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM: IN 2023 WE CONTINUED EXPANDING OUR EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE OF OUR CLIENTS WITH DIRECT HOURLY EMPLOYMENT. WE FILL 6 - 12 FULL-TIME POSITIONS AT FRONTIER CO-OP EACH DAY ACROSS THREE SHIFTS AND PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM FRONTIER. IN 2023 WE EMPLOYED OVER 150 OF OUR CLIENTS AT A RATE OF $14.50/HOUR AT FRONTIER, WITH SHIFT DIFFERENTIALS FOR 2ND AND 3RD SHIFTS. IN 2023 WE OPERATED TWO OTHER EMPLOYMENT PROJECTS BOTH RELATED TO LITTER ABATEMENT AND STREET CLEANING. ONE PROGRAM WORKED WITH A PARTNER AGENCY TO PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT TO 5 INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS BY CLEANING THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT. TWO OTHER PILOT PROGRAMS EMPLOYED 17 CLIENTS TO PERFORM LITTER ABATEMENT IN PUBLIC SPACES AROUND CEDAR RAPIDS. IN 2023 WE WORKED TO STABILIZE A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE AT WILLIS DADY WORKS EMPLOYMENT HUB TO EMPLOY 8 INDIVIDUALS AT RISK OF OR EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS THROUGH OUR MATTRESS RECYCLING PROGRAM.

PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING: WE PROVIDE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS OF LOW-INCOME HOUSING WITH CASE MANAGEMENT FOR 23 INDIVIDUALS AND 2 HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN. THESE UNITS ARE FOR THOSE WITH CHRONIC MENTAL OR PHYSICAL CONDITIONS. ON-SITE CASE MANAGEMENT IS PROVIDED TO BUILD STABILITY AND PREVENT CYCLING THROUGH COMMUNITY SUPPORT SYSTEMS. FEELING SAFE HASTENS BETTER SELF-CARE PRACTICES, IMPROVED HEALTH, AND OUTLOOK. WE ARE CONTINUING TO EXPAND OUR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM EACH YEAR AND IN 2023 ADDED 4 UNITS OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR VETERANS. IN 2023 WE SERVICED 31 INDIVIDUALS AND 2 FAMILIES (3 CHILDREN) IN OUR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM.