Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
Local homeless assistance programs in Iowa got an unexpected boost Friday when the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced renewed grant funds in excess of $7.4 million.
Nationally, the department will distribute nearly $1.4 billion through its Continuum of Care program to help an unprecedented 6,445 programs continue to offer housing and services to homeless individuals and families. It is the first time ever, according to a press release from the department, that HUD is quickly providing renewal grants to prevent interruption in federal assistance. The department also anticipates announcement of new projects in early 2010.
“As we move into the coldest time of the year, it’s critical that no program risk running out of money to keep their doors open,” said Shaun Donovan, secretary of HUD. “These grants will make certain that those programs on the front lines of helping the homeless have the resources they need to house and serve persons who might otherwise be forced to turn to the streets.”
The Continuum of Care grants provide permanent and transitional housing to the homeless. In addition, they fund services such as job training, health care, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment and child care. They are awarded competitively to local programs that meet the needs of their homeless clients.
Iowa programs receiving grants are:
| Applicant Name | Project Name |
Award Amount |
| Center For Siouxland | Bridges West Transitional Housing
Homeless Service Network |
$128,168 $80,062 |
| City of Sioux City | HUD Homeless Transportation | $113,452 |
| Community Action Agency of Siouxland | Crossroads Shelter | $137,239 |
| Crittenton Center | Project Life | $189,167 |
| Iowa Institute for Community Alliances | Iowa’s Continuum Outcome and Universal Needs Toolkit (Sioux City HMIS) | $29,749 |
| Area Substance Abuse Council, dba. New Directions | Hightower Place Transitional Housing Program | $104,223 |
| Cedar Valley Friends of the Family | Turning Point Rural Housing Project | $256,767 |
| Community Housing Initiatives, Inc. | Permanent Housing Transitional Housing |
$136,201 $380,865 |
| Crisis Intervention & Advocacy Center | STAARS | $158,918 |
| Crisis Intervention Services | Pathway 2 Independance | $36,166 |
| Family Resources, Inc. | Family Resources, Inc. VF Reach 2000 |
$39,525 $38,946 |
| Hawkeye Area Community Action Program, Inc. | CR Chronically Homeless Project HUD II HUD V |
$26,749 $466,174 $213,827 |
| Hillcrest Family Services | Hopes Project | $71,538 |
| Humility of Mary Housing, Inc. | REACH 2000: Renewed Efforts and Commitment for Housing 2000 | $37,549 |
| Humility of Mary Shelter, Inc. | Housing First Service Coordination through Collaboration - Supportive Services Only - Permanent Housing - Transitional Housing |
$68,880
$220,000 |
| Iowa Finance Authority | Mason City Housing Authority Shelter Plus Care | $100,056 |
| Iowa Institute for Community Alliances | Iowa’s Continuum Outcome and Universal Needs Toolkit (BOS HMIS) | $252,979 |
| Manasseh House (dba Operation Empower) | Operation Empower | $78,828 |
| Municipal Housing Agency of the City of Fort Dodge, Iowa | Fort Dodge Shelter Plus Care | $101,376 |
| Opening Doors | Maria House 2009 | $42,221 |
| Project Concern, Inc | 24 Hour Homeless Hotline/Homeless Coordinator | $31,570 |
| Shelter House Community Shelter & Transition Services | Shelter House STAR Program | $448,318 |
| The Salvation Army | Men’s Transitional Housing Program | $148,666 |
| Youth & Shelter Services, Inc. | Lighthouse Transitional Living Program New Hope Transitional Living Project |
$191,096 $129,733 |
| YWCA Clinton | YWCA Transitional Housing Program | $49,232 |
| City of Des Moines | Anawim Housing S+C 2009 Anawim Shelter Plus Care House of Mercy at Capitol Park House of Mercy Transitional Housing 2009 IHYC Lighthouse Host Home I-COUNT Primary Health Care Enhancement Primary Health Care Street Outreach |
$253,680 $816,744 $227,468 $289,732 $287,355 $110,250 $256,108 $85,000 |
Based on the Annual Homeless Assessment Report released by HUD in July 2009, nearly 1.6 million people use emergency or transitional housing programs over the course of a year, and, on any given night, roughly 664,000 people are homelesss. Of those who are homeless on any given night, 15 percent are estimated to be military veterans, about 37 percent are believed to have substance abuse addictions, and more than 25 percent are severely mentally ill.
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