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Iowa City seeks $301,500 in CDBG‑CV funds to support Shelter House operations
Summary
City staff presented a public‑meeting application for $301,500 in state CDBG‑CV funds to support emergency shelter operations at Shelter House; council approved the application unanimously.
The Iowa City City Council voted unanimously in May 2025 to approve the city's application to the Iowa Economic Development Authority for state CDBG‑CV funding to support emergency shelter operations at Shelter House.
Erica Hubley, Neighborhood Services, said the city is pursuing $301,500 in CDBG‑CV funding — $300,000 for Shelter House operations and $1,500 for city administrative delivery. The federal CDBG‑CV program originated through the 2020 CARES Act and the state administers a round of CDBG‑CV funds to address pandemic-related housing and shelter needs; Hubley said funds must be used to prevent, prepare for or respond to COVID‑19 impacts and are currently targeted to ongoing shelter operations.
"We are anticipating an award of $301,500 with $300,000 going to Shelter House for their operations," Hubley said. She told the council Shelter House projects the funded activity will assist about 400 individuals, prioritizing extremely low‑income people referred through coordinated entry, and that the shelter has reported an updated operating deficit of $723,407 for emergency-shelter operations this year.
Chrissy Cangionelli, executive director of Shelter House, urged approval and described changes in staffing and service levels. "We did implement a new staffing structure to ensure that our spaces are better supported, our staff are better supported, our clients are better supported," she said, noting that Shelter House now staffs shift supervisors and two staff per shift to support a low‑barrier shelter model.
Councilors framed the application as a continuation of pandemic-era housing work the city has funded since 2020, including past CDBG and ARPA‑funded programs. The council passed the application on roll call, 6–0, and city staff said funds must be expended by May 2026 if awarded.
Next steps: staff will submit the full application to the Iowa Economic Development Authority by the June 1 application deadline and return to council with any award notifications or required compliance details.
