Linn County homeless‑systems manager reports declines in unsheltered counts, outlines programs
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Summary
Linn County’s homeless systems manager reported small declines in point‑in‑time unsheltered counts, described a paid lived‑experience advisory council, biometric lockers at the winter weather shelter, a landlord/tenant initiative funded with $100,000 (44 enrolled, 37 housed), and a community care team serving chronically unsheltered residents.
Janae Peterman, Linn County’s homeless systems manager, updated the Board of Supervisors Jan. 12 on 2025 outreach and program results and urged continued county support for shelter and housing initiatives.
Peterman said the county’s point‑in‑time counts, conducted in January and July, show a small multi‑year decline in individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness in the service region. She explained the service region outreach includes Benton and Jones counties, but staff have not identified people sleeping unsheltered in those counties; the data presented are effectively Linn County‑specific. "We reach out to Benton and Jones County just to ensure… but we have not identified anybody, so this would be Linn County specific only," she said.
Peterman described several programs and results: a seven‑member lived‑experience advisory council (paid) that helps review policies and perform outreach; biometric storage lockers at the winter weather shelter paid for by an Iowa Finance Authority grant to help people keep belongings safe; a coordinated‑entry street outreach team with area health and service providers that addressed about 120 encampments since April 2025; and a landlord‑tenant success initiative funded with $100,000 from Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust that aims to incentivize landlords and support tenants. "We now have 44 enrolled and 37 housed through this program," Peterman said.
On the county’s by‑name list, Peterman said the roster fluctuates weekly as people leave or reappear; staff reported about 90 individuals identified unsheltered on the list and approximately 75 who meet chronically homeless criteria (unsheltered a year or longer), with the chronic cases counted within the 90. Peterman said the community care team focuses on high‑need chronically unsheltered individuals and that 11 people were enrolled in a high‑need care pilot, eight of whom are now housed.
Supervisors thanked staff and community partners — including Ashley Bayless and David Tillan, who were present — for progress. Board members asked clarifying questions about counts, the occupancy of the Margaret Bach transitional housing complex (34 units with three vacancies to fill that week), and federal changes affecting homeless‑services funding. Peterman warned of anticipated changes to Continuum of Care funding rules that could limit the share of Continuum‑of‑Care dollars available for permanent housing in 2027 and make funding for permanent supportive housing more competitive statewide.
The board took no separate vote on program funding during the Jan. 12 update but directed staff to continue outreach and to return with more detailed follow‑up as needed.
