Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Veterans' nonprofit AFIL briefs Cedar Falls council on housing, furniture and transitional services
Summary
Representatives from Americans for Independent Living (AFIL) told the council about veteran-focused programs including transitional housing, furniture distribution and case management, and asked the city to help publicize services and support volunteer and donation efforts.
Representatives of Americans for Independent Living (AFIL) described the nonprofit’s work for veterans during the public forum and asked for city support and greater community awareness.
Tim Combs, who said he founded AFIL in 2015, told the council the organization began with home-modification work for veterans and later added transitional housing and furniture distribution programs. Combs said AFIL has rehabilitated donated houses for transitional housing, operates a furniture and essential-items distribution program from a roughly 10,000-square-foot facility and performs regular pickups and deliveries to veterans in need.
Christine, AFIL’s executive director, asked council members to visit the facility, review informational folders left for the mayor and staff and help publicize AFIL’s work. She described the organization as primarily volunteer-run with limited paid staff and invited council and community leaders to an upcoming event tied to veterans’ activities. "We're always taking tours...come in the building," she said.
Mayor Ladek thanked AFIL for the work it does and officers indicated the council may follow up about opportunities for staff and public engagement. AFIL asked residents to donate furniture and essential items and to connect volunteers with the group’s programs.
