Regional report outlines path to reduce unsheltered homelessness across the Quad Cities
More than 100 leaders shape bi-state strategy designed to help more than 1,500 households each year avoid or exit homelessness
A new regional report outlines a practical, evidence-based strategy to reduce unsheltered homelessness across the Quad Cities through coordinated investments, shared goals, and unprecedented collaboration across city, county, and state lines.
The report emerged from a regional momentum-building event held in April that brought together more than 100 leaders from the nonprofit, public, and private sectors. Hosted by the Quad Cities Community Foundation and Downtown Davenport Partnership, the gathering focused on identifying proven approaches to help the Quad Cities respond more effectively to homelessness and prevent more people from entering the system.
The resulting report presents a roadmap for helping more than 1,500 adults and families each year avoid or exit homelessness while creating a more coordinated regional response to unsheltered homelessness.
“Our region has an opportunity to act together around a shared strategy that is grounded in data, proven results, and the strengths that already exist across the Quad Cities,” said Sue Hafkemeyer, president and CEO of the Quad Cities Community Foundation. “We now have a practical framework for how communities, institutions, funders, service providers, and residents can work together to drastically reduce homelessness in our region.”
The report (available here) identifies several important realities about homelessness in the Quad Cities:
Approximately 1,200 single adults and 360 families enter homelessness annually across the region.
The overwhelming majority of those experiencing homelessness are newly homeless, with 81 percent of adults and 88 percent of families entering homelessness for the first time or during a short-term crisis.
A relatively small group of individuals experiencing long-term homelessness accounts for much of the region's unsheltered homelessness, creating an opportunity for targeted interventions.
“The path forward means aligning resources toward rapid intervention, housing-focused solutions, and targeted support for people with the most complex needs,” said Kelly Thompson, vice president of strategic initiatives for the Quad Cities Community Foundation. “This is a proven strategy that has produced measurable results across the country. Now we have to collaboratively design what this work could look like in the Quad Cities, taking into account our existing resources and infrastructure, and what would need to be changed or created. It all begins with stronger regional coordination.”
Phase One of the plan would require approximately $8.9 million over two years to support housing interventions, family stabilization efforts, rapid-resolution services, complex case coordination, and regional management capacity.
Leaders involved in the initiative stress that the report represents the beginning of a community-wide process rather than a final decision. Organizers are already engaging government leaders, service providers, business representatives, funders, and community members to help shape implementation strategies and explore the creation of a regional steering committee to guide the work forward.
“This report provides a strong direction, but meaningful progress will require broad community commitment,” said Kyle Carter, executive director for Downtown Davenport Partnership. “We are asking the public to continue supporting the organizations and agencies on the front lines of this challenge, and for our community partners from every sector to reach out, engage with this plan, and help shape what comes next.”