New Cedar Rapids Housing Project Targets 85 Chronically Homeless Individuals

A new housing project in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, called “The Commons on 16th,” is set to provide homes for 85 people currently living on the streets. The initiative, a three-year pilot program, aims to transition individuals from unsheltered homelessness to permanent housing. Located in the former CRST training facility, the project includes 85 single apartments with on-site medical services, access to prescriptions, and support for finding employment.

Kira Payne, a resident of Green Square in downtown Cedar Rapids, has been living unsheltered for years. She has sought housing in the area for six years but has faced significant challenges, including complex behavioral health needs and reliance on Social Security as her only income. “All I want is to get back on my feet, have my own place again,” Payne said, expressing her desire for stability and a permanent home.

Linn County has seen a 50% reduction in street homelessness since the launch of the Homeless Systems Initiative, a county-city collaboration designed to address homelessness more effectively. The initiative focuses on streamlining services and preventing individuals from becoming bottlenecked in emergency shelters or remaining unsheltered. “It really is helping us right-size services that we have within the system,” said Peterman, a representative of the initiative.

The Commons on 16th is specifically targeted at people who have experienced chronic homelessness. Outreach workers from the initiative approached all 51 individuals living unsheltered in the area, and 46 expressed interest in moving into the project. “Individuals can come here, living on site, learn how to live indoors again, get connected to those wraparound services and then successfully transition into one of those units for long-term living,” Peterman explained.

The project is funded through a combination of silent donors, county, and city contributions. It is scheduled to open in November, with those seeking to qualify contacting their outreach coordinator. “I just want people to be able to not have to survive out here trying to do what they can to get help and not get that help,” Payne said, highlighting the importance of accessible and effective support systems.

The Commons on 16th represents a step toward addressing housing insecurity and providing care for vulnerable neighbors. As the project prepares to open, it underscores the need for continued investment in solutions that reflect compassion and a commitment to justice. Proverbs 31:8-9 reminds us to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, and this initiative seeks to do just that.

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