T-R PHOTO BY LANA BRADSTREAM — The Marshalltown Homelessness Task Force has helped establish a 24-hour drop-in warming center at the Mid-Iowa Triumph Recovery Center on Linn Street. Volunteers were trained to monitor homeless people who stayed at the center overnight.

Progress has been made in Marshalltown’s effort to help the homeless. Since the creation of the Homelessness Task Force in September 2023, members – including representatives of nonprofits and city leaders – have provided financial assistance to three families and one individual. They also assisted in recruiting volunteers for the Mid-Iowa Triumph Recovery Center warming center and gathering miscellaneous donations.

Task Force Co-chair Kendra Sorensen said for a person to qualify for assistance, he or she must be a Marshall County resident experiencing homelessness or at critical risk of becoming homeless.

“Individuals or families are required to meet with the assigned local agency to complete an intake form to be considered for assistance and actively participate in case management with the agency they are connected to,” she said

Sorensen and Co-chair Jasmin Banderas reflected on how the task force has benefited Marshalltown. According to both, one of the biggest ways is raising awareness of the issue, and the different barriers people face.

“I think it also shined a light on the agencies that are embedded in our community and ways they are working together to help individuals and families on the issue,” she said.

Sorensen said many of the nonprofit Marshalltown agencies have been spearheading the work to assist homelessness.

“The task force provides a dynamic opportunity for discussion and problem-solving,” she said. “I’m incredibly pleased to see diverse community members serving on our Homelessness Task Force. Given the complexity of homelessness, it’s essential for individuals from various sectors to come together and collaborate effectively.”

Thanks to the increase in awareness, donations to the task force have been more forthcoming, and have extended beyond monetary to also include quilts, hygiene items and volunteer time. The generosity makes it easier for task force members to focus on the goals. Short-term, they want to continue working with people, families and agencies to prevent homelessness and provide crisis intervention through case management. Establishing connections between people who need help and necessary resources is an important aspect of meeting that short-term goal.

A long-term goal is to identify a space which can be utilized to provide shelter during the cold winter and hot summer temperatures.

“Ideally, we hope to secure a space that can better accommodate overnight stays and includes essential amenities such as a shower and a kitchenette,” Sorensen said. “This would provide a more stable and supportive environment for individuals and families as they work with case managers to navigate their unique situations. Additionally, this initiative would require securing stable financial support to ensure both its development and long-term sustainability.”

Securing that financial support is the key element to establishing a shelter. Marshalltown has not had a shelter for the homeless since the House of Compassion’s was closed in 2017. The reasons for the closing include lack of funding, safety concerns, difficulty finding volunteer monitors and lack of space for an increasing number of people with mental health issues.

In addition to money, Sorensen said there are endless ways people could support a shelter.

“It could be rent-free use of a building space, a donation of materials and labor if an applicable space is secured, food, etc.,” she said.

To make donations or to get help, people can contact the task force through non-profit partnering agencies, such as the Marshalltown Area United Way at 641-752-4688 or Child Adolescent and Parent Support (CAPS) at 641-752-1730.

On behalf of the Homelessness Task Force, Banderas and Sorensen extended appreciation for the community’s support and heartfelt graciousness toward their efforts.