Sioux City Discusses What Happens After Warming Shelter Closes

SIOUX CITY (KTIV) – Sioux City is sending a message that “we are here” as one department continues to care for Siouxland’s homeless population.

The city responded Thursday morning after The Warming Shelter explained why they lacked funding and support, forcing them to close their doors on October 1.

Sioux City operates Outreach Services, which provides comprehensive housing services to low-income and homeless people. It is located a few blocks from the Warming Shelter.

Neighbourhood Services says it regularly works closely with the shelter to connect residents with affordable housing and any other services they may need.

They are staffed by city officials, but run programs with federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, also known as HUD.

Several city council members gathered outside Neighborhood Services on Thursday to show the community that this service exists and that they support the homeless population with plans to ensure no one is left homeless.

Jill Wanderscheid, director of the Outreach Services Division, says they are preparing to help the homeless population even more when the shelter closes in less than two weeks.

Community services operate a coordinated entry system, with 173 people on the waiting list trying to access affordable housing.

According to Neighborhood Services, about 48 percent of Sioux City households are considered low- to moderate-income.

“A big part of our work is also helping people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in our community, so in 2019 we started to focus more on that,” Wanderscheid said.

Another big part of their office work is dedicated to outreach to the homeless on the streets, a position that was added in 2019 and has since expanded.

In 2020, they moved from City Hall to 6th Street.

“We have also expanded many of the services and programs we offer to people in our community,” Wanderscheid said.

Some programs include rapid rehousing.

“Since January 1, a total of 41 people have participated and we, the City of Sioux City, have spent $159,783.54 on this program,” Wanderscheid explained.

There are rumors that Sioux City is transporting people out of Sioux City, Wanderscheid explained the purpose of this program.

“We have a lot of people who come here. Maybe for a job, maybe for a relationship that didn’t work out, and they’re stuck here. They come to our office and say they just want to go home to where our support network is,” Wanderscheid says. “We meet with each person to make sure we know what their needs are.”

The city has provided 95 bus tickets through this program since January 1, 2024. The city spent a total of $12,397.20 on this program this year.

The Street Homeless Outreach Program aims to meet people where they are. People living on the streets often do not come to the office for help. It is the staff members who go out on the street to build trust with the homeless population.

Wanderscheid explained what coordinated entry is and why it is unique for city staff to be involved in how people are sent to different programs.

“We talk a lot about how people are referred to programs and all kinds of things,” Wanderscheid said. “The federal government says if you’re going to use federal funds, you have to have a system that will refer people to these services, so people will come. And what’s unique about the city of Sioux City is that our staff runs that program.”

People come into the office and first ask about housing, then they are put on this coordinated enrollment list that will help them find programs in Sioux City that best fit their needs. Since Jan. 1, outreach staff have completed 288 assessments and there are 173 people on the coordinated enrollment list waiting for help.

“We always work with developers to try to encourage them to include subsidized housing in their development,” Wanderscheid said.

Sioux City plans to soon open two subsidized housing units, East High Lofts and Asher Apartments. Both apartment complexes will have dedicated units that the city has funded to reserve permanent assisted living units.

Permanent supportive housing units will be available for 30 years for people experiencing homelessness.

Wanderscheid said his office is extremely busy and that is why there is not much news from his office in the community.

What happens after the Warming Shelter closes?

KTIV asked if there would be an influx of people into their offices and using their resources after the shelter closes. All people in the shelter should be on the coordinated entry list used by neighborhood services.

Clara Macfarlane Coly, Outreach Manager, said: “We are in daily contact with shelter staff and current residents to ensure that we can develop a plan so that they are not left homeless once the shelter closes, and if they are, it will be for a very short period of time. So we are working diligently to find landlords who are willing to accept rental assistance and potential tenants.”

The response of the city council

Alex Watters, responding to the news that The Warming Shelter was running out of funds, said: “It was quite shocking to know that we had just written this check for $50,000, and then to hear that no, in fact, we don’t have enough funds to get through the winter, let alone the next two months.”

Watters wants to dispel rumors that the city is doing nothing to address the city’s homeless crisis.

“Our outreach services, the people you see right behind us, are really doing amazing things,” Watters continued. “We have the rapid rehousing program, the coordinated entry. We’re not just talking about heads and beds to give people a place to sleep at night. We’re talking about a concerted effort to manage these people and work with them to find out if they want to get a job, if they’re looking for a more permanent housing solution, if we can help prevent homelessness by providing rental assistance or working with landlords to make sure they don’t lose their homes and end up on the streets.”

Mayor pro tempore Dan Moore was present with the same message.

“We don’t do anything. We do a lot. Jill and her team, all of you, do a great job. I guess we don’t speak up enough, and maybe we should, but we have really good programs. They’re working, they’re in transition, and it’s important that we continue them,” Moore said.

Moore recommended that the city council meet quarterly with neighborhood departments.

RELATED: Warming Shelter raises funds to keep doors open through winter

KTIV asked how often the city currently meets with neighborhood departments to provide updates. Moore said he couldn’t say, but he receives updates through city memos.

He said if he wanted more updates he should just ask.

“What I hope we get out of this is that the City Council can participate in a meaningful, respectful and responsible way to the taxpayers,” Moore said.

“We don’t waste money, and I hope that’s the case here. I hope we can continue to do whatever it takes to help Jill and her team be as successful as they have been, and maybe we’ll need your quarterly reports,” Moore said, looking at Wanderscheid.