Iowa City's Overflow Winter Shelter to Resume Services Starting 12/02/19

Over the past five winters, Iowa City's Shelter House has operated a temporary homeless shelter that was capable of housing 30 people per night during the winter months. These temporary shelters were created to alleviate some of the overcrowding that happens each winter at the Shelter House. They were also used as a form of "wet shelter" (i.e., allowing individuals to access the shelter who had been drinking alcohol). Those individuals who have been drinking are typically turned away from the Shelter House.

It was just announced the the Shelter House's Low Barrier Winter Emergency Shelter will be located again this year at 821 S. Clinton Street in Iowa City starting on Monday, December 2, 2019.

This location is across the street from the Johnson County Health & Human Services building, which allows easier access to potential long-term community services through the DHS and General Assistance. The Low Barrier Winter Emergency Shelter will be managed by a rotating staff of 12 part-time Shelter House employees -- two employees every night.