According to the 2024 report by Siouxland Neighborhood Services, there were 295 individuals unhoused. In 2012, there were only 212 individuals who were unhoused. Most of these individuals seek shelter at The Warming Shelter or the Gospel Mission. However, those who do not seek shelter from these options tend to seek shelter in unsecured buildings downtown - the Phoenix Apartment building being one of them. Tenants have expressed their frustrations of unsafe and unsanitary conditions. Law enforcement is dispatched regularly expending time, energy, and resources that could be utilized for more serious crimes within the community. The most that law enforcement can do is tell an individual to leave, but that doesn't keep them from returning back. Some tenants choose to let homeless individuals inside of the building or homeless individuals will wait until a tenant leaves to enter the building.  Judges are often left to deal with a "revolving door." Property owners do have security cameras on-site, but limited capacity to address immediate needs or situations that may arise.

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Most of the unhoused come from marginalized communities such as the Native, Hispanic, and immigrant communities. A lack of mental health resources, affordable housing, transportation, and rapid re-housing funding contributes to the increasing homeless rate. In addition, the Iowa House voted to limit recipients of the EBT program on what they could purchase for food items recently. Food banks in Iowa are feeling the pressure to keep up with the demand to help struggling families. The outcome of increased tariffs could also negatively impact households across the nation. 

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Red Sky Nation is collaborating with the property owners of The Phoenix Apartment building to help clean and create a safe environment for the current and future tenants while addressing the needs of the homeless individuals who seek shelter inside. We are looking forward to organizing listening sessions that are solutions-driven. Our long-term goal is to explore the possibility of creating a community garden for the tenants and establish the Raven Zephier memorial.

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