Simon Andrew, Executive Director of the Housing Authority, spoke about his work with The Housing Fellowship and about the organization itself. Simon's background includes employment with the City of Iowa City in budgeting and working with Habitat for Humanity in Uganda. The Housing Fellowship is a not for profit organization that manages 207 housing units and strives to provide affordable maintained housing to adults who are primarily greater than 25 years of age (federal requirement). Its typical client is not a student. The Housing Fellowship often supports scattered site housing, which fits into neighborhoods and most families stay a few years. Johnson County, Iowa, is the most expensive place to live in Iowa. The Housing Fellowship rent ranges start at $400 per month, and some market rate housing is available with no external compliance requirements. When there is no debt on housing, Simon said it is easier to keep housing affordable. The Housing Fellowship team consists of seven individuals, including Simon. He posed the question--"What sets The Housing Fellowship apart?" It is not unusual to have tenants with a past due balance, and during the pandemic, The Housing Fellowship helped folks access debt relief funds. The Housing Fellowships also works with other not for profits, including DVIP and the Shelter House. The Housing Fellowship does not need credit checks and is lenient with background checks of applicants. The Housing Fellowship has a twelve member board and 100% of equity stays in Johnson County. There will be a student built Leed certified house on Ronald Street available in the future, and The Housing Fellowship will acquire some houses by selling others with the intent of renting them affordably. In response to questions, The Housing Fellowship does refer tenants to Iowa Legal Aid and does validate the financial circumstance of their clients. The audience thanked Simon for speaking and he stayed to answer questions after the meeting adjourned.
President Theresa Burns called the meeting to order at 7:05 a.m. Announcements included that there the Rotary Club of Iowa City is wrapping gifts at the Coral Ridge Mall on December 24 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (contact Jack Cameron) and that cookies need to be dropped off at Open Heartland Saturday, December 10 from 1:30 to 6:00 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 8:00 a.m.