Homeless agencies in the Quad Cities want to end the need for their winter emergency shelter within five years.
On Thursday, Humility Homes and Services will host a resource fair to help reduce the number of people who might need to stay at King's Harvest Shelter in Davenport. The service helped 386 homeless adults last winter.
Assistant Director Christie Adamson says the emergency shelter is no different than an ambulance, or any other sort of crisis intervention: it helps people in the moment, but doesn't systemically fix the problem of homelessness.
"It's extremely important because it keeps people alive because we live in this wonderful Midwest with horrible temperatures in the winter. But, it has not moved people closer to housing. It has just simply kept them alive through the winter months."
So, local housing agencies are coming up with new ideas about expanding affordable housing in the Quad Cities. As a result, Adamson says Humility Homes and Services will change some of their services this winter.
"This year, unlike other years, we are providing services to people who are going to be staying there. And, we are also, hopefully when we obtain the funding, going to be providing some financial assistance to help people get out of their situation faster."
She also says that getting people those services as quickly as possible is essential, so Humility Homes and Services has sent out two "outreach navigators" to look for people who are living unsheltered and get them connected to resources.
Thursday's event will be held at the Center in Davenport at 1411 Brady Street from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.