Financial stability in Southeast Iowa has declined significantly over the past five years. As we look to the future, our goal is not only to bring awareness to this issue but to actively equip our neighbors with the knowledge and resources they need to secure their homes and livelihoods.
By strengthening families and individuals, we help build a more resilient community—one where people can support each other in times of need. Through access to essential services, addressing the housing crisis, and more, we are committed to stabilizing homes and securing a brighter future for Southeast Iowa.
Southeast Iowa’s economy is experience a mix of growth and decline across our five county coverage, highlighting financial instability and the need for economic resilience. The financial trend in our local area is:
In 2025, Our Community Worked to Achieve:
● 67% success rate for homeless individuals to reach steady employment, savings, and stable housing. An approximate increase of 13% from 2024. With 56 businesses participating in placing 23 disabled individuals into stable job positions.
● 25 fuel cards provided to community members for medical appointments.
● An approximate housing savings of over $110,000 for individuals experiencing homelessness, housing instability, domestic violence, cancer treatments, and more.
● Our RSVP drivers also provided the estimated equivalent of $30,000 of rides over the course of 23,165 miles. That is a total community savings of between $140K – $150K, which is the more than the average home value of Burlington, IA.
● With the continual benefit of these programs, our team wished to support the seniors for the holidays with our Elves for Elders. Those that could, were able to gift to 50 elderly individuals who did not have any celebration otherwise. Roughly 80% of these individuals were identified as part of the ALICE population, with the remainder within 200% of the poverty line.
Some of the key takeaways that we’ve uncovered:
“We had an individual with severe mental health diagnosis who also had a stroke and had to relearn all his skills from eating to walking. The individual was unsure if he would ever be able to find a job that would accommodate his disabilities. With the assistance and support of the IPS program, the individual was able to find a job that would accommodate his hours and within walking distance of his home. The individual is successfully employed and loves being able to go to work every day in a supportive work environment.”
— Hope Haven, Imagine the Possibilities
“For Problem Gambling, when community members call for help, they don’t have to worry about whether they can pay as we can be flexible due to UW funding. This goes a long way to helping people with gambling disorders, as finances are a big trigger and can be a barrier for treatment when the person is active in their addiction.”
— ADDS
“Dominick “fell off the wagon” after the death of his brother. He worked with other agencies to try and get back on track but still ended up being evicted from his apartment. Over the course of his stay at BAHS, Dominick saved and paid off multiple debts. His mom had a major health scare while he stayed with us, but with the positive support, Dominick was able to maintain his sobriety even through that stressful trigger. He got back into the good graces of his creditors, and even moved back into the same apartment he was previously evicted from! He has continued to maintain a relationship with BAHS and calls regularly with updates. His mom is doing well, he is staying ahead of his bills and he is still “on the wagon”.”
— Burlington Area Homeless Shelter