The Gateway Transitional Housing Program

A Partnership Program between Muscatine Center for Social Action, Zion Lutheran Church,

Muscatine City Housing and Muscatine County Community Services

 

The long-range vision of the Gateway Program is to assist people in making the transition from being homeless to being homeowners.  Sometimes, supplying emergency housing is not sufficient to move people away from homelessness.  Such persons need time to rebuild and re-tool their lives.  Our vision is to provide a support system, which will give people the time needed to move toward independence

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Qualifications to be an eligible tenant for The Gateway Program

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Tenants must be employed or on the Family   Investment Program (FIP) and meeting all their FIP self-sufficiency targets before leaving the shelter and moving into an apartment.

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Tenants must have been successful in personal goals established during their time in the shelter.

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Tenants have a personal realistic goal of achieving independent living within three years. (Not a Section 8 recipient)

 

Requirements of the Program

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Continue case management with the Center for Social Action staff

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Continue to participate in classes and services offered at the center

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Partner with a volunteer mentor for support and guidance

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Participate in the savings program

 

"The Gateway Project is a key to independent housing.  The staff at Muscatine Center for Social Action and Zion Lutheran Church created it for those who are not quite ready to be on their own.  While staying in this transitional housing you receive the help you need to be independent. 

Zion Church leases the apartments out to tenants who are ready to leave the shelter.  Tenants chosen to stay at Gateway must meet specific goals, which are set by themselves and the staff.  The Tenants have a simple chore to do while living at the Gateway apartments. 

The tenants at Gateway also have a savings account where they put in $25.00 per month.  As long as the tenant continues to do their chores, the program will match that $25.00 with another $25.00.  This money is to help people afford to pay rent deposits or a down payment on their own home when they are ready to leave the Gateway Program.  People can live in the Gateway Apartments for up to three years."

Written by  a participant in the Gateway Program

For more information contact Maggie Curry at 563-264-3278