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Willis Dady Emergency Shelter

Non-Profit - Homeless Housing

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About this facility

Hours
24 Hours
Mission
Our mission is to provide immediate shelter to homeless single men and families in a safe, clean and caring atmosphere that promotes progress toward ending the cycle of homelessness.
Areas served
Linn County
Service
Temporary

Notes

About Us:
Willis Dady Emergency Shelter (WDES) has served over 10,000 homeless single men and families since opening in 1987. We provide over 9,000 nights of shelter per year, or roughly 20 -25% of nights of shelter provided in Linn County. Willis Dady Emergency Shelter serves an average of 297 single men and families living or relocating to Cedar Rapids and/or Linn County each year. We provide all services, free of charge to stabilize residents and facilitate progress towards change.

The founders of the shelter named it after a young man, Willis Dady, who jumped in the Des Moines River to save a drowning boy. Both the boy and Willis Dady lost their lives. The Founders were incredibly inspired by his altruistic act, and decided that his name would live on through acts of kindness at Willis Dady Emergency Shelter.

PAST..PRESENT…FUTURE

* Willis Dady Emergency Shelter began as a day program for homeless men in 1987. The founder, Jim Welborn, knew first hand there was a growing need for homeless services. Jim spent 25 years on the streets struggling with alcohol addiction. He got help, stayed sober, and got into Mount Mercy College’s School of Social Work. The day program started as his senior project and went on to become an over-night shelter.
* Willis Dady Emergency Shelter began taking homeless families in 1989 as the community saw a significant increase in the number of families unable to meet basic needs.
* In 1991, Willis Dady Emergency Shelter purchased its new location at 1247 4th Avenue SE and became a United Way Partner Agency.
* Between 1997 and 1999, Willis Dady Emergency Shelter paid-off the mortgage and made renovations/repairs to the facility with the help of a large donation from Westminster Presbyterian Church.
* Willis Dady Emergency Shelter is debt free and currently operates on an annual budget of approximately $190,000
* In late 2007, the organization celebrated 20 years of service by creating a strategic planning document with long-range goals, including an endowment fund.

2007 Agency Stats:

* Sheltered:
a. Men (284)
b. Families (20)– 78 members, 41 of which are kids
* Total Person Nights: 8,866
* Average Stay: 44 days
* Bus Tickets provided: 6,500
* Meals provided: 2,624
* Employed at entry: 18% of clients
* Veterans: 19% of clients
* Disabled: 19% of clients
* Chronically homeless: 27% of clients
* 33% of clients went to permanent or transitional housing at exit
* 48% of clients disappeared without reporting plans for housing
* 9% of clients went to inpatient treatment programs, jail, or other emergency shelters
* Remaining 10% of clients were carried over into 2008