Latest news with #HomelessCourtProgram
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Flood victims receive help from Sioux City Career Academy students
JEFFERSON, S.D. (KCAU) – Almost a year after historic flooding, Siouxland families continue to repair their homes, and one house in South Dakota is receiving help from the Sioux City Career Academy. Roughly four feet of water was inside the home, but thanks to a group of students, the house is coming together nicely. Beverly Loof and her husband were some of the many people impacted by the 2024 flood, but thankfully, they were out of town when it happened. 'We weren't able to get back in here ten days later, and when we did get in here, there was no more off-white carpet,' Loof said. 'It was just mud and it was pretty devastating.' Iowa Gov. Reynolds signs bill to help 2024 flood, tornado victims Due to the high water, the Loofs had to throw out many items. 'Everything looked like a tornado had went through the inside and everything was mixed up and turned upside down,' Loof said. 'And we put a dumpster outside and all my new furniture and everything went in the dumpster.' Once the house was cleared, the next step was getting the house back to its former glory. With help from the community, repairs slowly took place over the next several months. Then, Renae Hansen with the McCook Lake Izaak Walton League made a call that would expedite everything. 'The Sioux City Career Academy has a lot of kids and it's towards the end of the year,' Hansen said. 'I was hoping by chance that I would be able to utilize some of their skills out here. When I called, they said it was like divine intervention because they've got 60 kids with limited projects to get them through the end of the year.' For the past couple of weeks, the Loofs' house has been booming with students. 'We've been working here doing drywall,' 11th grader Beau Smallcomb said. 'It's a little difficult, but once you get to know what you're doing and practice, it's pretty easy.' Sioux City awarded $25k to help create Homeless Court Program While there is still much to do before the house is complete, Beverly Loof says she can't thank these students enough. 'It's been amazing to see these young men and ladies, you know, be able to do this type of work.' she said. 'My husband's not able to do it anymore. And for them to come out here and spend their time and do it the best they can, it's been amazing. We wouldn't be this far without Renae and the academy.' 'It feels good to help people that need it because, you know, they're older, and they shouldn't be having to do it themselves,' Smallcomb said. A Sioux City Career Academy instructor said they'll be working on the house for about another week. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Iowa Gov. Reynolds signs bill to help 2024 flood, tornado victims
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCAU) — More help is coming to Iowans who were affected by multiple natural disasters last year. Governor Kim Reynolds' office announced that she signed Senate File 619 into law on Tuesday, April 22. The bill provides millions of dollars in disaster relief and assistance for Iowans who were impacted by flooding, tornadoes, and other severe weather events in the spring and summer of 2024. Sioux City awarded $25k to help create Homeless Court Program 'The tenacity of Iowans has been tested over the past year,' Reynolds said in a statement in part.. 'Our state faced devastating natural disasters in the spring of 2024—strong tornadoes and widespread flooding affected tens of thousands of Iowa families… Today, I sign this legislation to streamline our disaster assistance process and make it easier for Iowans to get the help they need as soon as possible.' According to the governor's office, the bill: Adds $11.6 million in funding to the Disaster Recovery Housing Assistance Program Extends tax exclusion for the State Disaster New Housing Grant Program Adjusts insurance regulations to protect people against unfair practices Modifies emergency funds transfer authority in times of disaster Adds $2 million in funding to the Nuisance Property & Abandoned Building Remediation Loan Program Creates new Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund to help with future disasters Three presidential disaster declarations were issued in a span of just a few months. The first was in response to severe storms and tornadoes in April 2024; the second was for severe storms in May 2024; and the final was for severe weather in many Iowa counties in June and July 2024, including June's historic flooding in northwest Iowa. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Yahoo
Sioux City awarded $25k to help create Homeless Court Program
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCAU) — The state of Iowa has provided Sioux City with a grant going towards the creation of a program to help homeless people navigate legal barriers, the first of its kind in the state. According to a release, the Iowa Finance Authority's Board of Directors awarded the city with $25,000 to support the creation of a Homeless Court Program (HCP). These programs aim to create a 'community-based alternative to the traditional courtroom.' 2 finalists named for chief administrator role at Northwest AEA As part of an HCP, local organizations and legal experts would work to resolve a person's existing misdemeanor offenses, infractions and warrants. These issues often prevent homeless people from securing housing and employment, the IFA says. 'The creation of the Sioux City Homeless Court Program is an important step in breaking down legal barriers that prevent individuals from achieving stable housing and jobs,' said Jill Wanderscheid, Sioux City's Neighborhood Services Manager, in a statement. 'With 206 households, consisting of 286 individuals, currently on the Sioux City's Coordinated Entry list waiting for housing resources, this program will play a crucial role in addressing homelessness in our community.' Sioux City officials look to make intersection safer after 2 crashes The money comes through the IFA's Emergency and Innovative Housing Fund. The fund was created in 2024 in response to emergency housing needs as a result of disasters or other crises. Though this will be the first HCP in Iowa, over 70 similar programs have been established across the country since 2001. These programs will provide technical assistance for Sioux City's HCP. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
