CENTER FOR SIOUXLAND
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Mission Statement
Helping People - Empowering Lives - Building Futures by providing programs and services that promote financial and housing stability and self-sufficiency.
About This Cause
History and Mission Center For Siouxland (formerly the A.I.D. Center) is a non-profit human service agency located in Sioux City, Iowa. Center For Siouxland was organized on August 1, 1975, as a cooperative effort of the Iowa Department of Social Services, United Way of Siouxland, Area Agency on Aging, and YMCA. Our mission is to help people, empower lives, and build futures by providing programs and services that promote financial and housing stability and self-sufficiency. The agency’s first office was located at 722 Nebraska Street, in the YMCA. Initial programs included emergency financial assistance, crisis intervention, traveler’s aid, assistance to older people, and a 24-hour program of information and referral. A housing counseling program was added in early 1976. The A.I.D. Center was incorporated in April 1977. In 1978, the agency received certification as a HUD Housing Counseling Agency. In 1979, the Senior Advocacy program, offering senior resource information, outreach, and legal service access was developed. In 1981, the Consumer Credit Counseling Service was added, and a food pantry was formally organized. In August 1981, needing additional space, the A.I.D. Center moved to 406 - 5th Street. In 1982, the agency was designated as the coordinator of the new Federal Surplus Food program for low income people for five counties. Center For Siouxland sponsored the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) from 1983-2014. RSVP provided volunteer opportunities such as Seniors in Schools, Meals on Wheels, food pantry assistants, and free income tax preparation for seniors age 55+ at Woodbury County non-profits. Case Management for Frail Elderly, VITA free income tax preparation, and the Federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program for Woodbury County were all added in 1983. In July 1984, the Board of Directors purchased an office building at 206 - 6th Street and the agency moved once again. In 1987, the agency opened a free clothing outlet at 219 - 6th Street. In July 1988, in cooperation with the City of Sioux City, the A.I.D. Center established an Emergency Family Shelter at 221 ½ - 6th street. Due to a lack of funding, the Emergency Family Shelter closed on June 30, 2008, after providing temporary shelter to homeless individuals and families for 20 years. Between 1989 and 2009, the Senior Companion Program provided low-income seniors with a stipend in exchange for providing assistance and friendship to homebound and/or handicapped seniors who have difficulty completing daily living tasks. The A.I.D. Center changed its name to The Center For Assistance, Information, and Direction in January 1998. In May 1998, following a major capital campaign, the Board of Directors purchased an office building at 715 Douglas Street and the agency moved to our current location. In 1999, La Casa Latina became a program of Center For Siouxland and located their offices in our former office building at 206 – 6th Street. The program assists Latino/Hispanic immigrants with becoming active, participating members of the Siouxland community. In November 2006, La Casa Latina became affiliated with the Mary Treglia Community House. In June 2002, Center For Siouxland opened Bridges West, a 22 unit (8 family and 14 single) transitional housing facility for homeless families and individuals. While at Bridges West, clients have access to supportive services such as case management, child care, health, dental, and mental health care, substance abuse counseling and treatment, and youth enrichment activities designed to help them transition into a successful permanent housing situation. This project was unique since this was the first time that a single room occupancy transitional housing unit had been funded using Iowa Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. In June 2003, the Center For Assistance, Information, and Direction (formerly the A.I.D. Center) officially changed its name to Center For Siouxland. The mission statement of Center For Siouxland is, “To provide assistance, information, and direction by building bridges between people with needs and people with solutions.” In July 2004 the 2-1-1 Helpline went live. Center For Siouxland’s local coordination of the 2-1-1 helpline provides the residents of 9 counties in Northwest Iowa and Dakota County in Nebraska with 24 hour information and referral services to local human services agencies as well as volunteer opportunities. In July 2012, 2-1-1 became affiliated with Siouxland Aging Services. In March 2008, the Consumer Credit Counseling program received ISO 9001 with Code of Practice accreditation. From March 2011 until February 2014, Center For Siouxland sponsored the Siouxland Volunteer Center (SVC). The SVC served as a clearinghouse to recruit, train, and support community volunteers. The SVC mobilized people and resources to assist during times of disaster and delivered creative solutions to community problems. Additionally, the SVC Director facilitated the process for non-profits and emergency management officials to develop meaningful non-disaster volunteer opportunities and recruit volunteers. In April 2011, Center For Siouxland was awarded a HUD Supportive Housing Program grant to begin providing permanent supportive housing for homeless and disabled individuals and families. This program provides permanent, long-term housing combined with supportive services that enable special needs populations to live as independently as possible in a permanent setting. Program goals include: remaining in permanent supportive housing for 6 months or longer, exiting the program to permanent housing, and maintaining or increasing their total income. Due to changes in program regulations, this program was reassigned to the Salvation Army in 2014. Center For Siouxland continued to provide case management for program participants until 2016. Currently, Center For Siouxland is located at 715 Douglas Street and offers six different programs and services designed to meet the diverse needs of the people in Northwest Iowa, Southeast South Dakota, and Northeast Nebraska. These programs include: Bridges West Transitional Housing, Client Trust/Representative Payee Program, Consumer Credit Counseling, HUD –certified Housing Counseling, VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance), and Prescription Medication Assistance. In 2018, Center For Siouxland assisted more than 2,800 individuals. Programs and Services 1. Bridges West Transitional Housing – The program provides housing and supportive services (case management; health, dental, and mental health care; child care; substance abuse counseling and treatment, transportation, education, youth enrichment activities; and basic needs) for up to 24 months for homeless families, couples, and individuals who have exhausted all personal resources and would be on the street if transitional housing was not available. 2. Client Trust/Representative Payee Program – These programs offer money management and protective payee services for elderly and/or mentally or physically handicapped persons not able to manage their own financial affairs. Financial Case Managers work with clients to meet their basic everyday needs, manage their finances and assets, and help them obtain medical/mental health services. The goal is to ensure a stable standard of living for those on a limited income. 3. Consumer Credit Counseling – The program provides free, confidential credit counseling. Certified Credit Counselors assist with budgeting, debt reduction, money management, job layoffs, first-time home buying, and more. Counselors also conduct a variety of community outreach including workshops, seminars, and credit report reviews on-site at area businesses, colleges, and high schools. The Debt Management Plan (DMP) is a fee-based program that helps solve credit card and other debt problems. 4. HUD Certified Comprehensive Housing Counseling – This program provides counseling and education for homebuyers, homeowners, and renters including: Pre-Purchase Counseling and Education, Post-Purchase Counseling and Education, Mortgage Default and Delinquency Counseling, Foreclosure Counseling, and Rental Counseling. 5. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) – This volunteer-driven program provides free income tax preparation and filing to low- to moderate-income individuals. In partnership with the United Way of Siouxland, the program promotes the Earned Income Tax Credit and saves the clients hundreds of dollars in paid tax preparer fees. Although the busiest time for taxes is from February 1 to April 15 each year, volunteers are available through June each year to file taxes from previous years. 6. Prescription Medication Assistance –The program helps clients who are facing an immediate financial hardship obtain prescription medications for which they cannot afford the co-pay.