PUSH-CR is Iowa's first supportive housing program designed specifically for very low income families who are homeless or near homeless, involved with the child welfare system, and dealing with complex needs or disabilities (such as domestic violence, mental health and substance abuse problems) that threaten child and family safety, permanency, and well-being. Program partners will work with families to achieve safe stable housing, help parents retain custody of their children, ensure child safety and family stability, achieve higher levels of employment and improve family functioning and child well-being. PUSH-CR will enroll approximately 3 families per month -through April 2017 – to permanently house and serve 125 families in crisis.
We believe we can really begin to change children’s lives in the long term when we look at how to consistently meet their basic needs, and housing is certainly one of those needs,” said Anne Gruenewald, Four Oaks President.
Four Oaks and partners convened by the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation include: Iowa Department of Human Services, Foundation 2, Area Substance Abuse Council, Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, Linn County Public Health, United Way, Affordable Housing Network Inc., Waypoint, Abbe Center for Community Mental Health, Partnership for Safe Families, Horizons, Kirkwood, City of Cedar Rapids Housing Services, Diversity Focus, Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission, Linn County Community Services, Iowa Children’s Justice, Cedar Rapids Community School District, University of Iowa, Leadership Circle and the National Center on Family Homelessness.