City commits support to The 1105 Project and North Liberty Community Pantry

Last night, the North Liberty City Council voted unanimously to commit financial support to social services agencies that serve North Liberty residents struggling with hunger, domestic violence, mental illness, and other needs.
The council pledged $10,000 to The 1105 Project building fund, as well as to increase its support to the North Liberty Community Pantry over the next two fiscal years; the city has pledged $14,000 to the Community Pantry this fiscal year and $15,000 for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
The 1105 Project is a collaboration of the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Johnson County, the Domestic Violence Intervention Program, the Crisis Center of Johnson County, and the Free Lunch Program. The agencies have teamed up to raise money to share a building at 1105 S. Gilbert Court in Iowa City to effectively and efficiently reach more of Johnson County. By sharing space in one building, clients can access multiple services in one location, and the agencies can implement collaborative programs to better serve all clients.
“This gift means so much to these agencies, whose operating budgets are being impacted by a construction loan to the tune of about $680 a month,” said 1105 Capital Campaign Chair Sara Langenberg. “Paying off that loan averts a significant impact on agency budgets that could ultimately impact client services.
“Adding on gifts to support the North Liberty Food Pantry also helps address the devastating impact of poverty, which recognizes no city borders, and we plan to work closely with the North Liberty City Council, the North Liberty Community Pantry, and other interested programs, residents, and churches in the area to see all of the human services provided at 1105 expand further into northern Johnson County,” Langenberg added.
Statistics provided by the four agencies at 1105 indicate that in the fiscal year ending in July 2013, the Crisis Center of Johnson County assisted 588 North Liberty residents via its crisis line, Suicide Survivors Support Group, and other services not currently available in North Liberty. The Crisis Center also provided about $10,000 in emergency assistance grants to more than 100 North Liberty residents—money donated by churches to help struggling Johnson County residents pay for essential utilities including gas, electricity, and water.
In the final six months of 2013, the Domestic Violence Intervention Program provided shelter or resources to 26 North Liberty individuals or families struggling with a dangerous home environment. Clients served by the National Alliance on Mental Illness support groups and other resources include 75 North Liberty residents.
During council discussion prior to the vote, councilors expressed an interest in expanding access to these services for northern Johnson County residents due to the 1105 Project’s Iowa City location. Plans already are in the works to form an ad hoc task force to better address these needs, Langenberg said.
“As a North Liberty resident, I recognize the needs for these services in our town, and am prepared to work with the 1105 agencies to expand their reach, and help communities in northern Johnson County learn about opportunities to add or expand these services for residents in our area,” she said.
The council also challenged North Liberty residents to contribute an additional $5,000 to the campaign. Langenberg said the 1105 Project will work to raise the project’s visibility in North Liberty, and its impact on residents of northern Johnson County.
North Liberty’s $10,000 contribution to The 1105 Project brings the building renovation project closer to paying off a construction loan on the $1.25 million project, which began in late 2012. In January, the project needed $300,000 to close the books on its fundraising effort, and asked the City of Iowa City for help. Iowa City pledged to give up to $100,000 to the project if it can raise the remaining $200,000 by April 14. It means each new gift to the project is worth 50 percent more to its capital campaign.
The $10,000 gift will translate into a $15,000 gift to 1105 with the City of Iowa City’s 50 percent match. Based on donations received as of February 17, the project still needs to raise about $150,000 by April 14 to receive Iowa City’s full $100,000 gift.