Since 2014, Shelter House has opened a low-barrier Winter Emergency Shelter at a temporary location from December through March. This satellite facility is intended for individuals for whom homelessness has become a chronic condition. Barriers to entry such as sobriety, participation in programs, and other requirements are removed. With our expanded winter shelter capacity, individuals who would have otherwise been incarcerated or sleeping in encampments, parking ramps and hallways of apartment buildings are instead ensured a safe, warm place to sleep.

Winter is a deadly time for anyone who makes their home outside, where they are at serious risk of frostbite injury and death from exposure.  Without this shelter, individuals who were unable or unwilling to access Shelter House due to intoxication or eviction would have spent the winter fighting the elements. Thanks to the generosity of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors, a building which was previously used for county storage at 821 S. Clinton Street in Iowa City was used as the site for the winter shelter for the 2017-18 season. The Winter Emergency Shelter is now located at 340 Southgate Ave, on the east side of the Guidelink Center building, and has continued to provide critical services for the past 8 seasons. In the 2025-2026 winter season alone, Shelter House accommodated 8,178 total shelter stays. 74 of the individuals served during the season are now in stable housing. 

For information about volunteering or specific donation needs, please contact [email protected] with questions.

2025-2026 Partners and Supporters

This project was made possible through the generous contributions and partnerships of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors and the City of Iowa City.

Special thanks to our wonderful staff members, volunteers, and supporters who make this project a success!

"Far more people than I expected needed and appreciated the service. There’s no reason anybody should have to sleep outside during a brutally cold Iowa winter, and I’m really proud that my hometown came together to make sure nobody had to."
-Elizabeth Pusack, Shelter Staff