The Sioux City Homeless Task Force, created in November, is shifting how it addresses homelessness-related issues.
The task force was created to connect homeless folks with services and address homelessness-related issues; it consists of city staff, police, and service providers.
Rex Mueller, Chief of Police, told Siouxland Public Media on Tuesday that they have rebranded the task force to the Homeless Assistance Response Team or HART.
“As the weather improves, the issues that HART was formed to address will likely adjust slightly because weather conditions do impact our homeless community in different ways. Regardless of weather, the HART team will always have the mission of finding innovative and lasting solutions to homelessness and vagrancy issues in Sioux City,” said Mueller.
Additionally, HART will give the Sioux City Council biweekly updates, instead of the previous weekly routine.
Mueller said that HART is composed of several city departments working with local organizations to investigate issues associated with people experiencing homelessness.
Some of those include the Siouxland Mental Health Crisis Center, Rosecrance Jackson Treatment Center, and Neighborhood Services.
Previously, it was reported that over the last several years there are just under 300 people in Sioux City experiencing homelessness.
According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness website, in 2024, 8 out of every 10,000 residents of Iowa experienced homelessness.
