Barnabas House
Left to right: Father Rod Allers, Pastor Maureen Howard and Pastor Erling Shultz stand in front of the Barnabas House in Iowa Falls. The home is used as transitional housing for families experiencing homelessness. (Photo by Courtney Levin, Iowa Conference UMC)
Iowa Annual Conference | November 06, 2024
Three churches in Iowa Falls have joined forces in an ecumenical effort and transformed a single-family home into a haven for families experiencing homelessness. Known as Barnabas House, this community-supported initiative provides short-term, transitional housing in a quiet residential neighborhood and aims to help residents regain stability and move toward permanent housing.
“This is the place that they can know peace,” said Pastor Maureen Howard of Bethany Lutheran Church.
The project, spearheaded by members and pastors of the local St. Mark’s Catholic, Iowa Falls United Methodist, and Bethany Lutheran churches, has significantly evolved since it began five years ago. Initially, the Catholic Church considered using the property next door to expand its parking. However, church leaders envisioned a more impactful use for the house, citing a need for affordable housing in Iowa Falls. Barnabas House was born with added support from both The United Methodist and Lutheran churches.
“When we first walked through it five years ago, we wondered whether we could make it work,” said Iowa Falls First United Methodist Church Pastor Erling Shultz. “It didn’t look like this back then, but thanks to community volunteers, it’s now a beautiful home for transitional housing.”
Furnished and maintained entirely by volunteers, the house is set up specifically for families rather than individuals. “We don’t allow residents to bring their own furniture, so we furnish everything,” explained Cooper. “It’s fully equipped for families, with bunk beds, blankets, and even pack-and-plays for young children.”
As Iowa Falls is a small community with about 5,500 residents, homelessness isn’t as visible as it might be in larger cities, according to Shultz. However, Barnabas House has been consistently occupied over the past five years, with stays ranging from 30 days to nine months. Each family is assigned a mentor and a case manager to help them with the resources they need to regain stability.
“We assign each family a mentor, someone from our community who is just a listening ear. Many of the people we serve simply want to be heard,” Howard said. “For these families, having someone to talk to can make a huge difference as they work toward sustainable housing.”
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Barnabas House Living Area
Photo by Courtney Levin, Iowa Conference UMC
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Barnabas House Kitchen
Photo by Courtney Levin, Iowa Conference UMC
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Barnabas House Bedroom
Photo by Courtney Levin, Iowa Conference UMC
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Barnabas House Dining Room
Photo by Courtney Levin, Iowa Conference UMC
This year, Barnabas House took a significant step by incorporating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, which opens up grant opportunities and encourages more community involvement. “The nonprofit status is huge,” Father Rod Allers noted. “It allows us to access funding we couldn’t before, and people can donate knowing that we’re regulated and established.”
Additionally, Barnabas House has partnered with The Bridge Home, an Ames-based organization that supports families experiencing homelessness. The partnership brings case management services and other resources to Iowa Falls, further strengthening the impact of the ministry.
Howard added that while this is a multi-church effort, families are not required to attend a church while in the house. “We want people to know that this is a community of welcome. They’re here to rest and to get their lives together.”
“Our hope is that through the grace we extend, that they’ll know God’s grace,” added Shultz. “Someday, maybe they’ll search it out on their own.”
“If any other community is considering a project like this, I’d say, ‘Go for it,’” advised Cooper. “Yes, there are growing pains, but if it’s in God’s plan, it’ll happen. This ministry has stretched and grown us in ways we didn’t anticipate, and we’re so grateful to everyone who’s made it possible.”
This article is republished with permission from the Iowa Annual Conference website.