Housing

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Agencies offer help with winter rent, housing costs

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Housing

File photo

By Yenfang Szu
AmesNewsOnline

(Feb. 8, 2010 - 5 p.m.) The City of Ames stopped taking applications for its renter affordability program, which helps with rent and utilities, at the end of January. But there are other organizations that provide rent and utility assistance.

Getting home

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Sapphira and Ananis Owens. (Photo by Mike Malloy)

By Mike Malloy

AmesNewsOnline

(Jan. 14, 2010 - 8 a.m.) Sapphira Owens came to Ames with nothing. A year later, her possessions are few and her challenges many, but she’s found something she’s rarely had: support.

The Arizona native was able to take a step up from rock bottom last April when she moved into an apartment owned by Youth and Shelter Services. She lives there with her three children, and with the help of YSS she’s taking a step toward a degree and a stride away from the drug use, an unsupportive family, and absentee boyfriends that plagued the first 23 years of her life.

Housing

Recent Features

City soliciting input on how to spend $491,000

Logo courtesy of City of Ames Susan Gwiasda, City of Ames (Feb. 16, 2010 – 8:30 a.m.) The public is invited to attend any of the public forums being held to provide information about the City of Ames’ Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and to gather public input for its 2010-11 Annual Action Plan as required by the City’s 2009-14 CDBG Consolidated Plan.

Garage collapse in west Ames attributed to snow, ice accumulation - UPDATED

File photo By AmesNewsOnline staff (Jan. 23, 2010 - Noon) Story County's emergency management director is warning residents to be vigilant about their surroundings outdoor as heavy layers of ice on trees and buildings begin to melt and fall to the ground.

City to offer deposit, utility and transportaion aid for low-income renters

Logo courtesy of City of Ames Susan Gwiasda, City of Ames (Jan. 18, 2010 - 9:30 a.m.) As part of the 2009-2010 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs, the City of Ames will be implementing the following Renter Affordability Programs to assist households with incomes at or below 50 percent of the Story County median income limits:

Landlords can take course to help create crime-free housing

Logo courtesy of Ames Police Department Commander Mike Brennan, Ames Police Department (Jan. 15, 2010) The Ames Police Department will be hosting a training session on the Iowa Crime Free Multi-Housing Program. The program is designed to build a partnership between law enforcement and rental property personnel to keep illegal activity out of apartment communities and other rental properties.

Residents reminded to shovel sidewalks

Susan Gwiasda, City of Ames (Dec. 18, 2009 – 10:30 a.m.) The City of Ames Public Works department reminds Ames property owners and tenants that sidewalks should be cleared of snow and ice within 10 daylight hours after it has stopped snowing. City ordinance also indicates that sidewalks need to be cleared to a four-foot wide surface.

City holds neighborhood summit

By Mike Malloy AmesNewsOnline (Dec. 16, 2009 - 8:30 a.m..) Block parties, cluttered lawns, and abandoned houses. All were part of the discussion at Tuesday’s Ames City Council Neighborhood Summit.

Council involves city government in potential land sale

By Mike Malloy AmesNewsOnline (Dec. 9, 2009 - 7:30 a.m.) Tuesday’s Ames City Council may have been brief – clocking in at 33 minutes – but it was not boring. Many items were pulled from the agenda in an effort to shorten the meeting in light of the ongoing blizzard, but the council did approve a unique and controversial move to involve the city in a potential land...

Assessors’ site adds pictometry imagery

Logo courtesy of City of Ames. Susan Gwiasda, City of Ames (Dec. 4, 2009 - 10:15 a.m.) Users of the City of Ames Assessor’s Office Web site may now access geo-referenced aerial imagery from the spring of 2009 at http://www.amesassessor.org. This Beacon site is hosted by The Schneider Corporation.

Council tables gift, fears it may be 'A bridge too free' UPDATED: railroad grants extension

By Mike Malloy AmesNewsOnline (Nov. 25, 2009 – 3:45 p.m.) The old saw, “If you believe that, I’ve got this bridge I’ll sell you” was likely on the minds of many at the Ames City Council meeting Tuesday. The council didn’t buy a bridge, but is considering getting one as a gift.

Land-use policy plan assumptions off

By Mike Malloy AmesNewsOnline (Nov. 19, 2009 - 9:15 a.m.) Ames’ land-use policy plan is based on population estimates that have proven to be inaccurate. That’s the conclusion of a report city planner Charlie Kuester presented to the planning and zoning commission Wednesday.