The Burlington Area Homeless Shelter is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit organization. We are supported by local donations and our local United Way.
Listen to our past Executive Director Amanda talk about the shelter and what we do on a Facebook video podcast here.
We currently have seven staff and a board of 6 directors.
Executive Director: Jennifer Lehman, executivedirector.bahs@gmail.com
Board Members
- President – Clayton Davis (email)
- Vice President – Mike Crowner
- Secretary – Brian Graham
- Treasurer – Justin Petersen
- Beth Fleming
- Suzanne Lunsford
The shelter is located at
123 North Marshall Street
Burlington, IA 52601
319-754-6791
executivedirector.bahs@gmail.com
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9am-12pm and 1pm – 4pm
Donation Hours: Monday – Sunday 10am – 7pm or by appointment
Intake admissions are only completed during office hours.
See the Shelter Brochure for more information.
Read our email newsletters here to learn more about us.
Take a look at our Pathway to Success Flyer.
Take a look at our
The Shelter has five bedrooms, with a total capacity of 10 people. Currently our largest bedroom has three beds. We have the ability to open up a door between two of the rooms so if capacity allows we could house a family of up to five persons. Each family unit has their own bedroom with the ability to lock their bedroom door. Below are a few pictures.
Support this good work in our community: see donation options here.
How we operate:
When an individual is seeking shelter, we do an initial interview to find out the information that is necessary for us to place the person and to best help them eventually be housed. We require an Iowa Identification since we are funded by the local community.
We ask questions in hopes to get to know the person better: where they’re from, background of their current situation, substance use, or mental health conditions, what their personal goals are, their legal status (any past criminal offenses or current legal problems), etc.
Once a person is accepted for placement, we give them a tour of their new temporary home.
We provide them with any needed clothing and toiletries before we take them to their new bedroom. Our rooms all have a twin bed and storage areas such as dressers and hanging stands. Larger rooms may have sitting areas as well. We furnish our bedrooms in a way to be welcoming and to feel like home with soft sheets and warm blankets. They are then provided with a key to their bedroom so they can lock up when they are away.
Employment is a requirement for individuals that are staying with us. So, if a person isn’t employed when they arrive here or they’re not employed at a job that can sustain them, we get to know more about their employment history and help them with their job search. We may help them identify available job positions in the area and may help them create or update a resume or refer them to other area employment resources.
After a person has gotten a job or if they already had a job, we will work with them on a budget plan. Our goal is for them to save up enough money for the deposit and first month’s rent at their own place. This often takes quite a bit of time. So, the average stay for our residents is around three months at the shelter. When they are ready to move out, we get them connected to area resources and provide supplies to help them set up their new place.
While individuals are staying here, we help them to establish a good healthcare (physical and mental health) network in the community. If they are without insurance, we help them get it or get them in contact with another community resource that can help them acquire insurance. If an individual has a substance use issue, we will help them find the necessary classes, groups or meetings that they may need to help with their sobriety.
We help our residents obtain food assistance if they don’t already have it.
We provide one cooked meal a day at supper time. We typically sit together and eat family style. We provide all the necessary food for breakfast, lunch, and snacks at no charge. All of our food is provided by food and monetary donations from the community. We accommodate to any food allergies that someone may have as well when preparing our cooked meals.
At the shelter all of our employees provide emotional support to all residents as seen fit. We grow bonds with them while keeping professional boundaries so they don’t feel alone. Being homeless can make you feel isolated in the world and its nice to know someone cares about you and wants you to succeed.
Our goal is to stop homelessness in Burlington, we don’t just want to help people get through another day. We partner with them to establish themselves as self-supporting and successful members of the community. We want them to have their dignity and respect, to know they are worthy and deserve to have a place to call home.
To support this good work in our community: see donation options here.
Burlington Area Homeless Shelter 
