Boone County is continuing its efforts to create affordable housing options for residents, as organizers presented the final round of ARPA funding to Welcome Inn.
The Boone County Commission hosted a presentation on Friday, awarding Welcome Inn $850,000. This comes after county commissioners agreed to spend $3 million in ARPA funds, specifically on groups that promote affordable housing, last April.
Welcome Inn, an extended stay hotel, was among four ARPA recipients. According to records, the inn received the largest amount of funding.
Welcome Inn organizers said the group provides housing for thousands of individuals each year, who may otherwise not be able to afford it. Staff said for about $57 per night, guests have access to a microwave, refrigerator, WiFi and cable.
Data from Boone County highlights the need for more affordable housing, as numbers show there were about 270 unhoused people living in the area in 2023. Additionally, community leaders who work with the unhoused community first-hand said they’ve seen this need increase overtime.
John Trapp has been the executive director at Room at the Inn, which provides free, nightly shelter to the unhoused, since 2016. During his time there, Trapp said he noticed a particularly large spike in the number of people needing housing after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Recently, Trapp said the organization has had to increase its hours to keep up with demand. He added this is the first time the shelter has decided to remain open during the summer, rather than only the winter months.
He said he believes more affordable housing options, like Welcome Inn, could help those at the shelter.
“If we did have more affordable housing, we could use a lot more of those [housing] vouchers,” Trapp said. “A lot of the people that are staying here at the shelter that are working could afford to pay rent and they could move out of here.”
Additionally, Trapp said many staying at the shelter can’t find affordable housing, despite being employed.
“About 15% of our guests are working,” Trapp said. “If there was housing available, they could move out of here today.”
According to records, Welcome Inn plans to use its portion of the ARPA funding to renovate its existing facility, located off of Interstate 70.