Ames

Ames is a mid-sized college town anchored by Iowa State University, which gives it a younger population, a steady stream of part-time and seasonal work, and a downtown that stays fairly busy year-round. It's a place with real resources but also real competition for them, since student renters and low-income families are often chasing the same limited affordable housing stock. Average household income in Ames runs around $70,000, but that figure masks a lot of disparity, especially for people outside steady employment. Story County's point-in-time count identified 87 homeless individuals in January 2023, a number advocates believe undercounts the reality of couch-surfing and unsheltered people in the area. The Emergency Residence Project runs the main shelter serving Ames and Story County, and Mainstream Living offers housing support and case management for people trying to stabilize. Good Neighbor Emergency Assistance can help with food and small emergency needs when things get tight. You're not invisible here, even when it feels that way — people in this town are working to make sure you make it through, and so are you.