DAVENPORT, Iowa — Barbara Montgomery is a retired school teacher. During her last year of teaching, she had a student who was homeless in her class. Unfortunately, there weren't many resources in the Quad Cities at that time to help that student. This sparked her desire to help the community.
She met Chris Dunn in a yoga class. They connected through a t-shirt he was wearing. “He was wearing a shirt that everyone deserves to have a place to live, and that intrigued me," Montgomery said.
Crossing paths multiple times and seeing Dunn's passion for helping others who are experiencing homelessness, she nominated him for the Pay It Forward award, sponsored by Ascentra Credit Union.
Dunn works for Humility Homes and Services in Davenport, working as an Outreach Navigator.
“My job is to work with people staying outside basically. They can be in a tent or some kind of campsite, they could be in a doorway, they could be in their car, in a abandoned house, a place not fit for habitation," Dunn said.
Humility's number one goal is housing first. They work with landlords and help out as much financially to get people into homes. The biggest challenge right now is the rising cost of housing.
“People are really having a hard time affording, they’re paying more and more percentage of their income to the housing costs," Dunn said.
Dunn has credited a lot to the organization with being able to work with good resources, and a community that is willing to lend a helping hand also helps them reach towards their goals.
“We do a good job of, with donations. We are really focused on getting people off the street, out of the shelter, into their own homes. Every person has a right to have a place to live that they can call their own," Dunn said.
Dunn says his faith has led him to do all he can to help others.
“According to my faith, you gotta welcome the stranger. That’s in Matthew 25. Welcome the stranger," Dunn said.
Do you know someone that goes above and beyond for his or her community? News 8 and Ascentra Credit Union would like to help you Pay it Forward to them. Click here to nominate someone you know.
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