OAAT-Ottumwa

A Public-Private Partnership With A Simple Mission

“CHANGING LIVES, ONE CHILD AT A TIME”

One at a Time is a newly formed public-private partnership focused on the Ottumwa and the surrounding communities in Wapello County, Iowa.

We work in collaboration with families, local businesses, charitable organizations, and governmental agencies working together to bring together expanded resources, boundless passion, local expertise, and generosity of our local communities to take on the daunting challenge of child homelessness and Iowa’s heavily strained foster care system. Together we can make a difference in a child’s life.

What is a Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)? PPPs hold the potential to catalyze significant social change by leveraging the strengths of both the public and private sectors to address complex societal issues like children’s homelessness.

The Challenge:

Few issues tug at our heartstrings quite like the plight of homeless children. Yet too often, their struggles remain hidden in the shadows, victims of an “out of sight, out of mind” mentality that pervades our state and local governments. Public funds are stretched thin, resources are dwindling, and it’s the local kids who suffer, pushed into environments that offer little hope for a bright future.

The Solution:

Every day, there are passionate people and organizations that dedicate their lives to addressing these issues head-on. Heroes like the folks at American Home Finding Association (https://ahfa.org/). But they desperately need help. That is why One at a Time is seeking to rally residents and local businesses to help support AHFA‘s efforts and end this unacceptable trend and create a better future for these displaced children.

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Creating the Feeling of Belonging and Having a Home

- ONE PILLOW, ONE BED, AND ONE ROOM AT A TIME -

For less money than a typical family spends monthly on eating out, One At A Time can provide a sense of belonging and a feeling of home to a child that has gone without in a great portion of their childhood. Consistency, stability, and compassionate care cost us little, but can change lives forever.