To unsuspecting people, the small white house with the screened porch at 225 S. Kellogg may not seem anything out of the ordinary.

There is an orange and green swingset visible in the backyard. A red bicycle leans against the side of the house.

Perhaps the only curious thing is the word “WELCOME” pasted on the front door.

Yet, things are not always as they seem.

Upon closer inspection, the words “Emergency Residence Project” scrawled in black paint at the top of the screen door reveals the true nature of the small building.

There’s a reason for the plain exterior.

“We want to blend in with the neighborhood and give it a more homey feel,” said Troy Jansen, assistant director for the Ames Emergency Shelter. “Most people are looking for a big warehouse. They’re kind of surprised . when they see what we have.”

The shelter has offered temporary assistance to single men and families since 1985. Sixteen beds await people passing through Ames who often have no other place to go.

Executive Director Vic Moss said the shelter is busy year-round, though July and August tend to be the busiest months.

An average of 60 people pass through each month, Jansen said.

Last year, 1,012 people came to the shelter for assistance, up from 611 the year before, he said.

Because it is a temporary shelter, people can stay a maximum of two weeks each year.

The shelter does more than offer a brief place to stay, however.

Two additional programs, geared toward families with children, help those who are “between homes,” Moss said.

The transition housing program helps a few families find shelter during their move from temporary housing to something more permanent.

About 50 people currently are living in transition housing, Moss said. They live in the two buildings that sit on either side of the shelter. Families pay rent to live in the transitional housing buildings, Jansen said, but the amount is never more than 30 percent of their income.

Families live in the housing while on a waiting list for another house, Jansen said. Often, these lists can have a wait of six months or more.

A big problem with the families waiting for places, Moss said, is the cost of living in Ames.

“There’s a huge need for housing for moderate to low-income families,” he said. “Finding that becomes more difficult every year. “

The shelter also gives financial assistance to people who are having trouble paying rent or utilities through the Homeless Prevention Program. People have to apply for the money, Moss said, but the shelter tries to help those in need find other sources first.

“We always get more applicants than we can help,” he said.

Jansen said he expects the numbers to continue to increase.

“It gives you an idea of how many people need help, or are maybe one paycheck away,” he said.

Jansen said the shelter’s prevention program is effective to curb homelessness.

“I think that’s probably the best money we spend,” he said.

Moss said families with children get first priority, followed by the elderly.

Moss said more than half of the money for the program comes from donations.

The shelter is also funded by the United Way. In addition, many churches help with funding when necessary, Jansen said.

“It’s a community-wide effort,” he said. “It has to be to keep up with everything [at the shelter].”

With two employees, the shelter “is pretty much a volunteer-run organization,” Moss said. Many volunteers prepare meals or help with yard work, he added.

“I think what we do is important, but not adequate.” he said. “We provide temporary help for a long-term problem, and there are more and more families with a long-term need.”

Though there are many frustrating problems, Jansen said the job has daily rewards.

“You can see that you help people immediately and with basic needs in many cases” he said.