The Emergency Residence Project has housed the homeless in Ames and Story County since 1985. Since that time, the clients have changed from single, transient men to Story County families.

ERP began in the early 1980's, as the Loaves and Fishes Hospitality House, which was a single family home dedicated to sheltering the homeless for Ames and Story County.

In the mid-1980's, the current shelter, The Emergency Residence Project, was organized. The shelter's director is Vic Moss and the assistant director is Troy Jansen.

Vic and Troy have witnessed the enormous pressure put on families who lose their housing. Their children experience disruptions to their education and lives which can have many negative impacts.

Programs such as ERP's Homeless Prevention Program helps families remain in their housing so such disruptions can be minimized.

The Transitional Housing Program gives families several months of housing to stabilize their lives and get back into housing they can afford. A 4-plex built next door to the shelter during ISU's Homecoming Blitz Build several years ago houses most of the families in this program.