Updated: Jun 27
Housing Matters Symposium energizes Greater Des Moines’ efforts to expand housing opportunities for all. We lifted up opportunities for collaboration and policy change to overcome housing market challenges like rising costs and complex regulations. Speakers highlighted the needs of our most vulnerable community members and actions they're taking to help.
Resources shared by our speakers
Jenny Schuetz from Brookings Metro
Learn about Dr. Schuetz's book, Fixer Upper: How to Repair America's Broken Housing Systems or read her latest articles online.
Watch Dr. Schuetz's keynote:
WHO TV interviewed Dr. Schuetz while she was in town and you may view the interview below:
Dr. Schuetz gave an interview to Michael Libbie, host of Insights on Business the News Hour on News/Talk 1540 KXEL radio. You may listen to the interview here.
You may also download Dr. Schuetz's slides:
Dan Emmanuel from the National Low Income Housing Coalition
Learn more about the National Low Income Housing Coalition at www.nlihc.org
Dan helps to author NLIHC's key reports like The Gap which recently released its latest data summary for Iowa. (You can view the details here.)
You can also view Dan's slides from Symposium by downloading them below:
Kaity Patchett from Capital Crossroads
Learn more about Capital Crossroads at www.capitalcrossroadsvision.com.
Joy Esposito from the Evelyn K. Davis Center For Working Families
Joy discussed her experiences serving low income clients who must often clear a variety of hurdles to pass through resident screening processes at multiple properties before they find a place to live. She shared examples from peroperties she had searched where the actual cost of moving in could vary widely.
You may download Joy's slide here:
Learn more about the Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families at www.evelynkdaviscenter.org.
Hunter Cook from Nancy's Place
Learn more about Nancy's Place at www.nancysplace.org.
Hunter discussed his organizations Waiver and Voucher Education Support booklet during his talk which is available for download here.
Dr. Nalo Johnson from the Mid-Iowa Health Foundation
Mid-Iowa Health Foundation is one of the organizations responsible for funding UpLift, the region's basic income pilot. UpLift recently released a helpful guide to local public benefit programs that can support neighbors with low and moderate incomes.
Learn more about the Mid-Iowa Health Foundation at www.midiowahealth.org.
Shannon Draayer from WesleyLife
WesleyLife manages our community's Meals on Wheels program. Shannon shared with us the infographic below that shows the program's annual impact.
You can download the WesleyLife infographic below:
Learn more about WesleyLife at www.wesleylife.org.