- PCHTF
- May 5
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 3
Our 2025 Housing Matters Symposium focused on the connection between housing and health care. Thanks to all who attended. Below you can find links to the resources presenters shared during the event.
Discover the Community Health Needs Assessment
Central Iowa’s latest health assessment, based on a public survey, highlights key data on topics like housing. The related action plan, In Good Health, is available at https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/health-department/.
Resources shared by our speakers
Dr. Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba, Children's HealthWatch
Dr. Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba of Children's HealthWatch focused on the overall link between health outcomes and housing. Did you miss her talk? Read about her visit to Des Moines in the Business Record or watch a podcast episode she recorded with the Polk County Health Department below.
You can also download Dr. Ettinger de Cuba's slide presentation.
Local panelists offer health perspectives
We welcomed a group of local panelists to share their perspectives on the connection between housing and health. Here's where you can learn more about them:
Nathan Simpson, CEO of Primary Health Care, recently gave an interview to the Business Record
Corey Dion Lewis, a Clinical Health Coach at Broadlawns Medical Center, also coordinates a community health conference.
Juliann Van Liew, is the new director of the Polk County Health Department which is currently updating its Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP).
Nancy Williams is a clinical psychiatrist at Iowa Healthcare and advocate for Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) programs around the state.
Supportive housing for better health
Amy Stetzel from the Corporation for Supportive Housing shared the benefits of pairing supportive services with affordable housing. She is leading a supportive housing institute with Iowa programs that is currently underway. You can also view her slides below.
Opening of Monarch Apartments
Here's the video tour of Monarch Apartments that Anawim shared about the 40-unit permanent supportive housing community the nonprofit has recently opened.
Announcing the Blueprint to Address Homelessness
During Symposium, Angie Arthur from Homeward introduced the region's new five-year Homelessness plan. It's now been released. You can watch a summary of the plan below or download it.
Update on the Central Iowa Community Land Trust
Carrie Woerdeman of HOME, Inc. shared an update on the just-launched Central Iowa Community Land Trust (CICLT). Community Land Trusts help more people reach homeownership while protecting long-term affordability of housing in an area.