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Discover the latest news and highlights from the Polk County Housing Trust Fund.

Join us to celebrate April as Fair Housing Month in Greater Des Moines

  • Mar 12, 2025

Again this year, the Trust Fund is in conversations with local governments to issue proclamations honoring April as Fair Housing Month.


The recognition of fair housing and civil rights law in April traces its origins to the passage of the federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, which passed on April 11 in the wake of the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.


The Trust Fund's tradition of seeking proclamations began in 2023 and includes local cities that have their own civil/human rights commissions under Iowa law (Des Moines, Ankeny, West Des Moines, and Urbandale) as well as Polk County.


When Fair Housing Month proclamations are issued, the public can attend to show support. We will update this post frequently as local events are confirmed.


Updated March 12


Polk County

The Polk County Board of Supervisors is expected to issue a proclamation during its regular meeting on Tuesday, March 25.

  • Meetings are held at the County Administration building, 111 Court Avenue, Des Moines, beginning at 9:30 am.

  • Stay informed about this proclamation through our Facebook event.


Please take part in the housing and community needs survey!

  • May 2, 2024

Updated: Sep 13, 2024

The Trust Fund serves on the steering committee for the regional Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice project being conducted jointly by the City of Des Moines, City of West Des Moines, and Polk County. We are sharing this press release by the City of Des Moines:

Text reads "barriers to housing and community needs- survey open now" with image of people getting housing

The City of Des Moines and Des Moines Municipal Housing Authority are partnering with West Des Moines and Polk County to conduct the Barriers to Housing and Community Needs survey for the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice and Consolidated Plan. We encourage residents from Dallas, Guthrie, Jasper, Madison, Polk, and Warren counties to participate in the feedback process by taking the survey and sharing input on affordable housing needs, community development goals, and barriers to finding or remaining in housing.


This survey is part of a collaborative initiative aimed at informing both the City of Des Moines' Consolidated Plan for housing needs and a regional fair housing study, jointly conducted by the Cities of Des Moines, West Des Moines, and Polk County. It is open until August 15, 2024, and the City of Des Moines will use the results to develop a Consolidated Plan, assess affordable housing needs, and identify community development goals. The feedback will help prioritize decisions for federally funded programs.





To learn more about the project, visit DSM.city/barriers.

Reflections on Housing Matters Symposium 2024

  • Apr 29, 2024

Updated: Jun 27, 2024

The crowd gathered for Symposium.

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


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.

A table showing barriers to screening residents face like employment history and eviction history, criminal and credit background and more as well as the varying fees residents may have to pay at screening and move-in.

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.





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.


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