- PCHTF
- Sep 19, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 21, 2023
The Polk County Housing Trust Fund (PCHTF) has announced 2 new agreements totaling $3.1 million in allocations for affordable housing in Polk County using federal American Rescue Plan Act funds allocated to PCHTF by the Polk County Board of Supervisors.
Today’s announcement comes as community members gathered along Merle Hay Road on Des Moines’ north side to celebrate the groundbreaking of Monarch Apartments, a new permanent supportive housing community which is receiving $1.6 million in ARPA funding from PCHTF. Additionally, the Polk County Board of Supervisors allocated $1 million in ARPA funds to the project directly.
Polk County Supervisor Angela Connolly explained why the partnership to support Monarch Apartments is a win for the region. “Polk County is proud to lead the way on supporting the Monarch Apartments because it will combine critically needed housing units and evidence-based wrap around services to help homeless individuals make long term, positive changes in their lives. The ‘permanent supportive housing’ approach that Monarch uses offers a home first, and voluntary supportive services that empower residents to find their footing and reach their goals,” Supervisor Connolly said.
The 42-unit Monarch apartments will offer permanent supportive housing apartments in a converted hotel property. The property will offer rent-assisted units serving people experiencing homelessness who are referred by Centralized Intake which serves as Polk County’s entry point to homeless services.
Permanent supportive housing means that Monarch will follow housing first principles – where success for residents is measured as maintaining stable housing. Residents receive supportive services focused on harm reduction, trauma informed care, and strengths-based case management that connects them to other services and supports. Monarch Apartments will be staffed 24/7 and have two live-in peer support staff.
Ahead of today’s groundbreaking, Cynthia Latcham, president of Anawim Housing, summarized the impact Monarch Apartments will have. “Homelessness is a complex issue best solved with permanent supportive housing. For more than 25 years Anawim has been providing permanent supportive housing on a scattered site basis throughout Polk County. The Monarch Apartments will offer this critical intervention for people who have a history of homelessness by pairing housing with onsite evidence based services such as trauma informed care and motivational interviewing,” Latcham said.
Hawthorne Pointe apartments in Bondurant also to receive funds
Today, PCHTF also announced a recently completed ARPA funding agreement for Hawthorne Pointe, a new apartment community planned for Bondurant, Iowa. Developer Commonwealth Development Corporation of Middleton, Wisconsin, will receive $1.5 million to support that 40-apartment project.
Hawthorne Pointe will offer 1, 2, and 4 bedroom apartments and townhomes in Bondurant, Iowa, a rapidly growing community that has seen a large increase in nearby warehouse and logistics jobs offering wages that align well to support residents who will be able to live in this new apartment community. The property offers in-demand features like in-unit laundry and ample storage space as well as an on-site community room and playground. Apartments will be available primarily at 40% and 60% of the area median income with a few available at market rate. Occupancy is expected in mid-2024.
About this funding program
Funds PCHTF is allocating to this project come from Polk County’s landmark $15+ million allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds announced in April 2022, which includes $12 million for housing development. This agreement brings the total allocated through this fund to $10.4 million committed to support 319 units of affordable housing at or below 60% of the area median income within properties that offer a total of 416 housing units.
Funds in this program are awarded through a competitive application process in which applications are reviewed by the Polk County Housing Trust Fund’s development committee and approved by its board of directors. PCHTF held a first round of applications in July of 2022, a second round of applications in September, and a third round of applications in February.
Investments from this fund are available to support rental housing affordable to people earning under 60% of the area median income, currently $63,350 for a family of four. The Trust Fund is placing additional prioritization on serving extremely low-income households earning at or under 30% of area median income, or $31,300 for a family of four. These income guidelines vary by number of people in the household and are updated annually by the federal government. (The 2023 annual update was released in May.)
The Polk County Housing Trust Fund (PCHTF) congratulates AHEPA Senior Living on celebrating the groundbreaking for their new AHEPA 192-IV community earlier today. The property will offer 90 senior apartments at 6705 SE 5th Street in Des Moines, next to Southridge Mall. PCHTF has committed $1.125 million of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to support the project.
“This project is a win-win for Des Moines. It continues to transform the area around Southridge Mall by adding additional housing, and it provides an outstanding opportunity for some of the most vulnerable seniors living in our community,” said Toby O’Berry, Executive Director of the Polk County Housing Trust Fund.
AHEPA management company is a non-profit developer of affordable senior housing across the United States founded in 1991. Like many others this organization manages, AHEPA 192-IV is part of the federal HUD 202 program, meaning the property serves extremely low income seniors age 62+. It will offer income-based rental assistance as well as a robust program of supportive services to assist residents with needs of daily living and provide social engagement.
The investment PCHTF has committed uses federal ARPA funds allocated to PCHTF by the Polk County Board of Supervisors in April 2022. Today’s announcement brings the total committed from this $12 million fund to $7.3 million to support 243 units of affordable housing at or below 60% of the area median income within properties that offer a total of 336 housing units.
- PCHTF
- Jun 7, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 8, 2023
The Polk County Housing Trust Fund (PCHTF) recently awarded $689,528 in grants to 18 programs at local non-profit organizations through the organization’s Programs and Supportive Services (PSS) program. These grants bridge the gap between affordable housing and families in our community through programs that support housing stability, affordability, justice, and access.
“PCHTF is committed to providing housing stability for all members of our community. We partner with a network of organizations to provide resources and support where they are needed most, and again this year, the community helped us raise the total we could award to its highest level yet for the PSS program,” said Ena Babic Barnes, PCHTF board member and chair of the committee responsible for allocating funds.
The PSS funds PCHTF allocates are unique because they come from community businesses, organizations, and individuals through the PCHTF’s Stable Steady Strong fundraising effort. This supplements PCHTF’s operational funding and “bricks-and-mortar” development grant funds, which are provided by Polk County and the State Housing Trust Fund administered by the Iowa Finance Authority.
Thanks to the operating support PCHTF receives from Polk County, PCHTF grants 100% of funds invested through Stable Steady Strong out to local nonprofit partners who provide programs and services that meet critical needs in the community.
“We are grateful for the community’s help securing the needed funds for this work, which allows us to increase our investments where they will be most impactful—supporting equitable housing opportunity. While we have achieved so much, the need continues, and we will keep working with our supporters and the community so that everybody in Polk County has safe, stable, and affordable housing,” said Mollie Giller, PCHTF’s director of programs and supportive services.
To learn more about Stable Steady Strong and the investments it supports in our community — or to make a contribution in support of this program, visit our website https://www.pchtf.org/stablesteadystrong/ .