Better housing = better lives and communities

Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity has over 35 years of experience addressing the lack of decent and affordable housing for qualified low-income families.

The organization addresses community needs through programs that assist low-income households utilizing a self-help approach. Habitat transforms neighborhoods and helps families build wealth through homeownership. It provides families stability by supporting owner-occupied repair and supports financial self-sufficiency through one-on-one counseling and education.

Recent major accomplishments for Greater Des Moines Habitat include the organization’s 10-house ‘blitz build’ on Watson Avenue in 2017 and the 23-house Birdland Pocket Neighborhood in 2019, the first of its kind in Iowa. Both projects helped revitalize the Union Park neighborhood, which had been devastated by flooding.

Over the course of its service to the community, Habitat has helped over 400 individuals and families become homeowners in Greater Des Moines. The organization evaluates its programs carefully to ensure its programs are as accessible as possible to BIPOC households and beginning to build in areas of opportunity which would have been inaccessible to low-income households of color in the past.

Habitat’s housing counseling and financial education programs help even more families prepare for homeownership. It’s Rock the Block home repair program completed almost 300 repairs in 2022 that helped make homes safer and more livable for local families. These are just some examples of the robust and well-rounded services Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity provides to lift up stability and opportunity for local families.

You can learn more about Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity at www.gdmhabitat.org.

This week, the Polk County Housing Trust Fund is sharing stories about some of our provider partners working to ensure housing opportunity for all. Make sure you sign up for e-mail updates to stay in touch when we share more stories like these.

With Des Moines residents at every phase of your housing journey

HOME, Inc. was founded in 1967 through the efforts of residents concerned about the lack of decent affordable housing. It is the oldest private, non-profit housing organization in Des Moines.

The organization’s goal is to meet individuals and families where they are in their housing journey, and HOME, Inc. does this by developing affordable housing that revitalizes neighborhoods, counseling individuals and families to help them obtain and retain housing and providing education and support to tenants and landlords to improve rental relationships.

HOME, Inc. offers a tenant-landlord counseling service that can help with common rental housing issues. The service assisted 2,650 families last. year including with questions about where to find affordable housing, seek rental assistance, or avoid eviction.

The organization also provides homeownership readiness counseling and pre-purchase counseling that helps families prepare to purchase their first home, as well as address issues that arise after becoming homeowners.

Finally, HOME, Inc. also constructs homes that are then made available to low- and moderate-income families in the community.

HOME, Inc.’s multifaceted approach to helping the community with housing challenges ensures they can meet their clients and residents wherever they are on their housing journey and provide support that creates a stronger community over time.

You can learn more about HOME, Inc. at www.HOMEINCdsm.com

This week, the Polk County Housing Trust Fund is sharing stories about some of our provider partners working to ensure housing opportunity for all. Make sure you sign up for e-mail updates to stay in touch when we share more stories like these.

For a better life in Des Moines, housing comes first

Anawim Housing is dedicated to developing stable homes and strengthening people and communities. The organization began in 1987 with two homes along 12th street in Des Moines and has expanded to now provide housing solutions for more than 1,000 people and families across Iowa.

Anawim is distinguished as the largest provider of permanent supportive housing in Iowa, serving over 300 individuals and families. They offer low-barrier services tailored to individuals and families experiencing homelessness to partner with the person to achieve housing stability and other life goals.

“Housing First” programs like Anawim’s offer stable, barrier free housing to people in the community who are experiencing homelessness. This includes individuals who may be living with physical and mental health diagnoses, substance abuse disorders, or are fleeing domestic violence.

Through this program, Anawim provides access to safe, secure housing first, then other services to help their residents stabilize and succeed.

As executive director Cynthia Latcham says in this short video, “Lives change quickly when basic needs are met.”

The need for affordable housing continues to rise. Anawim Housing is committed to providing solutions and seeking out unique and innovative opportunities to serve the community through strategic partnerships, new development, and re-development of existing structures. Learn more about Anawim Housing at www.anawimhousing.org.

This week, the Polk County Housing Trust Fund is sharing stories about some of our provider partners working to ensure housing opportunity for all. Make sure you sign up for e-mail updates to stay in touch when we share more stories like these.