Anawim Housing
Monthly E-Newsletter | August 2023
ANAWIM HOUSING ANNUAL REPORT
AVAILABLE NOW
The Anawim Housing 2022 Annual Report | 2023 Progress Report is now available! Take a look inside for a yearly review of all the services, properties, projects and supports Anawim Housing and Allterra Property Solutions provide throughout our state, thanks to your ongoing support!

Read online by clicking READ MORE. To request a hardcopy, please contact kbergeron@anawimhousing.org.
‌
MONARCH APARTMENTS GROUNDBERAKING
IFA Director Durham & Supervisor Connolly to Speak
We invite you to join us for a ceremonial groundbreaking as we kickoff construction on the Monarch Apartments. Anawim Housing is proud to be developing this project - the first of it's kind in Iowa! Speakers at the ceremony will include Iowa Finance Authority Director Debi Durham, and Polk County Supervisor Angela Connolly.

The Monarch Apartments is Anawim's conversion of a former hotel on Merle Hay Road into 40 Permanent Supportive Housing apartments with 24 hour onsite supportive services to house those currently experiencing literal homelessness. Many served will have a qualifying disability. We will provide evidence based services such as trauma informed care and client-centered motivational interviewing.

Join us!
When: Tuesday, September 19th
Time: 11:30am - 12:30pm *Ceremony to start promptly at 11:45am
Where: 4845 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines
Learn more about the Monarch Apartments by clicking Read More!
‌

ANAWIM ATTENDS NATIONAL ALLIANCE TO END HOMELESSNESS CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
In July, Anawim Housing Programs Operation Manager, Dan McBee, had the awesome opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. alongside a group of Iowa leaders and homeless service providers where they were invited to attend the 2023 National Conference on Ending Homelessness (NCEH).

Organized by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the conference brought together service providers, system leaders, advocates and people with lived experience of homelessness to learn, discuss best practices, and share new innovations in the field. 

The conference included an in-person Capital Hill Day. Dan and the other attendees from Iowa representing Anawim Housing, Homeward, Primary Healthcare and Institute for Community Alliances, all had the unique opportunity to meet with Iowa's US senators, house members and staff. They discussed the need for increased funding and support for homeless services and assistance programs here in Iowa.

The conference provided an opportunity for Anawim and other organizations to collaborate. Dan and the team from Iowa were able to not only share what’s been working here in Iowa, but also learn from others across the country. 

Dan shared one of the key messages universally shared amongst providers at the conference:
"Make sure that individuals with lived homeless experience are involved in policy making and program design that serves individuals experiencing homelessness."

Leaders and Service Providers from Iowa pictured at the 2023 NCEH Conference in Washington DC: (Top L-R) Dan McBee, Anawim Housing; Susan McCarragher, ICA (Institute for Community Alliances); Shelby Ridley, Primary Health Care; (Bottom L-R) Dave Eberbach, ICA; Angie Arthur, Homeward; Courtney Guntley, ICA; Julie Eberbach, ICA; and Rachel Falahpour, ICA
Great job Dan and the wonderful team from Iowa for advocating on behalf of those we serve!

IOWA FINANCE AUTHORITY AWARDS ANAWIM FUNDING TO EXPAND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN BURLINGTON, IOWA
Anawim is excited to share that we have been awarded over $860,000 in tax credit funding from the Iowa Finance Authority for a multi-family affordable housing project located in Burlington, Iowa. The project, known as Columbia Station, will include 30 units of affordable housing made up of one, two, three, and four bedroom units. Units will be income restricted with 22 units serving families at 60% AMI (area median income) and eight units at 40% AMI.

We are proud to be developers on this project and to help bring more affordable housing options to individuals and families throughout our state. Construction is set to begin Spring 2024 and we look forward to opening the doors for residents in Spring 2025.

Architectural rendering of Columbia Station in Burlington, Iowa. This affordable housing project is set to begin construction in Spring 2024.
In July, eleven rental housing projects in Iowa were awarded over $15 million in federal funding from the Iowa Finance Authority. Funding was awarded through federal housing tax credits and HOME program loans.

Click READ MORE to learn about all the projects that received funding in an article published by the Business Record.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: MEET SARAH AVILA
Senior Compliance Manager
In June we welcomed Sarah Avila to the Anawim Housing and Allterra Property Solutions team! Sarah is our Senior Compliance Manager. She works specifically with our Allterra team and we are very excited to have her! We sat down with Sarah to learn a bit more:


What was it about Anawim Housing/Allterra that drew you to want to work here?
I was drawn to Anawim's mission, vision, and values as well as the professional and personal growth opportunities.

What does a day in the life of a Senior Compliance Manager look like?
I create, update, and review policies and procedures on a daily basis. I focus on supporting staff with any questions or needs they have. I also provide education and training to staff on affordable programs such as LIHTC (Low Income Housing Tax Credits) and HOME.

What do you love most about your job so far? I love making a positive difference in people's lives.

What are some misconceptions about your job?
Some rules are not meant to be broken. It's extremely important to follow program guidelines and stay compliant. 

What do you like to do during your free time?
I love to spend time with my family and friends, and travel!


Read more Staff Spotlights like Sarah's, and other stories from the field on our blog by clicking Read More!

GIVE IS GIVING BACK TO ANAWIM HOUSING FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST
We love our community supporters! Thank you to our friends at Give who throughout the whole month of August are generously donating 10% of all sales to Anawim Housing.

If you haven't been to Give, we encourage you to stop in before the end of the month and meet Mary and the rest of the team! Their beautiful store located in West Des Moines offers heartfelt, one-of-a-kind gifts that are perfect to celebrate those in your life.

Every month Give selects an organization to give back to, and we are very grateful to be this month's! For location, hours and directions to Give, click Learn More.


Meet Mary and the rest of the awesome team at Give! For the month of August, Give is donating 10% of all sales to Anawim Housing.

BECOME A SPONSOR FOR OUR WEF THANKSGIVING EVENT
Anawim Housing is currently seeking sponsors for our annual We Empower Families ThanksGIVING Event.

The ThanksGIVING event will be held Nov. 2nd at Mainframe Studios in Des Moines.

We have sponsorship opportunities available at three giving levels:
  • $3,000 Presenting Sponsor
  • $1,000 Supporting Sponsor
  • $500 Good Neighbor Sponsor

If you, your business or organization is looking for an impactful and charitable way to get your name out while also supporting our mission, we would love to connect with you!

For more information click Learn More!
Interested in helping us work to end homelessness?

Anawim Housing develops stable homes and strengthens communities