Anawim Housing
Monthly E-Newsletter | June 2023
REGISTER AND JOIN US THIS THURSDAY!
At the Des Moines Art Center
We invite you to join for a special evening to welcome in new leadership by celebrating change and honoring our legacy! Anawim Housing is hosting this event to commemorate Russ Frazier for his 13 years of leadership and welcome in Cynthia Latcham as president. Hors D'ouevres and beverages will be provided. Registration required.

Celebrating Change & Honoring Our Mission event:
When: Thursday, June 29
Time: 5:30 - 7:30 PM
Where: The Des Moines Art Center - 4700 Grand Ave. Des Moines
Register by clicking the button below!
A Gift in Honor:
In honor of our enduring mission and legacy, we ask you to please consider a gift to Anawim Housing. Donations will be accepted at the event, but if you are unable to attend or would like to make a gift in advance, you can do so through our secure online donation form. 100% of your donation supports our permanent supportive housing programs, supportive services, and resources available to our residents in affordable housing and those who have experienced homelessness.

Click HERE to make a donation to Anawim Housing.
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Event Recap: RISING TOWARD COMMUNITY
On June 21st, Anawim Housing partnered with the Full Circle Recovery Community Center to host the Rising Toward Community event. The event honored the strength, resilience and determination of individuals and families who have overcome homelessness. To symbolize hope, and new beginnings we hold this event annually on the summer solstice – the longest, brightest day of the year.
Rising Toward Community is a chance for all of us to come together, break down stigmas surrounding homelessness, celebrate those who have overcome such hardship, listen to people with lived experience and value their expertise in helping create solutions. This year we partnered with the Full Circle RCC to share the importance and connection of recovery coupled with permanent supportive housing for individuals transitioning out of homelessness.

Thank you to all who joined us and to our wonderful speakers for sharing their inspiring and moving stories of hope and recovery. Speakers included individuals with lived experience; Kimberly Graham, Polk County Attorney; Cynthia Latcham, Anawim Housing; and Cindy West, Full Circle RCC.

Polk County Attorney - Kimberly Graham, speaking at the Rising Toward Community event.
View photos from the event on our Facebook page by clicking READ MORE.

ANAWIM AT THE IOWA/NEBRASKA PEER-TO-PEER HOMELESSNESS SYMPOSIUM
Anawim Housing was invited to present at the Iowa/Nebraska Peer-to-Peer Homelessness Symposium, held June 13-14th in Des Moines. The symposium brought together homeless service professionals to share knowledge and best practices for preventing and ending homelessness.

Anawim Program Managers Taz Clayburn-Stills and Wanda Price presented on how Anawim implements shared housing and how we work with youth who have experienced homelessness in becoming housing stable. Anawim President Cynthia Latcham presented on Lowering Barriers and Housing First.
Anawim Housing is passionate about affordable housing and working together to end homelessness. We have skilled staff who are able to come to your place of worship, neighborhood association, or community group to offer presentations, or educational opportunities. Click LEARN MORE to connect with us!

In The News: THE MONARCH & PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
City of Des Moines Passes Vote to Finalize Funding for The Monarch Apartments:
On June 12th, Des Moines City Council voted to approve $1 million in forgivable loans for the Monarch Apartments project. The Monarch is Anawim Housing's conversion of a former Days Inn hotel on Merle Hay Road into 40 permanent supportive housing apartments for individuals experiencing homelessness. The project will include 24 hour live-in support and services for residents.
PCHTF Awards $105,000 Grant to Anawim for Permanent Supportive Housing:
Earlier this month, Polk County Housing Trust Fund (PCHTF) awarded Anawim Housing a $105,000 grant. This important funding helps Anawim provide supportive services and fund programming to support housing stability, affordability and access to housing. PCHTF awarded 18 nonprofits with grants for critical housing services. Anawim is grateful for their partnership and support for our mission and our community.

Read the article in the Des Moines Business Record by clicking READ MORE.
Pictured: Future site of The Monarch Apartments on Merle Hay Road.

ANAWIM HONORS CLAUDETTE MCDONALD FOR HER LEADERSHIP AS 2022 BOARD CHAIR
At our June Annual Board of Directors meeting, Anawim Housing recognized and honored Claudette McDonald for her leadership and service as Board Chair over the past year. We thank Claudette for her strong dedication to our mission and unyielding passion for helping others. Claudette served as Chair from June 2022 - June 2023 and will remain an integral member of our Board. Matt Callanan was officially voted in as Board Chair at the June meeting and will serve from June 2023 - June 2024.




Cynthia Latcham presents a service award to Claudette McDonald for her leadership as Anawim Housing Board Chair 2022-2023.

Program Updates: LUNCH & LEARNS
Every Thursday, Anawim Housing partners with the Full Circle Recovery Community Center to host a weekly Lunch and Learn meeting open to anyone in the community and our residents. Each Lunch and Learn focuses on a subject that our residents and employees can utilize in everyday life and learn more about community resources.
Some of our presenters have included: Change Course - a company that works to help individuals living paycheck to paycheck start a career. Joseph Johnson presented on career development resources and free trainings they offer the community. Another presenter included Shana Boger with Mosaic Family Counseling Center who shared beginning steps for families dealing with recovery and the resources the center provides.

Anawim Housing Program Managers have also hosted Lunch and Learns to discuss a variety of subjects that residents can take in and use in their day-to-day. Subjects have ranged from dealing with grief, understanding mindfulness, and how to work on relationships while in recovery.

Anawim and Full Circle Recovery Community Center are always interested in seeking out future presenters and ideas for our Lunch and Learn series! If you are interested in learning more or have an idea to share, please contact Shannon at: [email protected].

Pictured L-R: Tracy Gryp with FCRCC and Shana Boger with Mosaic Family Counseling Center.; Joseph Johnson from Change Course, and Shannon Schott with the Full Circle Recovery Community Center (FCRCC); Tracy Gryp with FCRCC and Josh Fiala with the Animal Rescue League of Iowa.
For a calendar of all the upcoming Full Circle Recovery Community Center events and Lunch and Learns - click LEARN MORE!
Interested in helping us work to end homelessness?

Anawim Housing develops stable homes and strengthens communities