Anawim Housing
Monthly E-Newsletter | February 2021

RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM
Anawim Housing Program Receives Over $500K in Second Round of Cares Act Funding
Anawim Housing's new Rapid Rehousing program began in November 2020 with Cares Act Funding distributed by The City of Des Moines and The Iowa Finance Authority. The funding has now been awarded for over $500,000.

This program offers up to twelve months of rental assistance and supportive services and serves those who have become homeless as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and loss of employment. Program participants are referred to Anawim Housing by Primary Healthcare.

The program is being led by program manager Travis Sowden. "Rapid Rehousing is intended to help people who have come across hard times recently. The program is designed to help people get back on their feet," says Travis.

Participants in the program set personalized 90-day goals with Travis after entering housing. These goals help them work toward employment and financial stability.

Learn More about Rapid Rehousing and read Travis's story by clicking READ MORE!


Pictured: Anawim Housing Program Manager, Travis Sowden, who leads the new Rapid Rehousing program

GLAMOUR SHOTS FOR CHARITY RAISES OVER $1,500 FOR ANAWIM HOUSING
On February 5th, the very talented teams at Trixies Salon and Spa, Invictus Media, The Riverbend Collective, and Creative DSM - Digital & Social Marketing hosted the Big Hair Big Hearts // Glamour Shots for Charity event. Event proceeds totaling over $1,500 were generously donated to Anawim Housing to further our mission of providing safe, stable housing to our community's most vulnerable.

Anawim Housing's Executive Director - Cynthia Latcham and Director of Advancement - Mary Mendenhall-Core, showed their support by going BIG for Anawim Housing at this fun event! View more photos on our Facebook page by clicking READ MORE.

Pictured L to R: Anawim Housing's Cynthia Latcham and Mary Mendenhall-Core

ANAWIM TENANT OF 10+ YEARS, SHARES HOW SECTION 8 HELPED HER ON HER PATH TO HOME OWNERSHIP -
DES MOINES REGISTER REPORTS
On Feb. 16th, The Des Moines Register published the article "Some Cities Ban Landlords From Rejecting Section 8 Vouchers. Iowa Republicans Want To Change That." In the article, Reporter Ian Richardson spoke with Anawim Housing tenant, Chantel, who has lived with Anawim for over 10 years.

For many of those years, Chantel utilized a Section 8 housing voucher to afford her three bedroom apartment for her and her kids. "I was able to pay what I could afford instead of the regular $600 to $700 per month," Chantel said, "I feel like that's the whole point of Section 8. ... It's there to help you when you need it." She has since phased out of the program after attaining a higher-paying job and has chosen to move on to home ownership for her and her family.

The Des Moines Register reports that Iowans use vouchers to help pay for nearly 20,000 housing units statewide, according to 2020 HUD data. Their average household income is $12,577 a year. Without Section 8 – many residents who are unable to pay their rent or find affordable housing face very difficult situations that many take for granted – eviction, homelessness, food insecurity.

Housing is a human right and Anawim Housing supports housing for all. Section 8 housing vouchers increase housing opportunities for people in our community and help elderly, disabled, and low-income renters find housing and give them more housing choices close to their work or school.

Read the full article by clicking READ MORE.
Photo courtesy of Brian Powers/The Des Moines Register

CONNECTION - AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE DO
All the moving pieces of Anawim Housing and Allterra Property Solutions connect to support those in need of housing, those currently living in our permanent supportive housing, and our community at large.

Recently Allterra took on property management of three new building in Des Moines. The ReNew Crew, Anawim Housing's social enterprise, has been turning and preparing the vacant units. With the help of ReNew Crew, we will soon have one of these units ready for a new Anawim Housing program tenant moving in from homelessness. One team member offered this quote about what ReNew Crew has meant to him since joining the Anawim Housing program:

"I believe in physical, mental, and spiritual health - and now that I'm working on this team, I'm meeting all three. It means a lot that I am receiving housing but I don't just want to be a taker. I want to give back and now I am." - ReNew Crew Team Member

Learn more about ReNew Crew by clicking READ MORE


ReNew Crew Team Member
Anawim Housing develops stable homes and strengthens communities