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Kick-Off Success!
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the unveiling of The Blueprint to Address Homelessness! The full strategic plan, as well as the summary, can be found on the Homeward website at www.homewardiowa.org/blueprint. If you missed the event, you can also find a link to the full recording on the same page. Together, we can ensure that one day, every one has a place to call home. To request a meeting to figure out how you or your entity can align with these efforts, please reach out via email.
| | Housing Innovations Senior Consultant, Matt White, introduces the Blueprint to Address Homelessness ("Blueprint") to a packed audience at the C3 Center. | | Kristi Knous, President of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, and Matt White, Senior Consultant with Housing Innovations, discuss the support of the Blueprint and the impact aligning of resources will have to reduce homelessness. | | Des Moines City Councilmember Chris Coleman joins Angie Arthur of Homeward and Shelby Ridley of Primary Health Care along with Matt White to discuss how the work outlined in the Blueprint will help streamline services and increase efficiencies within the homeless system. | | Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency Opens Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Rental Assistance Waiting List | | | |
THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. Central Standard Time through FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. Central Standard Time.
Pre-applications will ONLY be available ON-LINE at desmoines.housingmanager.com. You can access the web-site from any computer, tablet or cellular phone that has internet access. Pre-applications will NOT be available on-line until 8:00 a.m. Central Standard Time on JULY 10, 2025 and will NOT be available on-line after 4:30 p.m. Central Standard Time on JULY 11, 2025.
In order to apply you will need to have with you the names (as they appear on the social security cards), social security numbers and dates of birth for all household members. YOU MUST ALSO HAVE AN E-MAIL ADDRESS TO APPLY. If you do not have an e-mail address you can set one up for free by googling “free e-mail account” and selecting the provider of your choice. If you do not have this information, you will not be able to complete the pre-application.
The full public notice can be found HERE.
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Help shape the path forward for homeless services!
The CoC is a HUD required body who collectively votes on the policies of the Continuum of Care. The CoC Membership Overview Document reviews the roles and responsibilities as well as the membership requirements associated with maintaining CoC membership.
Do I need my supervisor's approval to be a member? Individuals who care and are engaged in the work of the continuum as a paid staff member or as a volunteer are encouraged to fill out the membership form as an individual. This is separate from any paid role and as long as you are not completing the form on behalf of your agency, you do not need permission to be a member.
What if I work for a homeless agency? Agencies can also be members of the Continuum of Care. Only one person can represent the agency. The agency representative can also register separately as an individual member.
What if I work for a private business or a nonprofit that does not specifically address homelessness? If you are engaged in the work and support the work of the Continuum, you are able to apply as an individual, agency, or a private business. Only one membership is allowed per agency, however, individuals can all register separately regardless of affiliation. The only requirement is that you are engaged in the work to support those who are unsheltered or would be unsheltered if it weren't for services.
The application is required by HUD and is our official list of continuum of care partners. CoC specific communication includes notification of the annual board meetings and any votes required for a new continuum policy. Your information will be used for Homeward purposes only, which includes this bi-monthly newsletter and other relevant information specific to the Continuum of Care.
Please complete this short form
https://forms.gle/XhnFemXc9ARAmc7T9
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Point In Time (PIT) Count Update
Thanks to everyone for your patience. As many are aware, Executive Orders have altered how and what data is submitted to the federal PIT database. With the changes to the portal, there has been form errors across the nation. We understand these errors have been fixed and testing has commenced to ensure data stability. While we have preliminary PIT count data that shows a continued rise in unsheltered homelessness, we expect to be able to release verified numbers within the next week.
Summer Point-In-Time Count is accepting volunteers. The Count will happen Wednesday, July 30 to Thursday, July 31st.
If you are unable to use google forms, please email Amy Miers at Primary Health Care to register.
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YAC Helps Inform the Community and Craft Adult Action Council
In April, the Youth Action Council worked with Community Youth Concepts' uVoice program to shed light on the impacts of homelessness and the challenges of getting the resources needed to escape homelessness. This focus group was used to inform the uVoice grant making process and the group's application process.
In May, the Youth Action Council started conversations to help Homeward launch an Adult Action Council. Lived experience helps illuminate gaps and areas for replication among our area's service providers. The Youth Action Council is helping to launch an Adult Action Council to accompany the work of the Blueprint to Address Homelessness. The Youth Action Council will work to increase its membership of young adults, ages 16-24, over the summer, and help create the Adult Action Council with a project launch this fall. The YAC and the newly forming group are searching for members who are interested in improving the system and have lived experience in the past 5 years. We are also seeking service providers who would like to host the Adult Action Council 1-2 times/month. Please reach out to Amy Croll to learn more.
| | Iowa Nonprofit Alliance Spotlight | | |
The Iowa Nonprofit Alliance, the Iowa affiliate of the National Nonprofit Alliance, is conducting a Membership and Engagement Survey designed to help guide their work and strengthen Iowa's nonprofit sector. The National Nonprofit Alliance and the Executive Director, Diane Yentel, was instrumental in moving Continuum of Care funding forward in the first 90 days of the administration transition. Without the aligning work of the Iowa Nonprofit Alliance as an affiliate, CoC may have been stalled longer than the six months stall.
Please support the work of the Iowa Nonprofit Alliance by taking the survey here: https://bit.ly/2025INAsurvey
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Iowa Nonprofit Summit, featuring Diane Yentel
October 1, 2025
FFA Center
Ankeny, IA
INA is currently accepting workshop proposals — and they want to hear from nonprofit professionals, volunteers, and community leaders across the state.
📅 Submit a Summit workshop proposal
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C3 De-Escalation Training
(thanks to our partners WeLIFT)
September 10, 9:00 am-3:00 pm
Polk County River Place, Des Moines, Iowa
Training is free, but registration is required.
Register HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/c3-de-escalation-training-tickets-1274653696519?aff=oddtdtcreator
C3 stands for Calm Circuit Connection. Our world can be a tough place to navigate with the different stressors in our lives.
It is critical that our community have the tools to communicate effectively with each other during emotionally driven conversations. C3 is understanding how each of our individual brains “floods” with Adrenaline and how our responses to situations can calm or explode a response.
C3 targets the adrenaline that disrupts brain connections and fuels aggression. C3 techniques help angry or distraught people calm down, gain control over themselves, and become safer and easier to work with.
WeLIFT has staff that are trained and Certified Instructors in C3 De-escalation and uses this training to help others understand the importance of managing emotions to produce better reactions and behaviors in emotionally charged situations.
This training is open to members of the Polk County CoC at no cost. Homeless service providers will receive priority registration. Registration is limited.
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The Service Council works to identify trainings that are helpful to our profession. The Homeward website has a list of recommended trainings and has recently added an Event Calendar that publishes community, state, and national trainings, events, and opportunities. Trainings offered by partners listed below are also included in this event calendar as well as how to register for the event.
Iowa Board of Certification: The Iowa Board manages certification for several licensed professionals, however, they also offer a range of trainings specific to ethics, human services, and substance use.
Your Life Iowa: Your Life Iowa is a public-facing resource and referral website, however, trainings that are state-sponsored and free to the public can also be found on their calendar.
Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines: the Community Foundation hosts on-demand videos and various board trainings that are a great fit for providers and nonprofits.
Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa: BIAIA provides resources on accommodations, service provider trainings on injury and aging, and support groups.
Iowa Nonprofit Alliance: INA provides nonprofit management trainings to members and non-members (for a fee). The INA is a valuable resource to Iowa nonprofits.
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The Service Council has identified a variety of trainings that are recommended for new and seasoned professionals. The consolidated list can be found at Trainings on the Homeward website.
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Iowa's Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health
is excited to invite you to our:
Evidence-Based Practices in Behavioral Health Summit
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
9:30 AM to 4:00 PM
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Iowa's Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health invites you to attend our Evidence-Based Practices in Behavioral Health Summit. The Summit is a one-day experience to take a deeper dive into how Iowa can adopt, adapt, and expand evidence-based practices across the state.
This year's Summit will include a focus on:
- Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)
- Individual Placement and Support (IPS)
- Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH)
This Summit is free and open to behavioral health service providers, partners, individuals/family members of individuals with lived experience, and community members.
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Training Need?
Have an idea of a training that we should try to offer across the homeless system? Please consider joining the Service Council or let Amy know so it can be added to the Service Council agenda.
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