Information and Statistics
What does homelessness look like in Polk County?
People experience homelessness in Polk County due to systemic or societal barriers such as:
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A lack of affordable and appropriate housing
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Aging out of the foster care system
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Targeted policies or hostile beliefs towards those who are perceived as different
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Family conflict or domestic violence
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A diverse group of individuals and families experience homelessness in our community. Populations represented in the homeless response system include:
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Families,
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Young adults,
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Veterans,
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Individuals with limited familial support,
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Those with a disability, and
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Those who are pregnant or parenting.
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While most homelessness services are centered around urban or suburban areas, homelessness also exists in more rural areas of our county.
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To understand how homelessness impacts the educational system, please see the Polk County data sheet and the State of Iowa data sheet. The most current data (SY21-22) can be found at School House Connection. Data compiled through a partnership with Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan.
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The 2025 Summer Point-In-Time data was collected from July 30-31, 2025. The data, analyzed by the Institute for Community Alliances, is presented in a powerpoint presentation and can be found here.
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*This data, provided by Institute for Community Alliances, is only a snapshot of the data produced by the Polk County, Iowa Point-in-Time Count. The ICA powerpoint presentation of the 2025 Winter Point-In-Time data can be found here.
The Winter Point-in-Time Counts are conducted in communities across the nation on a single night in January every year. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires communities to submit this data to qualify for federal homeless assistance funds. In Iowa, we also voluntarily conduct a summer Point-in-Time Count.
While it is only a snapshot of a single night, Point-in-Time Count data helps Homeward plan services and identify gaps and needs in the community.
The next Polk County Point-in-Time Count will be held January 28-29, 2026. To volunteer, please visit our Volunteer Page.