HOMEWARD ANNOUNCES SUMMER COUNT OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN POLK COUNTY

CONTACT: 

Angie Arthur, Homeward

aarthur@homewardiowa.org

515-302-6017

homewardiowa.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: HOMEWARD ANNOUNCES SUMMER COUNT OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN POLK COUNTY

The July 2025 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count revealed 768 individuals in shelters, transitional housing, safe haven, and living outdoors, a 5% increase from the Summer 2024 and a 1.5% decrease from Winter 2025.

DES MOINES, IA-  Homeward released the results of the Summer 2025 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, a survey of individuals experiencing sheltered or unsheltered homelessness in Polk County on a single night. The summer 2025 PIT count identified 768 people experiencing homelessness on July 30th. 

“The PIT Count, typically done in the winter and summer, functions as a snapshot of homelessness in our community,” said Angie Arthur, executive director of Homeward, Polk County’s homeless services planning entity. “This data is an important tool to assess how our homeless response system is performing and to identify the needs of our neighbors experiencing homelessness.”

Over the course of 24 hours, homeless outreach staff and volunteers conducted brief conversational surveys with unsheltered residents (those living in a place not meant for human habitation, such as cars, camps, or on the street) in greater Des Moines. Staff offered housing assessment, support services, gift cards and snacks to all individuals interviewed.

“We’re very thankful to all the homeless service providers who partnered to support the Point-in-Time Count,” Arthur said. “It’s a good representation of how this community comes together to support our residents experiencing homelessness, improve systems and increase resources.” 

The 2025 PIT data was verified, de-duplicated and analyzed by the Institute for Community Alliances (ICA), Homeward’s partner in maintaining data on homelessness programs in Polk County. ICA also helped document demographic and subpopulation data for residents experiencing homelessness.

Some highlights from the initiative:

·     Summer PIT count numbers continue to outpace winter PIT count numbers; however, 2025 numbers differed by only four individuals.

·     This year’s total summer PIT number of individuals experiencing homelessness was 768, which is up 5% from summer 2024 (729). The number of unsheltered individuals identified in July 2025 was 210, which is an 18 percent increase from summer 2024 (177) and a record high.

·     Of the 167 unsheltered individuals who answered the question regarding their last permanent address, 150 (90%) reported their last permanent address as Polk County, and 17 (10%) previously lived in another Iowa county. No respondent reported living outside of Iowa.

·     Youth homelessness decreased from 54 total youth (summer 2024) to 41 total youth (summer 2025) experiencing homelessness.

·     Veteran homelessness decreased from last year’s summer total of 44 (summer 2024) to this year’s summer total of 39 veterans experiencing homelessness due to coordinated efforts and additional resources to best serve Veterans.

·     Those self-reporting having a serious mental illness increased from 140 (summer 2024) to 175 (summer 2025). Individuals self-reporting a substance use disorder decreased from 152 (summer 2024) to 114 (summer 2025).

·     As is often the case across the nation, Black residents are over-represented in the homelessness population. 26% of the 2025 summer PIT population identified as Black/African American compared to 8.9% of Polk County residents who are Black/African American.

Results from the July 2025 Count illuminate demographic, programmatic and infrastructure gaps and help drive policy discussions as Greater Des Moines leaders work to address homelessness.

Unlike the winter PIT data reported to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the summer PIT data is collected to drive local decision-making. Homeward coordinates Polk County’s Continuum of Care federal funding each year, distributing $7 million to homeless service partners providing permanent housing, outreach and supportive services for people experiencing homelessness. To be part of the solution to address homelessness, please visit www.homewardiowa.org/take-action

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About Homeward 

Homeward serves as Polk County’s homelessness planning organization, forging strategic partnerships toward ending homelessness. By distributing funding, resources and data, Homeward seeks to create an efficient and effective homeless response system that meets all residents’ strengths and needs. We lead community-wide homelessness planning efforts to ensure that one day, everyone in Polk County will have a safe place to call home.