Homeward Releases FY24 Annual Report
- Homeward Iowa
- Oct 15, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 31, 2024
CONTACT:
Angie Arthur, Homeward
515-302-6017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 15, 2024
HOMEWARD RELEASES FY24 ANNUAL REPORT
Amid recent policy changes, the report highlights system improvement efforts and challenges.
DES MOINES, IA- Today, Homeward released their Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Annual Report, which highlights the challenges and successes of an underfunded homelessness system.
The report, which covers July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, reviews several areas where Homeward has made strategic progress in both identifying areas of need and planning efforts for improvements to Polk County’s homeless response system.
Through partnerships and local funding, Homeward commissioned a Polk County Gaps Analysis, pushed eviction expungement at the legislative level, hosted a breakfast with national housing expert Dr. Gregg Colburn, and commissioned a family homelessness study planned for release soon. The report, other data points, and elements of best practices in homeless and housing services will form the basis of a five-year community strategic planning process to address metro homelessness, kicking off October 18, 2024.
“Between the rising number of individuals experiencing homelessness, and the Grant’s Pass v Johnson Supreme Court, this year has been one of the hardest years for the homelessness system,” said Homeward Executive Director Angie Arthur. “While it has been challenging, we have had some bright spots, like securing an additional $1 million in federal HUD funding for FY25 to build capacity for better serving youth and increasing awareness of homeless services needs here in Polk County.”
Local homelessness data echoes trends previously identified by the 2024 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, revealing a significant increase in individuals using and needing services outpacing resources within the metro. In FY24, there were 7,940 individuals served by the Polk County homeless response system, an increase of more than 500 over the FY23 numbers. The Housing and Urban Development (HUD) investment in Polk County services increased to $5.72 million from $4.9 million in FY23; however, the numbers continue to rise, and the system continues to operate at maximum capacity.
Kristi Knous, president of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, commented, “With Homeward, we’re optimistic about using data as the foundation of a community-wide strategic plan to support our neighbors most in need.”
The FY24 annual report data was verified, de-duplicated, and analyzed by the Institute for Community Alliances (ICA), which serves as Homeward’s partner in maintaining data on homelessness programs in Polk County. ICA also helped document demographic and subpopulation data for residents experiencing homelessness.
To learn more about community outreach events associated with the five-year community strategic plan, please visit homewardiowa.org
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, 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. To be part of the solution, visit https://www.homewardiowa.org/take-action
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