Homeward responds to federal funding freeze
- Homeward Iowa
- Jan 28
- 2 min read
Contact
Amy Croll, Community Engagement Manager
Homeward Iowa
515.302.6017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Homeward Responds to Federal Funding Freeze
Des Moines, IA — Jan. 28, 2025 — Homeward, the Polk County homelessness planning entity, expresses deep concern over the recent federal directive to freeze grants and loans, a move that poses significant challenges to housing nonprofits, as well as every other federally supported sector operating in Polk County and in Iowa. This suspension appears to include a broad spectrum of services, including emergency shelters, housing vouchers, individual support programs like rental and utility assistance, and health, workforce, and education supports, potentially disrupting essential programs that many Iowans rely on.
Homeward Executive Director Angie Arthur stated, “Housing services are integral to addressing critical needs and fostering economically solvent and healthy communities. The abrupt halt in federal funding threatens the stability of the most critical services in our communities and hinders organizational capacity to deliver vital services and support to those most in need.”
Homeward is committed to advocating for the restoration of all funding and policies that empower communities to respond to their local needs. We need individuals and agencies to convey to their representatives the profound implications of this funding freeze and the need to halt this action to uphold the well-being of our communities.
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. For more information, visit www.homewardiowa.org