The Blueprint to Address Homelessness Community-Wide Plan Unveiled

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                             

May 6, 2025

Media Contacts: 

Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines

Emily Toribio, VP of Marketing and Communications

toribio@desmoinesfoundation.org, (515) 447-4205

Homeward

Amy Croll, Community Engagement Coordinator

acroll@homewardiowa.org, (319) 519-1576

The Blueprint to Address Homelessness Community-Wide Plan Unveiled

Community partners and strategic experts collaborated to develop a five-year vision

for a regional homelessness response system.

NEWS RELEASE – Des Moines, IA – Through collective action, we can drive progress toward ensuring that one day, everyone in our community has a safe place to call home. On May 6, a five-year strategic vision plan, The Blueprint to Address Homelessness, was released by Homeward, Polk County’s homelessness planning organization, and strategic funding partner Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines.

“Addressing homelessness in Polk County takes a collaborative approach, and The Blueprint identifies evidence-based strategies that will improve our ability to address service gaps to better support those experiencing homelessness in our region,” said Chris Coleman, councilmember and chair of the Homeless Coordinating Council (HCC).

The plan builds off the 2024 release of the Polk County Gap Analysis, where data revealed the local homelessness system is significantly undersized, relative to the need in Greater Des Moines. The strategic plan resulted from an in-depth planning process conducted by independent consultant, Matt White with Housing Innovations, that began last fall. Seven focus areas and designated leads for each strategy were identified, with a reimagined and expanded HCC.

1.     Reduce System Overflow

2.     Improve Crisis Response Capacity

3.     End Unsheltered Homelessness

4.     Accelerated Exits to Stable Housing

5.     Connections to Adjacent Systems

6.     Active System Management

7.     Affordable Housing Development

“Last year, the gap analysis found that the local homelessness service providers do not have the financial resources or capacity to address the homelessness crisis alone,” said Angie Arthur, executive director of Homeward. “We are grateful our community businesses, county and city government and philanthropic partners are stepping up with intention and investment to help our region implement the best practices known to move people into stable housing, particularly as we see increasing numbers of families experiencing homelessness in the metro.”

Participants in the six-month planning and implementation process include more than 250 individuals from area businesses, funders, developers, providers, people with lived experience and more. The Blueprint unveiling featured Angie Arthur, executive director of Homeward; Councilmember Chris Coleman, City of Des Moines; Kristi Knous, president of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines; Scott Jean, president and CEO of EMC; Shelby Ridley, Director of Programs for Primary Health Care; and Matt White, senior associate of Housing Innovations.

To access The Blueprint to Address Homelessness and the Executive Summary of the plan, visit homewardiowa.org/blueprint.

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About the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines     The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines improves quality of life for all by promoting charitable giving, connecting donors with causes they care about and providing leadership on important community issues — we’re simply better together. The Community Foundation administers more than $1 billion in assets and over 2,600 charitable giving funds. More than $84 million was granted to nonprofits from Community Foundation charitable giving funds in 2024. Learn how you can be a part of something bigger at desmoinesfoundation.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.