New Apartments will Help Homeless Iowans Transition into Independent Living
Des Moines – The Iowa Finance Authority Board of Directors recently awarded $2.7 million to Central Iowa Shelter & Services to construct 24 studio apartments that will provide supportive housing for homeless clients who are ready to transition into independent living. The funding is made available through the National Housing Trust Fund program.
“This funding will allow Central Iowa Shelter & Services to support homeless individuals in their transition from homelessness to independence,” said Iowa Finance Authority Executive Director Debi Durham. “We’re proud to partner on the construction of these rental homes that will soon help to transform the lives of many Central Iowans.”
The National Housing Trust Fund is an affordable housing production program aimed at increasing and preserving the supply of affordable housing for extremely low-income households, which is defined as households earning no more than 30 percent of the area median income. The program is a federal block grant program administered at the state level and requires a 30-year affordability period.
Our goal is to end chronic homelessness by 2022
Construction on the project, which will be built adjacent to the current Central Iowa Shelter & Services location at 1420 Mulberry Street in Des Moines, will begin later this year.
“Our goal is to end chronic homelessness by 2022,” said Central Iowa Shelter & Services CEO Melissa O’Neil. “We know a stable, consistent roof over someone’s head helps with their mental and physical health, both of which makes it easier for a person to find and keep a steady-paying job.”
Although not required, individuals living in the new apartments will have access to case management, behavioral health specialists, dental, healthcare and substance abuse services, life skills support, job training programs, emergency food pantry, clothing closet and three meals per day served at the existing shelter.
Additional project partners include: City of Des Moines, Jack Hatch and Sonja Roberts, Kiernan Development and Construction, MidAmerican Energy Company, Polk County and the Polk County Housing Trust Fund.
About Iowa Finance Authority
The Iowa Legislature created the Iowa Finance Authority in 1975 to undertake programs to assist in the attainment of housing for low-and moderate-income Iowans. Since then, the Iowa Finance Authority’s role has grown to include a wide-range of affordable housing, water quality and beginning farmer programs.