The Blueprint to Address Homelessness Community-Wide Plan Unveiled

May 6, 2025 attendee reads Executive Summary of The Blueprint

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 of City of Des Moines 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.” 

The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines will provide an initial investment of $100,000 to support the launch and implementation of the plan. Participants in the six-month planning process included 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; Chris Coleman, Councilmember of City of Des Moines and Chair of the HCC; 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.