The Iowa Supportive Housing Institute celebrated the completion of its inaugural cycle on Wednesday, July 23, with a presentation of development projects aimed at expanding supportive housing across the state.
The five-month program, a collaboration between the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) and the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH), brought together developers, service providers, property managers and local partners to learn how to design and advance supportive housing proposals, defined as “permanent, affordable housing that offers supportive services for residents.”
The IFA and CSH created the program to strengthen local capacity, foster collaboration, and equip communities to advance feasible, well-developed supportive housing proposals.
“Housing for our lowest-income residents is one of Iowa’s most urgent needs, particularly for those experiencing homelessness,” said Debi Durham, IFA director. “The dedication and hard work of the teams that participated in the inaugural Iowa Supportive Housing Institute have led to promising project concepts that can help address homelessness and create lasting stability for Iowans in need.”
Seven teams representing communities across Iowa took part, including groups from Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Des Moines, Sioux City and Waterloo. Representing Cedar Rapids was the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program.
Projects developed through the program are expected to create a pipeline of supportive housing proposals for years to come.
CSH, a national nonprofit that helps communities advance supportive housing, provided customized technical assistance to Institute teams as they designed their projects.
“Supportive housing is more than a roof over someone’s head. It’s a proven foundation for stability, dignity, and opportunity,” said Amy Stetzel, CSH Upper Midwest director. “The Iowa Supportive Housing Institute equips local teams with the tools and partnerships they need to bring their innovative development projects to life. We’re excited to see these projects move forward and make a lasting difference for Iowans experiencing homelessness.”
Deborah De Santis, CSH president and CEO, said the program demonstrated the value of collaboration. “The Iowa Supportive Housing Institute reflects what’s possible when committed partners come together with a shared vision,” she said.
Select teams will showcase their projects during the HousingIowa Conference, set for Sept. 3-4 in Des Moines. Full details are available at housingiowaconference.com.
