Anawim Awarded $187,000 Grant For Homeless Youth PSH Program

Des Moines, IA— Polk County youth will soon be safer thanks to Anawim Housing. As just one of twenty-three projects in the nation, Anawim Housing has been awarded $187,000 annual and renewable funding through the U.S. Housing and Urban Development to serve youth 18-24 who are experiencing homelessness in Permanent Supportive Housing. This grant is in conjunction with the Polk County Continuum of Care’s transformative two year Youth Homeless Demonstration Program aimed at ending youth homelessness in Polk County.

Youth served in this highly specialized grant will be homeless and will have a mental health condition, substance use disorder, be fleeing domestic violence or be medically fragile. Youth Homeless Opportunities Grant (YHOP) will incorporate Permanent Supportive Housing with peer support, employment and educational services, positive youth development and an active youth voice to create programming specifically tailored to best serve youth. Trauma Informed Care and Harm Reduction models will be utilized. Permanent Supportive Housing is an evidenced based practice offering low or no barrier and non-time limited housing to Polk County’s most vulnerable populations. Anawim Housing has managed Permanent Supportive Housing programs in Polk County for over 20 years and currently administers over $2.5 million in HUD funding serving more than 450 individuals and families annually.

“Our years of experience in offering Permanent Supportive Housing solutions to our community has uniquely prepared Anawim to take on this vital role serving those very young and vulnerable individuals,” said Russ Frazier, Anawim Housing President. “Lives will be saved and lives will be changed thanks to this opportunity.”

Media Coverage:

The Des Moines Business Record 6/11/20

WHO Channel 13 News 6/17/20 - Anawim's Executive Director, Cynthia Latcham, speaks with WHO Channel 13 News to discuss the YHOP grant and what it means for our community.