Our History
Explore the history of Anawim Housing from our past to present day.
1987
Stella Neill, RSM, was greatly troubled by the inadequacy of safe, affordable low-income housing in Des Moines. A small group wanted to open a shelter for homeless families, but Stella believed that a shelter alone would provide only a temporary solution. Founding board members Fred Gay, Dean Wright, Patti McKee and Sid Drumheller shared Sister Stella’s view, and together they created the vision for Anawim Housing. The nonprofit organization was incorporated in 1987, Sister Stella was named Executive Director.
1988
Families move into the first two Anawim Housing homes in November.
1991
Anawim Housing builds North Park Place, consisting of six duplexes.
1993
121 single-family homes are built at 13th & Forest.
1997
Anawim Housing received national recognition for our renovation of The Maine apartment building, which became an anchor for our revitalization efforts on Sixth Avenue. The Maine was the first of three Anawim buildings on the National Register of Historic Places to be restored.
2000
Anawim Housing continues work on 6th Avenue renovating New Lawn apartments and the Kromer Flats building, which had stood vacant for a number of years. Anawim Housing’s work on Sixth Avenue and nearby streets has continued with new housing construction and renovations of duplexes and apartment buildings.
2002
Anawim Housing purchases and renovates the Riverbend properties.
2007
In our 20th anniversary year, Anawim Housing completed its first-ever Capital Campaign, raising $3.5 million to invest in housing stock maintenance and long-term rental relief. Additional funds were used to create the Sr. Stella Neill Fund, which provides relief for Anawim tenants who need a hand in hard times. 67 units are purchased at Pioneer Woods in southeast Des Moines. The Women Empowering Families group was founded by two Anawim Housing board members, Cecelia Kent and Dotty Thurston.
2009
The Nine Homes in Nine Days project takes off. Anawim Housing partners with Hubbell Realty to accomplish an incredible feat. With hundreds of volunteers, 9 townhomes were built in 9 days, generously donated to Anawim Housing by Hubbell Realty. More than 130 companies contributed time, talents and other goods towards the build. The project was part of the ABC Program Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
2010
Russ Frazier is named Anawim Housing’s new President. Anawim Housing gets its own office along with six attached apartments.
2011
16 town-homes are added at 22nd and Forest Avenue.
2012
Anawim Housing celebrates its 25th anniversary. Forest & Fields town-homes are added on Hubbell Avenue and Forest Avenue.
2013
60 Affordable housing units are added to the east side of Des Moines at The Crest at Baker Creek apartment complex.
2015
Ceremonial groundbreaking for The Legacy Project, located at 1511 6th Ave. This project will result in the creation of 5 new townhomes. It will be Anawim Housing’s first privately funded building project. Anawim Housing manages 630 affordable rental units in the Des Moines area. More than 1,700 adults and children are served.
2016
Ceremonial groundbreaking for the Brickstones at Riverbend project, located at 513 Forest Ave. Construction continues on the Legacy Project townhomes, set to be completed in Fall 2017. Anawim develops third party management company - Allterra Property Solutions. Allterra manages Drake Real Estate, adding 106 units and 8 commercial spaces to our portfolio.
2017
We celebrated our 30th year with a special 30th Anniversary Event and ribbon cutting at our newly constructed Legacy Project townhomes. Legacy Park project provides $11.3 million in renovations to 137 Anawim units. Anawim moves to a new office at 1171 7th Street. Brickstones at Riverbend and the Legacy Project townhomes are completed, adding 35 units.
2018
Anawim Housing hosts the DSM Magazine Unveiling Party at our new office. Full Circle is formed - a peer support group consisting of Anawim program participants that meet every Friday for lunch, connection and community. The Anawim Housing Home is Everything Podcast Series is created. We are named a Top Workplace in Iowa by The Des Moines Register. Construction was completed on Anawim’s first 3 affordable housing projects outside of Des Moines, in: Cedar Rapids, Ottumwa, and Sioux City. Completion of the Aberdeen Apartments in Sioux City, adding 35 units.
2019
Our office moves to 1535 Linden Street. All property management operations are placed under Allterra Property Solutions, and Anawim Housing oversees our permanent supportive housing programs and foundation work. Through our sustainability model, all revenue from Allterra funnels directly into Anawim, which funds our programs and services. Anawim Housing hosted our first Rising Toward Community Event. Construction completed on the Washington Apartments in Ottumwa and Ashton Flats in Cedar Rapids, adding a total of 104 units to our portfolio.
2020
When the Covid pandemic set in, Anawim Housing never slowed down – in fact the need for housing, our services and supports increased. Our team bonded together to meet the need by providing care both in the field and virtually: increasing our online service capabilities, providing phones to all program tenants, offering a Rapid Rehousing Program through the Cares Act, partnering with area agencies to provide rental relief funds and health services, providing maintenance in units, and continuing to meet residents in need while implementing safety precautions for our staff and residents. While we were unable to host in-person events in 2020, we pivoted – raising awareness through an online video campaign, hosting virtual events and gift drives, and continuing to share stories of perseverance from individuals who call Anawim home as well as the dedicated members of our team.
2021
Anawim Housing’s supportive employment social enterprise – ReNew Crew – grows from 4 participants to over 20. ReNew Crew was initiated by Anawim program managers who through partnering with program tenants noticed a common goal of many wanting to return to work. Although numerous community wide employment readiness services existed, few were tailored to meet the needs of the population served at Anawim Housing. ReNew Crew focuses on removing barriers to employment and utilizes evidence-based practices of harm reduction and Person Centered case management to help individuals gain valuable life and employment skills. In the Fall, Anawim was able to host our first in person events in over a year - allowing us the long-awaited opportunity to reconnect in person with our community and supporters.
2022
Anawim Housing hosts a ribbon cutting for our new main office, located at 1750 48th St, Des Moines. Our team has grown to 50+ employees. Anawim expands Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) across Iowa – hiring two program managers to lead PSH and TBRA programs in Council Bluffs. Anawim Housing partners with The Beacon to launch the Full Circle Recovery and Community Center (FCRCC) nonprofit to maximize expertise and capacity for serving individuals with substance use disorders. The FCRCC offers recovery services in three locations: Des Moines, Sioux City and Council Bluffs.
2023 - Today
Cynthia Latcham is named Anawim Housing’s new president. Anawim is co-developer on the Star Lofts project and hosts a ceremonial groundbreaking. Star Lofts is Iowa’s first zero carbon certified building providing 20 units of affordable housing to Des Moines. Ceremonial groundbreaking for the Monarch Apartments – Anawim’s first hotel conversion into 40 units of Permanent Supportive Housing and the first project of its kind in Iowa. Today, Anawim Housing is the largest provider of Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) in Iowa. Anawim serves over 390 individuals and families in PSH who have experienced homelessness and live with a mental illness, substance use disorder, physical disability, diagnosis of HIV/AIDS, or are fleeing domestic violence. Allterra Property Solutions, our third party management company, owns and manages over 750 units across Iowa, providing both affordable and market rate housing.