The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines has awarded Leadership Grants totaling $350,000 to two community projects: the Beacon Village and ChildServe’s Des Moines Center.

Des Moines-based nonprofit the Beacon received a $250,000 grant for the Beacon Village, which will provide housing and support for women who have a history of homelessness or incarceration. The new facility, located on Euclid Avenue, will have 32 individual apartments and foster a neighborhood-centric environment where women involved support one another, a news release said.

“Not only does this generous funding support women in our community who have faced complex trauma and systemic barriers, but it will actually work to change the systems that are harming them,” Melissa Vine, executive director of the Beacon, said in a prepared statement. “These funds will prevent the endless cycle of trauma, mental illness, homelessness and the incarceration of women and replace them with a healing, safe community, affordable housing and supportive services.”

A $100,000 grant from the Community Foundation will support a new ChildServe facility located near the intersection of 48th Street and Franklin Avenue in Des Moines. The facility will expand the capacity from serving 60 children to 600, which will help reduce waitlists for families. It will also offer expanded services with the addition of 40 new specialized clinical staff roles.  

ChildServe CEO Dr. Teri Wahlig said the new facility will be “the perfect complement” to the nonprofit’s main location in Johnston.

“The facility will improve access and decrease barriers to care for children with special health care needs through several of our specialized programs, including medical child care, autism services, pediatric rehabilitation and neurobehavioral health care,” Wahlig said in a prepared statement.

The foundation’s Leadership Grants focus on equity and support projects with the potential to create significant impact on community issues and opportunities, the release said.

“By investing in these initiatives, we, as a community, are not only addressing immediate needs but also building a foundation for long-term community resilience and opportunity,” Community Foundation President Kristi Knous said in a prepared statement. “The Beacon’s and ChildServe’s dedication and innovative solutions make our communities stronger and more resilient.”

The Leadership Grants are made possible by the foundation’s Better Together Fund.

Related: The Beacon expands its mission of assisting women to those who’ve just been arrested