Polk County’s homelessness response system is not equipped to respond to rising rates of homelessness, according to the findings of a recent study published by Homeward Iowa, a homelessness planning organization, and Housing Innovations, an Ohio-based research firm.

The Homelessness System Needs Assessment and Centralized Intake Evaluation found that Polk County will need to invest an additional $19.65 million to help the area’s homeless population become permanently housed.

“The study found that the local homelessness service providers do not have the financial resources or capacity to address the homelessness crisis alone,” said Angie Arthur, Homeward Iowa’s executive director, in a prepared statement.

Funded by the Nationwide Foundation, the research focused on establishing an “optimal” system to address homelessness. This ideal system would organize the right amount of resources in the most impactful way.

The study identifies three key steps to maximize the impact of additional spending:

1. Build 29 additional units of emergency shelter specifically for families.

This type of housing intervention would serve families that experience homelessness as a one-time crisis and often leave the system permanently after leaving emergency shelter.

“Currently, families experiencing homelessness must wait for shelter and often face hard decisions to break up their families or stay in unsafe situations while waiting for help,” the report reads.

In 2023, 13 families were moved from their cars to emergency housing during the summer weather amnesty period – the highest number ever recorded in Polk County.

2. Expand rehousing capacity for single adults

Rapid rehousing addresses the needs of people who have barriers to housing, including a lack of income or credit, histories of eviction or criminal convictions and lack of local support systems.

Federal resources were only able to meet the rehousing needs of less than 5% of single adults in 2023, which is what contributes to the visible homeless encampments throughout the metro area, according to the report.

3. Institute housing-focused case management for every person experiencing homelessness

Some individuals and families need housing-focused case management to resolve their homelessness, including support in document management, housing search, application processes, and financial assistance.

The report recommends offering housing-focused case management to anyone in the homelessness system for more than 14 days, a critical step in resolving homelessness.

The study also suggests updating the current centralized intake system, operated by Primary Health Care, which serves as the “front door” for Polk County’s homelessness system. While meeting federal standards, the system could enhance efficiency to better serve the approximately 3,000 households experiencing homelessness in Polk County.

“Addressing homelessness in Polk County will take a collaborative approach and the Nationwide Foundation is committed to providing resources to increase system efficiencies,” said Nationwide Foundation president Chad Jester in the statement. “The results gathered from this study will enable our providers to address service gaps and realign their resources to better support those experiencing homelessness.”

To learn more about Homeward and to access the Homelessness System Needs Assessment and Centralized Intake Evaluation, visit the website.