A study of families experiencing homelessness in the Des Moines area is making six policy recommendations that researchers believe could provide for better outcomes for unhoused families.

The study — “Metro Homelessness: A Study of Family Experiences” — was led by Elizabeth Talbert, an assistant professor of sociology at Drake University, and Matthew Record, a former Drake professor who is now at Molloy University. The study was done in collaboration with Homeward, Polk County’s homelessness planning organization.

“By working closely with Homeward Iowa and engaging directly with families, our students gained invaluable experience in the sociology field and can see the concrete impact their efforts have on pressing issues in the Des Moines community,” Talbert said in a prepared statement.

The study involved in-depth interviews of 10 families with children who experienced homelessness during the summer of 2023. The study showed that families often view entering a shelter as a temporary refuge during a time of crisis. However, the study also found that time limits and behavioral expectations within shelters can create uncertainty, anxiety and confusion for families. The study results emphasized that securing independent housing remained the most important goal for all families involved.

“Their experience reinforces the concerns of providers we partner with: Without enough affordable housing and supportive services, the future is unknown for many families in crisis,” Angie Arthur, Homeward’s executive director, said in a prepared statement.

Specific recommendations include:

• Increasing the supply of emergency housing units and amenities that provide private living for families in emergency shelters.
• Increasing the supply and availability of permanent supportive housing that include wraparound services.
• Making transparent expectations, processes, and important benchmarks of moving through the system of homelessness services.
• Providing a central hub of information about the requirements of local landlords.
• Advocating for regulation and more aggressive enforcement actions against landlords who charge exorbitant fees and deposits.
• Implementing a program to ease the transition of families moving from one location to another.

The study’s findings will be used to help create a five-year community strategic plan to prevent and address homelessness, Arthur said in a news release.

To read the study, click here.