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Fall 2009 Newsletter

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS  

(FAQ)

What is the official name of Central Iowa Shelter? The official registered name of the agency is Central Iowa Shelter & Services.

What is Central Iowa Shelter's mailing address? The facility is located at 205 15th Street, Des Moines IA 50309. Written correspondence can be sent to this address, or you may contact the agency by phone at 515-284-5719, or by email at director@centraliowashelter.org.

Is Central Iowa Shelter a nonprofit agency? Yes. The Internal Revenue Service designated the agency as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization in 1992, and Central Iowa Shelter has maintained nonprofit status since that time.

What is Central Iowa Shelter's fiscal or operating year? The Central Iowa Shelter program year is from July 1 – June 30, with shelter and programming available year-round to serve those in need.

Is Central Iowa Shelter under ecclesiastical or sectarian management or control, as specified in Iowa code 331.901(5)? No. While the agency relies on substantial support from faith-based and private supporters, and owes its origin to a group of energetic and devoted volunteer churches, congregations and religious leaders, Central Iowa Shelter does not operate under the direction of any faith-based group or entity.

What is Central Iowa Shelter's mission? The agency’s mission is to provide free shelter to homeless adults regardless of physical or emotional conditions, and to facilitate their move toward self-sufficiency. Short term goals are to provide and enhance safe emergency housing and meals to meet the immediate survival needs of extremely low-income persons from throughout Polk County.  The agency’s long-term goal is to provide and enhance resource services, programming and assistance to move participants beyond homelessness and poverty toward sustainable independent living.

How many people are homeless in central Iowa? There are more than 5,100 homeless people living in central Iowa on any given day. Of this number, about 2,800 are individuals not living in family units, including more than 450 veterans. With homeless housing capacity at fewer than 2,300 beds, there is a substantial community-wide service gap that is insufficient to meet the emergency, transitional and permanent housing needs of the individual homeless.

One of more than 50 homeless camps bordering downtown Des Moines in November 2005

What is Central Iowa Shelter's role in helping the homeless? As the largest homeless emergency shelter in the State, the agency provides up to 116 beds nightly for the homeless. With its comprehensive range of services and programming, Central Iowa Shelter addresses core issues of homelessness, including chronic chemical dependency, mental illness, and physical disabilities, as well as unemployment and affordable housing issues. Each year, the agency provides emergency shelter and supportive services for about 1,700 homeless adults.

What specific services does Central Iowa Shelter offer? Emergency shelter is available for 68 men and 34 women from 4 p.m. — 8 a.m. daily. The agency also offers a 14-bed transitional dorm, for a total of 116 beds for the homeless, as well as the following:

• Two Nutritional Meals Daily – Daytime program participants also receive lunch
• Clothing and Transit Assistance
• Shower and Laundry Facilities
• On-site Medical Clinic, Substance Abuse and Peer Group Counseling Sessions
• Needs and Program Readiness Assessment
• Individualized Development Plan and Case Management
• Health (mental and physical) and Treatment Management (addictions)
• Guest Supervision, Supplemental Lifeskills Instruction and Counseling
• Employment and Employment-Related Transportation and Referrals
• Public Benefits Eligibility Determination Assistance and Placement
• Housing Placement

How long can guests reside at Central Iowa Shelter? Guests not working with a case manager toward achievement of self-sufficiency goals within 90 days of intake are referred to other providers for appropriate assistance. Guests who are working with a case manager, and who are actively engaged in an individualized development plan, may reside at the shelter for a longer period. Extensions are approved on a case-by-case basis.

How does Central Iowa Shelter help shelter guests who are sick or need medical attention? The agency hosts a weekly on-site medical clinic provided by Primary Health Care (PHC). Clinical staff are at the agency 2-3 times weekly to help link guests with appropriate services. Polk County Health Services and the Aids Project of Central Iowa provide guests with free HIV and other STD testing. Guests requiring more immediate assistance are referred to Broadlawns Hospital, the VA Medical Center, or to low-income medical clinics. Guests receive transit assistance from Central Iowa Shelter to access these resources.

In 2002, Central Iowa Shelter established a Day Shelter Health Initiative to assist homeless individuals with physical or mental health conditions, limitations, or diagnoses that increase personal health vulnerability while on the streets. So far, the program has helped more than 1200 health-impaired guests with supplemental case management and direct services during expanded shelter hours of 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Click here for details about the expanded Health Assistance Project!)

What can you tell me about the Community Kitchen program? Central Iowa Shelter’s Community Kitchen is a United Way contract program established in 2002 that provides more than 1,500 free meals weekly for extremely low income families. Three of the meal sites are located in Polk County neighborhoods where poverty levels range from 25%-33% (US Census – 2000). The program provides on-the-job training and employment for up to 20 homeless men and women each year at a starting wage of $7.50 per hour.

The homeless and hungry warm up while in line for lunch
at Central Iowa Shelter’s Community Kitchen noon meal site

How is Central Iowa Shelter helping the many homeless veterans in our community who have honorably served our country?  From 2003-2006, with funding from the U.S. Department of Labor, the agency operated a job training and placement program for veterans experiencing homelessness. During this time nearly 600 veterans were enrolled, with more than 350 gaining employment with wages ranging up to $25.00 per hour.

Does Central Iowa Shelter designate certain beds for veterans? Yes. In 2004, Central Iowa Shelter partnered with the U.S. Department of Veterans Administration to establish a 14-bed transitional housing dorm where eligible homeless veterans can reside for up to 24 months, while they are assisted with supplemental case management and resources. Remaining emergency beds are available to veterans on a first-come basis.

Isn't transportation an issue for guests who get jobs while living at Central Iowa Shelter? Transportation has been an issue in the past. To help guests overcome transportation barriers, in 2004 the agency established the Transit Shuttle Service (TSS), a van service for guests needing to access employment outside existing public transportation routes and schedules. The TSS has improved access to jobs and job placement services for extremely low income adults, while improving opportunities for self-sufficiency.

How would you describe a typical shelter guest? Each year, Central Iowa Shelter serves approximately 1,200 homeless men and 500 homeless women, and each person has a unique set of circumstances that have resulted in them becoming homeless. In other words, there is no “typical” shelter guest. However, shelter guests share some common characteristics. For example, we know that each year more than 1,100 guests, or 65%, will be facing serious health and behavioral issues, including mental illness, chemical dependency, severe physical disability or a combination of these conditions. Among the more than 600 chronically homeless individuals who arrive at the Shelter each year, the occurrence of these multiple and complex issues is considerably higher.

Does Central Iowa Shelter offer employment opportunities for the homeless? Several of the agency’s fulltime staff are formerly homeless adults. Three of these individuals are 50+ years of age, one is African American, one has a permanent disability, two are military veterans, and another is a recovering alcoholic. Additionally, Central Iowa Shelter regularly provides employment for formerly homeless men and women through shelter assistant and kitchen positions. A typical staff roster includes three or more such individuals at any given time.

How does Central Iowa Shelter know if its programs are helping? Central Iowa Shelter uses several methods to track and measure participant progress and program outcomes. Agency and program staff meet regularly to review program outcomes, and work under the direction of an Executive Director and a volunteer Board of Directors. The following are some examples of how agency performance and guest success is measured.

• ServicePoint (US Department of HUD & State of Iowa Service Delivery Tracking System)
• Needs Assessment of guests
• Public Benefits Status and Placement
• Circumstances of Homelessness – identifies potential barriers to overcoming homelessness and service needs.
• Monitors service delivery to guests – includes public benefits, employment, training, addictions treatment, medical care/referrals, and housing placement, among others. Change in guest status is tracked from intake to exit.
• Guest demographics – age, race/ethnicity, gender, and special needs are monitored for population subset data.
• Community Kitchen services are monitored through participant surveys, sign-in sheets and meal counts.

How does Central Iowa Shelter work with other agencies and the community to avoid duplication of services and make its limited budget go further? The following is a sampling of such collaborations:

• Primary Health Care, Inc. – Provides weekly on-site health clinic and public benefits application assistance for guests.
• Area Law Enforcement Agencies – Assist with client outreach and shelter placement.
• Iowa Workforce Development Center – Provides job training, placement and related resources
• American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) – Enhances training and employment opportunities for guests.
• Veterans Administration Central Iowa Health Care Network – Provides medical and service referrals and resources.
• Veterans Administration – VISN 23 and CHALENG Coordinators – Participates in needs assessment and service planning for homeless veterans.
• Disabled American Veterans National Service Office – Assists with clothing vouchers for veterans.
• Hope Ministries (Bethel Mission) - Receives “overflow” homeless who are deferred and transported from Central Iowa Shelter due to facility capacity limitations, and actively refers clients to Central Iowa Shelter for job-related programs.
• In December 2004 Central Iowa Shelter began working with the Polk County Housing Continuum (formerly known as the Affordable Housing and Homeless Partnership) and the City of Des Moines to develop an area-wide transportation plan for the homeless that can be incorporated into the Polk County/Des Moines Continuum of Care. A plan was finalized and approved by the City Council in April 2005.

Community Volunteer Participants – Meal donations for the Shelter are provided by more than 100 religious congregations, families, businesses, and other civic groups. The value of meal-related in-kind donations exceeds $200,000 annually. Volunteer assistance also includes intake workers, food servers, guest transportation, and countless hours of management and professional expertise. To view current volunteer opportunities click here.

Polk County Housing Continuum - Central Iowa Shelter has been an active member of the Polk County Housing Continuum (formerly recognized as the Affordable Housing and Homeless Partnership, or AHHP) since inception. The PCHC serves as the local continuum of care governance board in accordance with a mandate from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for cities qualifying for Federal CDBG (Community Development Betterment Grant) and ESG (Emergency Shelter Grant) funds. Provider agencies meet monthly to discuss emerging client and community needs and service delivery, including closures or realignment of homeless services in Polk County, and to ensure non-duplication of services. The Continuum has described Central Iowa Shelter as “an indispensable part of the continuum (of care) in Des Moines, consistently delivering high quality services to (its) constituent population in a caring, professional and responsible manner.”

Central Iowa Shelter maintains a broad network of other community resources supportive of efforts to assist the homeless, including agencies specializing in legal assistance, medical and social services, transitional and permanent housing, income resources, employment placement, substance abuse treatment, veteran services and family reunification, among others. Referrals are reciprocal with these organizations as well.

Are there other organizations providing programming similar to Central Iowa Shelter's?

Yes. Anawim Housing, Catholic Charities, Hope Ministries, New Directions Shelter, YMCA, YWCA and Iowa Homeless Youth Center are examples of other organizations addressing the homeless problem in Polk County. Coordination of services and referrals are reciprocal among these agencies.

What makes Central Iowa Shelter's services and programming different than other agencies'?

• There are NO housing fees, removing cost barriers that could limit accessibility for the most needful persons.
• Participation in religious services is NOT required to receive shelter or program services.
• Central Iowa Shelter is the only agency in the area providing 34 emergency shelter beds nightly for individual adult women. Virtually all other emergency housing in Polk County serves men only, youth, or women with children.
• Central Iowa Shelter remains the only emergency shelter in Polk County that regularly accepts chronically mentally ill, chemically dependent and dual diagnosed homeless adults with no pre-set parameters or conditions.
• With a centralized downtown Des Moines location within one block of the metropolitan bus line, Central Iowa Shelter provides accessibility to a full continuum of services for guests. Within an easy 15-minute commute of the Shelter are: area hospitals and medical clinics; Iowa Workforce Development Center; Social Services Administration; Veterans Administration; Iowa Department of Transportation; housing placement services; parole offices; Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous support meetings; area colleges; federal, state, county and municipal agencies; and a variety of additional services to aid persons in overcoming homelessness.

Who are some of Central Iowa Shelter's other community partners and contributors?

Recent service partners and funders include, among others: BWA Foundation, Chrysalis Foundation, City of Clive, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Gannett Foundation/Des Moines Register, Greater Des Moines Community Foundation, Historic Court Avenue Association, Meredith Corporation, Mid-Iowa Health Foundation, Midwest Medical Insurance Company (MMIC), Morgan Stanley Foundation, Nationwide Foundation, Pioneer Homeless Assistance Team, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Polk County, Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino, Polk County, Prairieview School (Waukee), Principal Financial Group Foundation, Salvation Army, United Way of Central Iowa, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Veterans Administration, Wells Fargo and numerous individuals, as well as other foundations, businesses, civic and faith-based groups.

I live in Polk County, but I'm not homeless. Why should I be interested in Central Iowa Shelter?

• Central Iowa Shelter is a shelter provider partner for the Polk County communities of Altoona, Ankeny, Clive, Des Moines, Johnston, Pleasant Hill, Urbandale, West Des Moines, and Windsor Heights. Central Iowa Shelter routinely serves homeless adults referred and transported into the shelter from these cities, as well as from the Polk County Sheriff’s Department, the Iowa Highway Patrol and private security agencies.
• As an independent local community service agency, virtually all the agency’s $750,000+ annual budget is returned to the community through local product and service purchasing, as well as reinvestment of employee salaries in the local economy.
• The Shelter furnishes an invaluable service to area businesses. By reducing the incidence of pan-handling, public intoxication, and vandalism through the provision of shelter, food and needed services, Central Iowa Shelter is improving the safety and quality of life for employees and visitors frequenting revitalized areas of downtown Des Moines.
• Perhaps most importantly, Central Iowa Shelter serves as a point of entry into the human services continuum of care in Polk County, often providing initial access to community resources and benefits for the most indigent and needful citizens.
  

Who can I contact if I have questions, or want to know more about Central Iowa Shelter? The primary agency contact is Executive Director Anthony (Tony) Timm.  He may be reached by telephone at 515-284-5719, or by email at director@centraliowashelter.org.

A copy of the agency's complete 2007 Annual Report may be requested by contacting Central Iowa Shelter at 515-284-5719 or by email at director@centraliowashelter.org.