Homeward

06/17/2026

Locate meals for individuals under the age of 18 using this link: https://www.fna.usda.gov/sfsp/sitefinder

Free, healthy lunches are available across the state of Iowa for children under the age of 18 years old! Click the link to find a site near you! https://www.fna.usda.gov/sfsp/sitefinder

All sites feed any child 18 and under. You DO NOT have to receive free or reduced price meals during the school year or meet income guidelines to receive meals. Blue sites are congregate (you must stay to eat your meal) and orange are non-congregate (grab and go). Please share with anyone and everyone!

Thank you to Kaitlyn Scheuermann from Waukee School District for sharing this link with our Coalition!

06/11/2026

Polk County! This statewide conference is coming up in November. If you've attended a Youth Homelessness System Improvement (YHSI) training, you know that Dr. Wilson is an engaging, knowledgeable, and impactful speaker. You do not want to miss this event!

Details in the post below.

Event alert!

Providers and community partners serving youth aged 18-24 are invited to join us for Building Futures. A day long event led by youth voice, sharing best practices program updates, and system improvements across Iowa.

Join us November 10 in Des Moines!

Register at our website: iaboscoc.org/buildingfutures

06/10/2026

Applications for the 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Continuum of Care program are now open until June 29th, 2026!
🔗: www.homewardiowa.org/operations/funding

06/10/2026

06/04/2026

Learn more below about how evidence based practices contribute to this reduction in homelessness! ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Overdue federal data reveals the first overall reduction in homelessness since 2016.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development released the 2025 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress, revealing that between 2024 and 2025, the nation experienced the first decrease in overall homelessness in nearly a decade.

This reduction was due to targeted investments in evidence-based, research-backed strategies that homelessness service providers have been integrating for years. However, the Trump administration is actively working to dismantle these programs, which will inevitably lead to record-high levels of homelessness.

Read the full press release: https://bit.ly/4uQvtGY

06/01/2026

The open meeting for the 2026 federal funding competition is approaching! All organizations planning to apply for Continuum of Care funding are required to attend this meeting on June 9th from 9a-11a at Polk County River Place. See you then!

🔗: https://www.homewardiowa.org/operations/funding

05/29/2026

As the Polk County Continuum of Care, Homeward is required to conduct a Winter Point-in-Time (PIT) Count to be eligible for federal funding. Join us on June 4th for a virtual community conversation about the Winter PIT results! Swipe through for an overview of PIT data. 📊📉

Interested in volunteering for PIT at the end of July? A volunteer interest form will be released in the coming weeks! Can't make it and still wanting to support? Check out the supply kit list on our website!

🔗: https://www.homewardiowa.org/take-action/volunteer

05/28/2026

The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization committed to preventing and ending homelessness in the United States.

05/26/2026

REMINDER!! LOIs are due tomorrow at 5:00pm!

EDIT: LOIs are due at 5:00pm on the 27th, rather than 3:00 as indicated in the graphic

Attention prospective applicants‼️

Within the next few weeks, the Continuum of Care Notice of Funding Opportunity competition will officially open to the community. First, all interested organizations are required to express their intent to apply for CoC funds. 📝

Homeward will provide updates and reminders throughout the NOFO competition here on social media and on our website. 💻

05/22/2026

At Homeward, our work is firmly rooted in our mission, vision, and values. Read on to learn more about our coordinated approach to preventing and ending homelessness in Polk County and beyond!

Want Homeward updates in your inbox? Sign-up for our newsletter(s) here:
🔗 https://www.homewardiowa.org/our-mission/contact