The dedicated staff at Anawim Housing live out our mission every single day. Whether they are working behind the scenes or are meeting one-on-one with a tenant, their compassion and commitment keep our doors open and our work centered on strengthening the community. Stories from the Field offers an intimate glimpse into the everyday life and work of Anawim Housing.
Staff Spotlight: Meet Kourtney Kirkpatrick | Director of Advancement, Anawim Housing
September 14, 2023
In August we welcomed Kourtney Kirkpatrick to the Anawim Housing team! Kourtney is our Director of Advancement. We sat down with Kourtney to learn a bit more:
What are some of the things you look forward to most about your role with Anawim Housing as the Director of Advancement?
I am genuinely so excited to be working at Anawim because I get to continue making a great impact and driving positive change in field I am deeply passionate about. I get to share the mission and vision of Anawim while building meaningful connections. It doesn’t get much better than that!
What in your experience is often the most enjoyable or surprising part of being in fundraising?
My favorite part of fundraising is making meaningful connections with individuals and organizations who share a passion for housing. It's a privilege to engage in heartfelt conversations, hear inspiring stories, and witness the genuine enthusiasm that people have for making a difference. Fundraising, at its core, is about bringing people together to effect positive change, and that sense of unity and shared commitment is what makes it such a fulfilling and enjoyable endeavor.
What was it about Anawim Housing that initially drew you to want to work here?
The mission is absolutely what drew me to Anawim Housing. Since I was already working in the housing space, I have always admired the work Anawim does.
What drives you in your career and life?
I possess a deep aspiration to leave the world better than I found it. I am dedicated to using my privilege to foster a more empathetic and compassionate society, ultimately enhancing the collective human experience. My attraction to the field of housing arises from its alignment with my core values and the belief that housing constitutes a fundamental human right, affirming that every individual should have access to a secure and welcoming place they can call home.
What are some hobbies or interests you enjoy doing in your free time?
I love to read/listen to audiobooks. I consume 70+ books a year. Traveling energizes me. I am true crime obsessed. Reality TV brings me joy. I am also a huge fan of "Armchair Expert" - a podcast hosted by Dax Shepard and Monica Padman that highlights the messiness of being human.
Staff Spotlight: Meet Sarah Avila | Senior Compliance Manager, Allterra Property Solutions
August 22, 2023
In June we welcomed Sarah Avila to the Anawim Housing and Allterra Property Solutions team! Sarah is our Senior Compliance Manager. She works specifically with our Allterra team and we are very excited to have her! We sat down with Sarah to learn a bit more:
What is your position and how long have you been with Anawim?What was it about Anawim Housing/Allterra that drew you to want to work here?
I was drawn to Anawim's mission, vision, and values as well as the professional and personal growth opportunities.
What does a day in the life of a Senior Compliance Manager look like?
I create, update, and review policies and procedures on a daily basis. I focus on supporting staff with any questions or needs they have. I also provide education and training to staff on affordable programs such as LIHTC (Low Income Housing Tax Credits) and HOME.
What do you love most about your job so far?
I love making a positive difference in people's lives.
What are some misconceptions about your job?
Some rules are not meant to be broken. It's extremely important to follow program guidelines and stay compliant.
What do you like to do during your free time?
I love to spend time with my family and friends, and travel!
A Closer Look: Meet Hannah Landgraf | Senior Program Manager, Anawim Housing
Jan 20, 2023
We sat down with Hannah Landgraf to learn more about how she is helping those we serve through permanent supportive housing as a Senior Program Manager with Anawim Housing:
What is your position and how long have you been with Anawim?
I am a Senior Program Manager and have been with Anawim Housing for 5 1/2 years.
What can you tell us about the specific program you work for?
Anawim's Permanent Supportive Housing programs provide safe, stable, and affordable housing for individuals in our community who have history of homelessness and are living with a disability. For over 20 years, we have been working to end homelessness in Des Moines by providing housing to those who need it most. Once folks are housed, we partner with them to meet their unique goals. For some, that might be work, sobriety, or education. For others, that means reconnecting with family, volunteering in the community, or healing from trauma.
What motivates you in your work for Anawim Housing?
A deep, unwavering belief that recovery & healing is possible—that we all deserve second, third, and even forth chances.
What does a typical day in the life of a program manager consist of?
From meeting with new referrals, and handing over keys on move-in day, to helping participants navigate the real & complex challenges of maintaining stable housing, every day is different. Often I am out in the field providing support to our program managers, meeting with landlords to discuss their concerns, or working with our team to think creatively about the problems our tenants face and how we can help solve those problems.
What is a favorite memory you have from working in the field?
I have done hundreds of home visits throughout my time with Anawim, and I remember so many of these seemingly mundane visits fondly. It is a big deal for a tenant to allow us into their home—their safe space—and to sit at their kitchen table sharing about their life, struggles, and dreams.
A Closer Look: Meet Helen Trisko | Property Manager, Allterra Property Solutions
Nov. 21, 2022
We sat down with Helen Trisko to learn more about how she is helping those we serve through affordable housing as a Property Manager with Allterra Property Solutions:
What is your position and how long have you been with Allterra?
I am a Property Manager for affordable properties in the Allterra portfolio. I’ve been at Anawim/Allterra for 1 year and 2 months.
What motivates you in your work?
I passionately believe that everyone needs a safe place to stay so that we can all lead happy and healthy lives. Many people do not have the resources they need to sustain their housing. Anawim works to fill resource gaps so we can connect folks in our community with safe and affordable housing. I work at Anawim because it gives me the opportunity to imagine and create a safer world.
What does a typical day in the life of a property manager look like?
Day-to-day we manage tenant questions/requests, show vacant units and reach out to applicants, do annual income certifications to verify that tenants are within the income limit for their unit, review work orders and inspection orders, inspect units, and work with subsidized rent programs (sec 8, Anawim programs, etc.)
What is a favorite memory you have from working in the field?
We recently partnered with LSI to house a few different families who came to Iowa as refugees. One family had about 8 members and I was able to walk through the unit with them the day they moved in. I showed them how to work the dishwasher, blinds, thermostat, and a few other items in the household. The family did not speak any English but we were able to communicate through gestures and miming. Moving this family in was a wonderful reminder that language barriers can be an opportunity for new methods of communication.
A Closer Look: Meet Cindy McGrane | Program Manager, Anawim Housing
August 22, 2022
We sat down with Cindy McGrane to learn more about how she is helping those we serve through housing, as Program Manager with Anawim Housing:
What is your position and how long have you been with Anawim Housing?
(C) I am a Program Manager and have been with Anawim for four years
What motivates you in your work for Anawim Housing?
(C) Providing service activities that make a little bit of difference in people's lives and in our community motivates me. I also love working with a great team with shared values and commitments.
What are some of the daily tasks of a program manager?
(C) I support tenants in becoming self-reliant while increasing personal responsibility, confidence, self-esteem and life satisfaction. I am a liaison with Property Managers and maintain necessary records.
What is the most exciting part of your job?
(C) Seeing the safety, happiness and satisfaction of tenants as they achieve steps that are life embracing. I also enjoy the continual learning and growth opportunities.
A Closer Look: Meet Cindy West | Program Director of Full Circle Recovery Community Center
July 14, 2022
We sat down with Cindy West to learn more about how she is building her team and the Full Circle Recovery Community Center in three Iowa cities:
What's your position and how long have you been with Anawim Housing/Full Circle Recovery Community Center?
(C) I am the Program Director for the new Full Circle Recovery Community Center (RCC), which will open locations in Des Moines, Council Bluffs, and Sioux City on August 1. The Full Circle RCC is funded by a six-year grant from the Iowa Department of Public Health.
Tell us some of the things you do daily in your work?
(C) Right now I am working on hiring the team for all three locations and getting the facilities up and running. I am always reading up on research in the field of addiction and learning from other communities and organizations about how to most effectively expand and embrace multiple pathways to recovery. Another part of my job is to develop a sustainability plan and strategic plan, so that Full Circle RCC can continue to assist people in recovery for many years to come.
What is the most exciting part of the job?
(C) I have the honor of helping those in recovery to achieve their personal goals. It is very rewarding to help others make connections to resources in their community and provide opportunities for them to grow in their recovery. To watch the transformations that occur in people's lives is invaluable.
What goals do you see for Full Circle RCC?
(C) An important goal of Full Circle RCC is to help break down the stigma surrounding addiction and to educate those in our communities about recovery. Being able to raise awareness, offer peer-based recovery programming, and advocate on behalf of the recovery community are important pieces to help break down the stigma.
Outside of work, Cindy loves to spend time with her 150lb mastiff, Milah!
Garden Joy: A Beautiful Symbol of Hope and Growth | Shared by:Hannah Landgraf, Senior Program Manager
July 12, 2022
Our team is often encouraged to share victories with each other - no matter how small they may seem. Hannah, our Senior Program Manager recently shared this wonderful story of growth and positivity after visiting with one of her program tenants:
"I have been working with a Burmese individual who was living in the skywalks and under the bridge off SW 9th Street. We moved him into his apartment [with Anawim] at the end of March.
Due to the language barrier, it has been difficult to communicate with him. However, we connected him with a local organization and he is now finishing his first week at a full-time job!
I went to check in on him yesterday and noticed his garden. What was once a small patch of grass off his front stoop is now a thriving vegetable garden.
It is a joy to see how far he has come in a few short months - how he has taken pride in his home and how he has created something out of nothing.
I feel like the garden is a beautiful symbol of the growth that is possible with stable housing."
Chronic Homelessness: Changing One's Own Frame of Reference | Article by Cynthia Latcham, Executive Director
April 8, 2022
Building trusting relationships with our tenants in Permanent Supportive Housing is central to the service delivery model program managers' work within at Anawim Housing. When you serve people well, and Anawim Housing program managers do, you hear their stories. I am privileged to hear about some of these stories of resilience and transformation. Oftentimes the stories don't line up with traditional metrics of success. Frequently these stories challenge my own frame of reference in how I view people who have experienced homelessness.
Anaïs Nin said, “We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.”
Our own life experiences inform our belief systems. If we have a world view that people should be self-sufficient and "pull themselves up by their bootstraps", it is usually because we have overcome obstacles and believe others capable to do the same. But not everyone is issued a pair of boots at birth.
Generational poverty, domestic violence, systemic racism and histories of mental illness factor heavily into people becoming housing insecure. Chronic homelessness occurs when all of the above occur and there has been a complete disenfranchisement between support systems, both formal and familial, that could provide a safety net for avoiding loss of home. When this happens, permanent housing offered without preconditions is the most effective practice in regaining housing stability.
Anawim Housing is proud to offer these specialized and customized services for our vulnerable citizens. As I have listened to people's stories, I am often shocked at the level of creativity, industriousness, curiosity and ingenuity our program participants' exhibit. I'm then chagrined at my surprise, because by now I should know that people don't choose their homelessness status, and hard work rarely cures their homelessness. Safe, affordable and decent housing offered without preconditions and barriers does work. Home is Everything!
A Closer Look: Meet Bridgette Beaman | Property Manager with Allterra Property Solutions
March 30, 2022
We sat down with Bridette Beaman to learn more about how she helps those we serve through housing, as well as our team, as a Property Manager with Allterra Property Solutions:
What's your position and how long have you been with Anawim Housing?
(B) I provide property management for Market Rate and Drake Real Estate properties with Allterra Property Solutions. I have been with Allterra for 7 months.
What gets you out of bed in the morning and ready for work?
(B) Helping people find the perfect place they can call home.
Tell us some of the things you do daily in your work?
(B) Things I do on the daily consist of building relationships with my tenants, working with my maintenance techs to ensure all tenants work orders are addressed in a timely matter, and showing units to prospects who are in need of housing.
What is the most exciting part of your job?
(B) The most exciting thing about my job is that I can help those in need to find the house that will be the perfect fit for them and their family. I have helped a lot of people including survivors of domestic violence and those that have been homeless.
Allterra Property Solutions Directly Supports Anawim Housing: Meet our Property Management Team!
August 31, 2021
Allterra Property Solutions supports the mission of Anawim Housing by channeling revenue generated by our diversely experienced property management team to permanent supportive housing programs - helping provide housing for those who have experienced long-term homelessness.
Our property management team has grown! Pictured from left to right:
Alyssa LaForge, Property Manager
Jeresa Powell, Property Manager
Kristyn Arnold, Managing Director
Bridgette Beaman, Property Manager
Meg Husen, Property Manager
Helen Trisko, Property Manager
Kristen Marberry, Director of Property Management/Affordable
Ashley Alden (not pictured), Property Manager
"I'm excited to work with a team whose mission is to help people obtain housing. It's rewarding to be working toward a critical need in our community. I love the energy in this office! It's a positive atmosphere. Everyone is engaged in the process, is kind and helpful." - Meg Husen, Property Manager. Meg joined our team in early August.
"The most rewarding thing is housing families and specifically children into safe stable homes. My favorite part is seeing the children pick out their rooms when showing units. Our team has shown great strength with handling constant change over the past year, and taking it day-by-day. We always power through and are better for it." - Kristen Marberry, Director of Property Management. Kristen has been with Anawim/Allterra for 10 years.
"As an owner and developer of affordable housing, Anawim has always needed a property manager. Our property management department doing business as Allterra Property Solutions is crucial for maintaining quality living space for the full spectrum of rental needs - from permanent supportive housing, to affordable housing, to market rate units. All the various management options work together for Anawim/Allterra to do the most potential collaborative work in each space, resulting in year-over-year growth of programs and services." - Kristyn Arnold, Managing Director. Kristyn has been with Anawim/Allterra for 4 years.
"I've worked for Allterra for 3+ years, and enjoy working for a company that puts housing as a priority. I love helping families find their home. I can never get over the feeling of the happiness expressed from families on move-in day! The excitement on the children's faces especially is what keeps me going." - Jeresa Powell, Property Manager. Jeresa has been with Anawim/Allterra for over 3 years.
Program Spotlight: Youth Homeless Opportunities Program - Wanda Price, Program Manager
June 7, 2021
Anawim Housing's Youth Homelessness Opportunities Program (commonly referred to as YHOP) serves individuals between the age of 18-24 who have either been homeless for some time or have aged out of foster care or another institution and will become homeless as a result. Individuals in this program have not had a family support system for most of their young life and are referred to Anawim Housing by Primary Healthcare. Many suffer from mental illness. The YHOP program is permanent supportive housing, meaning participants can remain in the program as long as they choose.
We serve a wide range of individuals with different life situations: Some who enter YHOP just need a little help getting back on their feet, getting their education completed, getting a job - and Anawim's program can really help provide that missing piece of safe stable housing and supportive resources to help them reach their goals. Others who come into the YHOP program may have missed out on learning some life skills or struggle with severe mental illness or substance use disorders.
Collectively, our program team hold certifications including Workforce Development Specialists, Alcohol and Drug Counselors, and Certified Prevention Specialists. Staff are trained in diversion and rapid resolutions and utilize creativity and trauma-informed approaches to help our community's most vulnerable individuals remain housed. We also connect our program participants to many community resources that help them with educational goals, behavioral health, job skill training, etc. YHOP Program Manager, Wanda Price, meets each individual tenant where they are at in their life. She works to slowly build that trusting relationship to help them discover their version of a happy healthy life, and then helps them get there - a little at a time. Wanda will help her tenants make health appointments and then follow up and drive them to their scheduled appointments to help close gaps in accessibility for our tenants and ensure they receive the care they need.
Anawim's YHOP program started in November 2020. The program leases 12 housing units. In some cases we are able to double up participants as roommates so that they can provide guidance and support to one another. This not only helps the individuals but allows us to serve more people in our program. Currently the YHOP program is also serving three families with young children.
Meet Wanda Price:
Wanda joined Anawim Housing in February 2021. She comes to Anawim with an extensive educational and clinical background - having received her Bachelor's degrees in human services, criminal justice, chemical dependency, and psychology. In previous professions, she was a substance abuse counselor, worked in corrections, was a clinical director for a treatment center, and worked for Optimal Life Services providing support for individuals with severe mental illness.
But it's more than a job for Wanda. It's a passion and a true calling - One that connected Wanda to Anawim for a second time in life:
"I have an extreme passion for our cliental. Twenty years ago, I found myself in a homeless situation with two girls, getting clean and sober myself. It was Anawim Housing who gave my hand up. So when I interviewed for the position with Anawim, it was like coming full circle. I know where these people have been because I've been there. I've lived in my car. Does it [the job] get frustrating some days? Yes. But what I know is that you have to just keep repeating yourself and building that trust. Because eventually - it may take a month or a year or five years - but eventually people come around. Everybody deserves a chance."
Anawim Housing is so grateful to welcome Wanda to our team, and we look forward to growing the YHOP program in future years.
Low Barriers: Meeting People Where They Are At - Article by Cynthia Latcham, Executive Director
Anawim Housing operates our Permanent Supportive Housing programs under the Housing First model. The core belief of Housing First is that everyone is housing ready, programs serving people experiencing homelessness need to offer flexible and responsive services and removing barriers to housing is effective in rapidly placing people into housing. In Housing First, people experiencing homelessness don’t have to earn their housing. This differs from the old service model of training people to become “housing ready” that proved ineffective and was ultimately abandoned by HUD and service providers. As Anawim Housing has become more committed to Housing First fidelity, our success rates of helping people maintain housing stability have greatly increased. Program managers meet frequently to discuss how to reduce barriers and employ harm reduction strategies in order to support our tenants in housing. Meeting people where they are at in their lives and partnering with them to achieve goals seems to be such an easy idea, but commitment to this idea and infusing it throughout the organization is a real paradigm shift.
Reducing barriers and utilizing harm reduction isn’t limited to just housing. Through removing barriers to employment, many people who had previously been considered “unemployable” or not “employment ready” have been able to start and remain employed through ReNew Crew, Anawim Housing’s social enterprise. Rather than expecting work seekers to attend a series of classes on how to find and keep a job, those who express an interest in working are immediately placed into employment and supported in remaining employed. Employment First and supportive employment models mirror the harm reduction and Housing First ideas of looking for meaningful accommodations in the work environment with the goal of supporting stable employment. “Through the creation of ReNew Crew we have been able to ensure those who are interested in employment aren’t excluded from the workforce. We are leveraging our experiences in removing barriers to housing, to include removing barriers to other life affirming activities, such as employment.” –Cynthia Latcham, Executive Director Anawim Housing.
Tracy’s story * highlights how harm reduction and lowering barriers can work together in employment and housing services. Tracy and his program manager, Scott Sithonnorath, had been working together on setting and achieving goals that Tracy believed would make his life better. When Tracy expressed the desire to work, Scott introduced ReNew Crew as an employment option. Tracy appreciated he could begin work without having to create a resume, learn how to interview or take any employment readiness classes. “If we are willing to set aside our preconceptions of work and housing and are interested in everyone having housing and employment, looking for reasonable accommodations becomes part of the culture and goals of an organization. There is so much freedom and creativity that can result from giving up on those old ideas of work and housing readiness.” (Latcham) When challenges present themselves, ReNew Crew staff address and use the situation as a teaching or coaching moment. Through this approach, ReNew Crew has grown from 4 to over 20 employees. Anawim is working to expand ReNew Crew and is developing partnerships throughout the community to accomplish this goal.
*Click to read Tracy's story that was featured in our 2021 Spring Newsletter
Cynthia Latcham was named Executive Director in June 2020. Anawim Housing programs operate utilizing evidence based practices of Staged Matched and person centered case management, Trauma Informed Care, Contingency Management and Motivational Interviewing.
Program Spotlight: Rapid Rehousing - Travis Sowden, Program Manager
March 3, 2021
In November of 2020, Anawim Housing received Cares Act funding distributed by The City of Des Moines and The Iowa Finance Authority to support a new Rapid Rehousing program. The program offers up to twelve months of rental assistance and supportive services and serves those who have become homeless as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and loss of employment. The program is being led by Anawim Housing program manager Travis Sowden. “Rapid Rehousing is intended to help people who have come across hard times recently. The program is designed to help people get back on their feet.” – says Sowden. Referrals to Anawim Housing Rapid Rehousing come through Primary Healthcare, as is true in Anawim’s Permanent Supportive Housing programs. The difference is that the Rapid Rehousing program is a short-term housing program for those who are homeless and have lost their employment as a result of Covid-19 and need assistance to stabilize their housing.
Upon move-in into the Anawim program, each individual works with Travis to create a personal 90-day goal. The first 90 days may include goals such as obtaining a driver’s license or social security card and start finding ways to obtain or increase their income. Program funding is used to cover the cost of rent for the individual during the time in which they are currently still unemployed. Each 90 days thereafter, new goals will be set so that individuals can contribute to their rent based primarily on their income. Anawim Housing will continue to pay a portion of their rent, tapering off as the individual grows their income. The goal of the Rapid Rehousing program is that by the end of 12 months, the individual will have gained employment and financial stability and will be able to cover the full cost of their rent on their own and phase out of the Anawim program.
The Rapid Rehousing program is currently serving 13 individuals and that number is growing. As of January, 2021, Anawim Housing has received its second round of Rapid Rehousing Cares Act funding for $505,000. The additional funding will help us fulfil the 12 month program for all who are currently participating, and grow the number of individuals we are able to serve. Winter is an especially critical time in making sure we move people into housing as quickly as possible. There have been six move-ins in the month of February alone. The first two individuals coming into Rapid Rehousing were able to be moved into their homes right before Christmas.
Meet Travis Sowden – Anawim Housing Program Manager:
Travis first came to Anawim Housing/Allterra Property Solutions as a property manager back in 2019. He stepped into his new role as Program Manager in September of last year and has helped grow the Rapid Rehousing program since joining the team. Prior to Anawim Housing, he studied Business Management at Iowa State and worked for Goodwill Industries. “I’ve always had a spot in my heart for non-profits. I like helping people. As a property manager, I tried to always keep my office door open so people could come, talk, and let me know if they were having issues and then I could point them in the right direction for different resources. I love getting to do that every day now.”
Staff Spotlight: Scott McGinnis, Program Manager
July 29, 2020
One way Anawim Housing makes an effective impact on the lives of our tenants is through the dedicated staff we hire to oversee our Permanent Supportive Housing programs. Our highly skilled program managers work together to support and empower the individuals and families we serve. Collectively, our team holds the following certifications: Workforce Development Specialist, International Alcohol and Drug Counselor, SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and Recover (SOAR), and Certified Prevention Specialist.
Trained in diversion and rapid resolution, our team uses a trauma-informed approach to ensure our community's most vulnerable individuals remain housed. Each program manager uses their lived experience, interest, and education to meet tenants where they are and to build trusting relationships.
This summer, we welcome our newest staff member, Scott McGinnis, to the Anawim Housing Program Team. Scott brings a wealth of knowledge and passion that will allow us to continue serving tenants with creativity and flexibility. Scott came to Anawim Housing because he believes in the core of our mission. "I agree with the Housing First philosophy. If someone is hungry, you feed them first. It is the same premise at Anawim. If someone is homeless, you provide housing," says Scott. With a degree in Psychology and experience working with individuals living with severe mental illness in a Community Support Program and a crisis receiving unit, Scott returned to direct service work because he wanted to use his life experience and education to give back.
"My first job in the psychology field was in a psychiatric ward. Later I served as a youth counselor with delinquent youth," says Scott, "I learned a lot working with people from all walks of life."
Today, along with his work around mental health and substance abuse, Scott is most interested in grief support and how to help people heal from grief and loss-related trauma. "Three years ago my son passed away. I want to use that painful experience for something positive. Grief counseling can be hard to come by, especially finding someone who has been through it themself," says Scott. Scott sees his role in life as helping others find a way forward. "There is hope for tomorrow. There is hope for a better life. There is hope to achieve your goals," he says.
In Scott's first month on the job, he has been most impressed by the genuine comaraderie of the staff. "Everyone here works well together. We cover each other. Even in difficult situations, there is a positivity that the team exudes," says Scott. The partnership of our staff is central to the work Anawim is doing to end homelessness and provide stable housing to individuals who need it most. We are excited to welcome Scott to Anawim Housing. His skills will be an excellent addition to the program team, to the organization, and the broader community.
Scott McGinnis moved to Iowa from Wisconsin. When not working, he spends his free time riding his motorcycle and playing with his dog, Otis Boden McGinnis.
Program Team Update: Overcoming Challenges and Maintaining Hope in a Time of Social Distancing
May 20, 2020
“I find the lack of face-to-face contact with my tenants the most challenging part of my day,” said Scott Sithonnorath, an Anawim Housing Program Manager. Taz Clayburn-Stills, another Program Manager, echoed this sentiment. “I worry that they may have basic needs that are going unmet because I am not visiting their home on a regular basis,” she said.
During a typical week or month, Anawim staff are in and out of units on a weekly or monthly basis. They are constantly addressing the needs and barriers of the people we serve. They are sitting with tenants at their dining tables and on their porches, listening to their stories and concerns, and helping them problem-solve and set goals for the future. This close contact is not possible right now and our staff is noticing the impact.
“I know that I am the primary or only support person for some of my tenants,” says Taz. When you take away that regular contact, it impacts the emotional and mental health of the people we serve.
And yet, through all of the distance, we are seeing signs of hope and inspiration everywhere.
“I have seen surprising self-reliance from program participants. It reminds me that housing stability is the biggest thing we can provide for a person. All of the legwork we do when we are seeing our folks regularly helps them achieve their goals to a successful life much more quickly, but for the most part, we know that our participants have been safe,” says Dan McBee, a Program Manager with Anawim Housing.
Staff have seen tenants utilize telehealth services to maintain mental health support. They have heard stories of checking in on their neighbors and sharing supplies and resources. “Seeing the togetherness in my community has definitely inspired me and made me more hopeful for the future,” says Scott.
Erin Larson, our Office Administrative Assistant, finds hope in the dedication she sees from both tenants and staff. “Some days are certainly better than others, but the tougher days have not slowed anybody down,” she says.
Staff Spotlight: Hunter Jimenez, Program Team Intern
April 8, 2020
My name is Hunter Jimenez and I am originally from Gilbert, Arizona. I came to Iowa to start college at Drake University in the fall and I am a Political Science and International Relations double major. I receive a lot of questions on why I traded palm trees and a forever summer for the land of corn and caucuses. Well, because it is “First in the Nation!” in electing the President and I was really impressed with Drake’s reputation as an institution and Iowa’s political environment.
A few weeks into the semester I began my internship with Anawim Housing, and it has been a joy since. I have always been a proponent of social justice, which is a symptom of my culminating experience in high school as an Anti-Defamation peer trainer. I also love to learn about issues that I am not completely knowledgeable about. Today’s culture tells us that homelessness—and people experiencing homelessness—are a threat. Popular opinion says that people experiencing homelessness are facing those circumstances because of their own choices. But in the time I have been with Anawim, I have learned that poverty is more precarious than what most people believe. I have learned that the institutional mechanisms that are supposed to bring people out of homelessness, may be keeping them there.
If you are someone who was born into the bottom 10% of earners, you are almost 20 times more likely to be incarcerated than people born into the top 10%. Essentially, “too poor to pay” legislation criminalizes vulnerable communities—especially housing insecure people. Imagine that anywhere you try to sit down, you are in threat of being arrested. In some ways, this is how people experiencing homelessness are treated by municipalities. We want our cities to look nice but at the expense of excluding those most disenfranchised by pushing them further and further outside our borders.
Being a part of Anawim Housing has invited me into the process of reconciling these grievances and taking part in the process of helping people become stably housed. My favorite part is welcoming people to Full Circle. Full Circle is a weekly peer support group Anawim Housing offers to its program participants.
I could probably write a book of anecdotes about all of the experiences I have had while working with Anawim Housing. Some of my work is coordinating volunteers, and that requires reaching out to community partners and inviting them to engage with our nonprofit. As someone who is not familiar with Des Moines, this has helped me network with different organizations in the area and connect our tenants with leaders in the community. Collectively, we have shared our lived experiences, our heartbreak, and our greatest victories. I am proud to be welcomed into an environment where the empowerment of each person is a top priority.
Hunter Jimenez is a first-year student at Drake University and is part of the Engaged Citizen Corps—a program that integrates academics and civic engagement.
Staff Spotlight: Nichole Crawford, Program Manager
March 3, 2020
Nichole Crawford made a cold call in 2016. At the time, she was a student at Grand View University working toward her Bachelor's in Human Services. She inquired if Anawim Housing needed an intern. "I had a dream to start a transitional housing program and I just knew Anawim was where I needed to be," says Nichole.
That summer, she provided programming for children at The Crest at Baker Creek - Anawim's affordable multifamily housing community on the northeast side of Des Moines. When the season came to an end, a staff position opened. "I applied and became the Family Advocate working onsite at several properties to build programs for victims of domestic violence, kids, and families," says Nichole.
Issues of domestic violence and homelessness are integrally connected. "People don't always see how they relate - that fleeing domestic violence means leaving your home," says Nichole, "when you make the decision to leave, you leave behind resources, finances, and support. You enter homelessness or go to a shelter. You are out there alone." Over 40% of the individuals we serve in Anawim's Permanent Supportive Housing programs report that they have experienced domestic violence in their lifetime. A lack of housing options often leads victims to stay in or return to violent relationships.
Nichole learned a lot in her role as Family Advocate and was able to provide critical on-site services for the tenants that she served. This experience helped her take yet another step with Anawim Housing. In September she transitioned into her new role as Program Manager overseeing our Tenant Based Rental Assistance program.
"I am getting to see the housing side more clearly, not just the supportive services," says Nichole, "and I'm surprised at just how difficult it is to find it. Income, background, mental health, and lack of outside support are all barriers to finding and maintaining housing."
The Tenant Based Rental Assistance program provides rental assistance and support with security and utility deposits for no more than two years. The goal is helping households get back on their feet, strive for stabilization, and take over their own rent. Nichole meets with individuals in the program every month to help them set and achieve their goals. "I'm not just helping them find housing, I'm helping them find a home," she says.
Nichole is finishing her Master of Arts in Counselling at Northwestern University. In her spare time, she loves to sing, bake, and try new recipes.
From the Front Desk
Feb 4, 2020
Spotlight: Erin Larson,
Administrative Assistant
Erin Larson is often the first point of contact when a community member calls or visits Anawim Housing. As our Administrative Assistant, she greets each visitor with kindness, answers hundreds of questions, and ensures our operations are running as smoothly and efficiently as possible.
Every day Erin witnesses the joys and the impact of Anawim Housing. She also sees - up close - the challenges and the barriers that the people we serve face.
She has learned a lot in her almost one year on the job. "We control what we can," she says when talking about making our front desk and waiting room welcoming and comfortable. She diffuses essential oils at her desk to promote a clean and calm environment. "Anything can be triggering, so we try not to have glaring lights, loud noises, or odd smells."
Many people who come to Anawim Housing are coming on their worst day. They are making a last-ditch effort to secure affordable housing. They heard about the programs Anawim provides for people experiencing homelessness, and they show up for more information.
"When someone calls, I have to ask some hard and uncomfortable questions about their criminal history, eviction history, and how much money they make. I ask these so we can make sure they get directed to the right place and the right person," says Erin.
It can be difficult to navigate the complex system of services and referrals. Often, community members get directed from one agency to the next in search of assistance. Erin works to provide accurate and up-to-date information the first time she speaks with someone. She listens attentively and asks questions so she can understand each person's unique story and situation.
Many days, Erin witnesses joy-filled, celebratory moments - individuals arriving to sign a lease and move into their new home. She welcomes participants who gather for peer support programming on Friday and greets supporters who drop off donations.
The most important lesson she has learned this year is how to listen well. "I have learned that listening does not require a response. People share their stories, and they just want someone to hear them," says Erin. She has learned to listen without judgement, without contributing, and without fixing it. It is enough to let people talk without jumping in. "My favorite part of this job is meeting people and hearing their stories," she says.
Erin is returning to school this year to receive her Masters in Mental Health Therapy. She has a cat named Audrey. In 2020, she made a goal to see more live music.
