The Monarch Apartments is Anawim Housing's conversion of a previous Days Inn hotel on Merle Hay Road into 40 Permanent Supportive Housing apartments with 24 hour onsite supportive services to house those currently experiencing literal homelessness. The project is the first of its kind in Iowa - a model we plan to replicate as an innovative and effective way to meet a critical housing need in our community.
On September 19th, 2023 we hosted a special Groundbreaking Ceremony to kickoff construction of the Monarch Apartments! Speakers included Iowa Finance Authority Director Debi Durham, Polk County Supervisor Angela Connolly, Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie, and Angie Arthur - Executive Director of Homeward.
Thank you to all of our wonderful project funders for their financial support of the Monarch Apartments:
Thank you to the following individuals who participated in our groundbreaking and who have contributed or shown their support to this project in a great way and are pictured above in the shovel photo: Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie, Polk County Supervisor Angela Connolly, Debi Durham - Director Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Finance Authority, Polk County Supervisor Matt McCoy, Councilmember Josh Mandelbaum, Councilmember Connie Boesen, Toby O'Berry- Polk County Housing Trust Fund, Julie Stewart - Prairie Meadows, Angie Arthur - Homeward, Russ Bitterman - ID8 Architects, and Andy Rowland - Rowland Construction.
Click to view all the photos from the Groundbreaking on our Facebook Page!
Des Moines, IA— A groundbreaking ceremony for the Monarch Apartments is planned for Tuesday, September 19th. The Monarch Apartments is Anawim Housing’s conversion project of a previous Days Inn hotel on Merle Hay Road in Des Moines into 40 units of Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) for those currently experiencing homelessness. The project will include 24-hour onsite supportive services and staff. Anawim Housing is developing the Monarch Apartments, which is the first hotel conversion into PSH project in the state of Iowa. Director Debi Durham of the Iowa Finance Authority and Polk County Supervisor Angela Connolly plan to attend and give remarks at the groundbreaking.
The Monarch Apartments will house individuals experiencing homelessness who are referred to Anawim Housing by Centralized Intake at Primary Healthcare. The project is designed to serve those experiencing homelessness through Permanent Supportive Housing which pairs housing with supportive services to ensure people remain housed. Because the project is state and privately funded, the Monarch will also be able to fill gaps in housing by serving individuals who do not meet qualifications for HUD federally funded PSH programs. Construction of the Monarch Apartments will involve the conversion of 72 hotel rooms into 40 one bedroom and efficiency units, which will include kitchenettes in each unit, a shared main floor laundry facility, multiple community spaces, and staff and supportive services offices. The Monarch will serve individuals and couples. Most of the individuals served will have a qualifying disability. Staff will provide evidence based services including trauma informed care, motivational interviewing and client-centered case management.
“Housing is foundational to the health and well-being of all people. Creating housing for people who are experiencing homelessness ensures we are meeting the needs of the community through offering a critical housing intervention best suited to support the needs of the individual that is trauma informed and stable. Anawim has been committed to serving the communities we work in for over 35 years and will continue for years to come.”- Cynthia Latcham, President of Anawim Housing.
The Monarch Apartments has received wide-spread community and state support for its innovative approach to providing new units of critically needed Permanent Supportive Housing in Polk County. Financial support for the project was provided by: The Iowa Finance Authority, Polk County Housing Trust Fund, The City of Des Moines, Polk County Supervisors, and Prairie Meadows.
"The transformation of this underutilized hotel into permanent supportive housing and essential services provides a fresh start for the building and plentiful opportunities for its future residents," said Debi Durham, Director of the Iowa Finance Authority. "I commend Anawim Housing's pioneering approach to advancing housing opportunities through this first of its kind project in Iowa and look forward to hearing the success stories of Iowans who've conquered barriers and achieved success in their new homes.”
“Affordable housing has been a priority for our region for many years and Anawim has been a reliable and effective partner by providing access to affordable housing and pairing it with high quality case management that helps move individuals closer to self-sufficiency. Polk County is proud to support this project and the continuing work of Anawim.” – Angela Connolly, Polk County Supervisor.
Anawim Housing PSH programs, which will include the Monarch Apartments, operate under the Housing First model. This model centers on moving people experiencing homelessness into housing as quickly as possible and offering tailored supportive services. Utilizing the Housing First model, Anawim will work individually with residents on housing stability and their personal health and life goals. According to the Unsheltered Des Moines Study* – an in-depth research study which was conducted by Drake University in partnership with Homeward and published in January of this year - 149 of 151 individuals living unsheltered in Des Moines who were surveyed responded that they want a permanent home such as an apartment or house. Only 2 out of 151 responded that they wanted to continue living outside. We know that Permanent Supportive is the proven best method for serving individuals who have lived unsheltered and the Monarch Apartments will help meet this critical need in our community. The project will provide onsite peer support services and 24-hour staff. Services will include mental health counseling, substance use/addiction counseling, job training, peer-to-peer support groups, etc.
Construction is scheduled to begin this fall, with doors opening to residents by fall 2024
Download the full press release HERE.
The Monarch will house individuals experiencing homelessness. We will work directly with Centralized Intake through Primary Healthcare to serve the most vulnerable. The project is designed to serve those experiencing literal homelessness. Literal Homelessness is defined by HUD as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, meaning they have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not meant for human habitation. Many served will also have a qualifying disability. We will provide evidence based services such as trauma informed care and client-centered motivational interviewing.
The Monarch will include 40 one bedroom apartments.
At Anawim, we operate under the Housing First model - removing barriers and moving people into housing as quickly as possible. Once that critical need is met, can individuals then begin addressing mental health, substance use, addiction, physical health, employment or other personal needs and goals as they work toward their version of a happy healthy life.
The Monarch will include onsite peer support services and 24 hour staff.
Services will include mental health, substance use/addiction counseling, job training, and more. By having trained and certified staff and support onsite, we will be able to mitigate issues immediately when they occur and provide resident supports. We will work individually with residents on housing stability, health, and goals.
Construction is scheduled to begin this Fall with plans to open doors for residents in Fall 2024. Stay tuned for more updates, volunteer opportunities and information as this project continues to gets underway!
