Homeless or Unhoused (Also see housing or cooling and warming centers)

For more than 20 years, Anawim Housing has met the needs of Polk County's most vulnerable citizens through Permanent Supportive Housing programs. Today, more than 220 units are leased across the county making us the largest provider of permanent supportive housing in Iowa. These units house families as well as individuals who come from homelessness and live with mental illness, a substance use disorder, a physical disability, or a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS. Upon referral through Polk County Centralized Intake, the supportive program staff meet regularly with participants, helping them on the road to housing stability.

To qualify for participation in one of Anawim Housing's Permanent Supportive Housing programs, individuals and families must meet specific eligibility criteria. This includes experiencing literal homelessness and having at least one documented disability within the household. Such disabling conditions encompass a range of conditions, such as a substance use disorder, serious mental illness, developmental disability, or a chronic physical health condition. 

Services offered include a men's shelter, inpatient/detox facilties, and more.

The Colfax-Mingo school district will make reasonable efforts to identify homeless children and youth of school age within the district, encourage their enrollment, and eliminate existing barriers to their receiving education that may exist in district policies or practices.  A homeless child or youth as defined by law as a child or youth from the age of 3 years through 21 years who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence and includes the following:

• a child or youth who is sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; is living in a motel, hotel, trailer park, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; is living in an emergency or transitional shelter; is abandoned in a hospital; or is awaiting foster care placement;
• a child or youth who has a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;
• a child or  youth who is living in a car, park, public space, abandoned building, substandard housing, bus or train station, or similar setting; or
• a migratory child or youth who qualifies as homeless because the child or youth is living in the circumstances described above.

The district shall make available to the homeless child or youth all services and assistance including, but not limited to, compensatory education, special education, English as a second language, vocational courses or programs, programs for gifted and talented, health services, and food and nutrition programs, on the same basis as those services and assistance provided to resident pupils.

If you need further assistance/information, please contact the building principal, counselor, or Stephanie Ver Helst, Homeless Liason, sverhelst@colfaxmingo.org, 515-674-3646.

Crisis Intervention Services (CIS) provides advocacy and support services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and violent crimes.

The mission of Crisis Intervention Services is to work to end sexual assault and domestic violence in our communities through support, emergency safe housing, counseling, and prevention through education.

Our vision is to accomplish the greatest amount of good, to as many survivors as possible, through compassion, crisis counseling,
holistic healing services, and advocacy.  CONFIDENTIAL!!

• Intimate Partner Violence- physical, mental, sexual
• Temporary Emergency Shelter & Housing assistance
• Sexual Assault
• Violent Crimes Services          Everything is confidential.                                                                                                                 

keywords: abuse, violence, sexual, incest, emotional abuse, isolation, partner,        

Safety & advocacy to victims of intimate partner violence in Jasper County. 24-hour crisis line, one-on-one counseling, support services, court, medical, & housing advocacy.

Keywords: domestic violence, human trafficking, homicide, violent crimes, housing and homelessness, advocacy at health clinics, statewide hotline, family visitation and exchange, abuse, intimate partner, family violence, safety plan, 

HEAL House of Iowa endeavors to provide a hand-UP to Warren County, Iowa children, families, and individuals in housing distress and/or for those individuals identifying themselves as homeless by providing safe housing support and resource services. HEAL House of Iowa will assist served individuals in identifying and linking to social supports, established services, and available financial resources that have the potential to bridge the individual from homelessness to successfully housed.

The Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program specialize in linking families and individuals with the benefits, housing resources, services and care they need. The goal of the SSVF program is to improve low-income veteran families’ housing stability. SSVF provides outreach, case management services, health care navigation, and assists participants with obtaining VA benefits as well as other public benefits that they are eligible to receive.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT

• Must be a veteran or have a veteran in your household
• Experiencing homelessness or imminently homeless
• Meet income guidelines
• Any discharge status except for dishonorable
• Must reside in Dallas, Jasper, Marshall, Polk, Story or Warren County

Short-term shelter and a free long-term (up to two years) life recovery program.

See website or call for more information. 

Resources for Students & Families Experiencing Homelessness

The McKinney-Vento Act defines a homeless child or youth as:

• A homeless child or youth ages 3-21;
• A child who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence and includes the following:
  • A child who is sharing the housing of others (includes doubled-up families) due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; is living in a motel, hotel, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative accommodations; is living in an emergency or transitional shelter; is abandoned in a hospital
  • A child who has a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for humans beings
  • A child who is living in a car, park, abandoned building, substandard housing, bus or train station, or similar setting; or
  • A migratory child/youth who qualifies as homeless because of the living circumstances described above
    • Includes youth who have runaway or youth being forced to leave home

Your eligible children are entitled to: 

• Receive a free, appropriate public education.
• Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment.
• Enroll in school and attend classes while the school gathers needed documents.
• Enroll in the local school, or continue attending the school they attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled.
  • If the District believes that the school you select is not in the best interest of your children, then the District must provide you with a written explanation of its position and inform you of your right to appeal its decision.
• Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if you request this.
• Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to your children’s needs

Local Contact Info:

Kelly Sorenson, 641.792.5809

Centralized Intake (CI) at PHC for Homeless

Your Entry Point for Homeless Services in Polk County

What to Expect at CI:

1. Check-in:
   • Go to the reception desk.
   • Fill out a short intake form.
2. Eligibility and Waiting:
   • If eligible, wait in the lobby for a case manager.
   • Wait times can be up to 90 minutes.
3. Meeting with a Case Manager:
   • A case manager will assess your needs and refer you to programs and services.
   • Immediate assistance is not guaranteed due to limited resources.
4. Arrival Times:
   • Arrive by 8 AM to ensure you are seen that day.
   • If you arrive by 1 PM, you may not be seen the same day.

Special Considerations:
If you have a physical condition or a work schedule that prevents you from visiting during regular hours, call (515) 248-1850. There is no answering machine, so keep calling until you speak to a staff member.

DONATE ITEMS

PHC accepts new or gently used items for clients in need.  Items always needed include:

• socks
• underwear (men & women)
• shampoo
• soap
• period products
• toothpaste/toothbrush

Clothing, household linens, and seasonal clothing (coats, gloves, hats) are also accepted. In the summer months, mosquito repellant, bottled water, and sunscreen are also gratefully accepted. You may drop off your donation during normal business hours.  Monday – Friday 8:00am – 4:00pm

Each school is required to have a contact. See the website for the contact at each school. 

Definition of a Homeless Child /Youth

• A homeless child or youth ages 3-21;
• A child who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence and includes the following:
  • A child who is sharing the housing of others (includes doubled-up families) due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; is living in a motel, hotel, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative accommodations; is living in an emergency or transitional shelter; is abandoned in a hospital
  • A child who has a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for humans beings
  • A child who is living in a car, park, abandoned building, substandard housing, bus or train station, or similar setting; or
  • A migratory child/youth who qualifies as homeless because of the living circumstances described above
    • Includes youth who have runaway or youth being forced to leave home.

Call the school where the child or youth reside.