Dr. Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba, Executive Director of Children’s HealthWatch, will headline the Housing Matters Symposium on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at the Des Moines Heritage Center, 120 E. 5th Street. Presented by the Polk County Housing Trust Fund, the annual half-day event explores how housing opportunity improves lives—and this year focuses on housing as a critical foundation for health and well-being.
Dr. Ettinger de Cuba is a nationally recognized health policy expert whose research has helped define the evidence linking housing stability to improved health outcomes. Her keynote will highlight how safe, affordable housing acts as a form of preventive health care—and what communities can do to close the gap between housing and better health for all.
After our keynote, a panel of local experts share an inspiring call to action for making the connection between health and housing in Greater Des Moines.
The event comes as Iowa faces rising housing costs and a growing need for coordinated solutions to prevent homelessness and reduce health system strain. The recent Community Health Needs Assessment conducted by major regional health partners highlighted the increasing financial precarity, housing insecurity, and food insecurity facing the community.
The symposium will also preview major efforts underway across the state and region, including supportive housing initiatives that serve people with complex health needs or who are experiencing homelessness, the major new regional homelessness strategic plan that will be unveiled soon, and the launch of a Central Iowa Community Land Trust.
Event Program Highlights
Keynote: “Making the Connection Between Housing and Health Outcomes”Dr. Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba, Children’s HealthWatch (Boston, MA)
Panel: Local Perspectives on the Housing and Health ConnectionModerated by Nathan Simpson, Primary Health Care; with panelistsCorey Dion Lewis, Broadlawns Medical Center;Juliann Van Liew, Polk County Health Department; andDr. Nancy Williams, Iowa Healthcare
Update on the Central Iowa Community Land TrustCarrie Woerdeman, HOME, Inc.
Creating Opportunities through Supportive HousingAmy Stetzel, Corporation for Supportive Housing
Spotlight on Monarch Apartments, the newest supportive housing community serving Central IowaMargo Miller, Anawim Housing
Preview of Greater Des Moines’ Homelessness Strategic PlanAngie Arthur, Homeward
The Housing Matters Symposium is free and open to the public, but advance registration is strongly encouraged. Complete information and registration can be found at https://hms25.eventbrite.com.
The Polk County Housing Trust Fund (PCHTF) is the comprehensive planning, funding, and advocacy organization for affordable housing in Polk County, Iowa. Learn more about our work at www.pchtf.org.
Again this year, the Trust Fund is in conversations with local governments to issue proclamations honoring April as Fair Housing Month.
The recognition of fair housing and civil rights law in April traces its origins to the passage of the federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, which passed on April 11 in the wake of the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Trust Fund's tradition of seeking proclamations began in 2023 and includes local cities that have their own civil/human rights commissions under Iowa law (Des Moines, Ankeny, West Des Moines, and Urbandale) as well as Polk County.
When Fair Housing Month proclamations are issued, the public can attend to show support. We will update this post frequently as local events are confirmed.
Updated March 12
Polk County
The Polk County Board of Supervisors is expected to issue a proclamation during its regular meeting on Tuesday, March 25.
Meetings are held at the County Administration building, 111 Court Avenue, Des Moines, beginning at 9:30 am.
Stay informed about this proclamation through our Facebook event.
- Matt Hauge
- May 2, 2024
- 1 min read
Updated: Sep 13, 2024
The Trust Fund serves on the steering committee for the regional Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice project being conducted jointly by the City of Des Moines, City of West Des Moines, and Polk County. We are sharing this press release by the City of Des Moines:
The City of Des Moines and Des Moines Municipal Housing Authority are partnering with West Des Moines and Polk County to conduct the Barriers to Housing and Community Needs survey for the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice and Consolidated Plan. We encourage residents from Dallas, Guthrie, Jasper, Madison, Polk, and Warren counties to participate in the feedback process by taking the survey and sharing input on affordable housing needs, community development goals, and barriers to finding or remaining in housing.
This survey is part of a collaborative initiative aimed at informing both the City of Des Moines' Consolidated Plan for housing needs and a regional fair housing study, jointly conducted by the Cities of Des Moines, West Des Moines, and Polk County. It is open until August 15, 2024, and the City of Des Moines will use the results to develop a Consolidated Plan, assess affordable housing needs, and identify community development goals. The feedback will help prioritize decisions for federally funded programs.
To learn more about the project, visit DSM.city/barriers.