Updated: Oct 17, 2022
Update: Applications are now closed.
The Polk County Housing Trust Fund is seeking a Director of Research and Planning to join our dynamic team of housing and community development professionals. This position acts as the primary data resource for the Polk County Housing Trust Fund and is responsible for researching, collecting, aggregating, analyzing and maintaining hsitoric and current data from a wide variety of sources related to affordable housing and community development, with an emphasis on informing effective policy and strategy development for Polk County.
Use the link below to download the full job description. Applicants should send a cover letter and resume electronically to:
Eric Burmeister, Executive Director, Polk County Housing Trust Fund
eburmeister@pchtf.org
The position will remain open until filled.
The Polk County Housing Trust Fund invites you to join us for the return of our popular bus tours highlighting the region's progress toward providing housing choice and opportunity for everybody! We are excited to feature projects that match the priorities of the Here We Grow initiative focused on providing adding housing near jobs that is affordable at the wages workers are paid and advances equity.
SAVE THE DATE
Housing Opportunity Bus Tour
Bus boards near Merle Hay Mall (exact location will be sent to attendees)
Friday, June 17, boarding begins at 8:30 am departing at 9:00 am sharp
Registration will open May 31 at 10:00 am
We'll be boarding the bus and traveling to sites in Urbandale, Johnston, Des Moines, and West Des Moines on this year's tour. But more than just visiting exciting project locations, we'll be talking about the strategies communities are using to achieve housing success - and what we can all do to achieve even more!
EveryStep today announced it has been awarded a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to make hundreds of central Iowa families’ homes safer. The grant money will help identify and address health hazards or asthma triggers in the homes of low-income families with children, and safety risks for senior Iowans who are living at home, known as “aging in place.”
“This grant will truly enable a ‘boots on the ground’ effort,” said EveryStep president and CEO Tray Wade. “From mold remediation, and bathroom and dryer venting to remove childhood asthma triggers, to installing handrails and grab bars to improve safety for seniors, this funding will be used almost entirely to directly assist individuals and families in making their homes safer from health hazards.”
Through several unique partnerships and financial commitments, another $1.5 million will be added to the $2 million federal grant, for a total of $3.5 million available through EveryStep’s Healthy Homes Iowa program.
Key partners in securing the federal grant include Polk County Housing Trust Fund, Mid-Iowa Health Foundation, Polk County Health Department, Polk County Board of Supervisors, Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, Polk County Public Works, UnityPoint Health – Des Moines, Broadlawns hospital, Green & Healthy Homes Initiative and F&G. These and other partners will also help identify individuals and families in need of assistance.
“The Polk County Housing Trust Fund was proud to help catalyze the initial Healthy Homes effort in our community back in 2015,” said Eric Burmeister, executive director of the Polk County Housing Trust Fund. “We believe firmly that safety and stability in housing are key social determinants of health. We excited that our community is continuing this work to make sure everyone has a place to live and thrive.”
Because of EveryStep’s existing programs and established partnerships, it is expected identified families and individuals will begin receiving assistance by mid-year.
The Healthy Homes program initially focused on working with families to identify and reduce triggers related to pediatric asthma. To learn about the history of the Healthy Homes initiative and its past and present partners, visit https://www.everystep.org/provider-resources/healthy-homes. This article is edited from a press release by EveryStep released January 21.