Multiple Problems, One Solution

Des Moines, IA
It's easy for a homeless family with medical issues to become even more isolated from the community and be at a loss for finding help. Because of Recovery Act assistance to a Des Moines community health center, one such Des Moines family – a mother with three children with various disabilities and no roof of their own-found a way out.

Primarily Health Care Inc.'s "Health Care for the Homeless-Outreach Project" first assigned the family to a case manager, who referred the family to Anawim's Shelter Plus Care housing program, a supportive housing program that assists individuals and families with disabilities. The family was relocated to permanent supportive housing, making their stay in the shelter brief.

Because of the speed in which their case was managed and the strong partnership between Anawim (a HUD "Homelessness Prevention And Rapid Re-Housing" grantee) and Primary Health Care (an HHS ARRA grantee), the mother and her children were readily placed in a three-bedroom duplex on the south side of Des Moines. They were elated when they received keys for the duplex.

The family now has a place where children with special needs can get ongoing routine health care in their community, the children are excelling in school and they all are connected with their new neighborhood.

Missouri - Housing Authorities Use Recovery Act Funds to Save Properties and Jobs

Missouri - Kansas City, MO's Green Impact Zone Heralded as a National Model