DES MOINES, Iowa — Anawim Housing hosted a fundraising and remembrance event ahead of the opening of their innovative new apartment development in northwest Des Moines.

The We Empower Families: Home is Everything event is an annual event that helps spread the message of Anawim Housing, boost fundraising for their continuing projects, and celebrate their founder.

During the event a silent auction was held where people could bid on art, experiences, and home goods. Last year Anawim raised just over $15,000 through their events but this year Anawim is on track to meet their goal of $75,000.

During the event people spoke about the impact that Anawim had on their lives and how the program helped them. Countless people have been able to establish stable housing, income, and lifestyles through Anawim and several have now dedicated their lives to helping Anawim continue their work.

The organization’s founder, Sister Stella Neill, faced housing struggles as a child and would later establish Anawim Housing in 1986, which became a leader in housing and is now the largest provider of permanent supportive housing in Iowa.

“She believed that everyone had the right to dignified housing and that they should have a choice in where they live,” said Cynthia Latcham, Anawim Housing President. “That they should be treated with dignity and respect, and so that is our ongoing ethos on how we serve the people at Anawim Housing.”

Anawim manages over 536 housing units, providing stable housing to around 380 individuals who experience homelessness and live with mental illness, substance use disorder, physical disability, or are fleeing domestic violence. Anawim is currently serving 1,200 individuals who are working towards stable housing and living.

Anawim is preparing to open their latest housing project, a hotel turned apartment complex, that will house 40 people. The Monarch Apartments will house people referred from Anawim’s centralized intake, a triage and assessment center for all of their homelessness services in Polk County. The apartments will have 24-hour onsite supportive services for those facing homelessness and struggling with the transitions.

“We are looking to begin taking in people around sometime in January, and so we are super excited about getting that project underway,” said Latcham.

The Monarch Apartments are the first of their kind in Iowa and Anawim Housing plans to continue replicating the model and finding innovative ways to combat homelessness.