Drake University, in collaboration with Homeward, Polk County’s homelessness planning organization, announced today the release of a comprehensive study on families experiencing homelessness in the Des Moines metro area.
This research initiative, conducted with significant involvement of Drake University student researchers, sheds light on the unique challenges families experiencing homelessness are facing. The study brings a humanized perspective to the discussion by highlighting the lived experiences of families while identifying process-driven strategies for addressing the unhoused crisis in Polk County.
“We are incredibly proud to collaborate on such an important research project and of how our students contributed to the study,” said Elizabeth Talbert, Ph.D., assistant professor of sociology at Drake. “By working closely with Homeward Iowa and engaging directly with families, our students gained invaluable experience in the sociology field and can see the concrete impact their efforts have on pressing issues in the Des Moines community.”
The study, led by Talbert and Professor Matthew Record (previously of Drake, now at Molloy University), involved in-depth interviews and ethnographic study of 10 families with children experiencing homelessness in the Des Moines Area during the summer of 2023. It revealed that families often view entering a shelter as a temporary refuge during a time of crisis. However, the study also found that time limits and behavioral expectations within shelters can create uncertainty, anxiety, and confusion for families. The process of searching for housing presented other hurdles, including intensive application processes and confusing resources.
The study results emphasized that securing independent housing remained the most important goal for all families involved. By exploring these experiences and the multifaceted causes of family homelessness, the study provides crucial insights into immediate human needs including access to shelter, childcare, education, and employment resources.
“Their experience reinforces the concerns of providers we partner with; without enough affordable housing and supportive services, the future is unknown for many families in crisis,” said Angie Arthur, Homeward’s executive director.
The study’s findings will be used to inform Homeward’s strategic planning and community-wide efforts to prevent and address homelessness. Arthur states, “As key leaders create this five-year community strategic plan, the firsthand voices of individuals helps to emphasize the human impact of this work. We are trying to help families, the elderly, people living with disabilities, and the support staff who work tirelessly to best address the needs of our extremely low-income neighbors. When we center our work around solutions that support those most in need, we create a stronger community web for all of us.”
This study is part of a larger research effort, including the previously released Unsheltered Des Moines Study in January 2023. Both studies have been a partnership between Homeward Iowa and Drake University faculty and students, with funding provided by Drake University (The Slay Fund for Social Justice and Fitzsimonds Faculty Fellowships), Wells Fargo, the City of Des Moines, Polk County, and Nationwide.
To read the full report, Metro Homelessness: A Study of Family Experiences, visit: https://www.homewardiowa.org/unshelteredfamilies
About Homeward
Homeward serves as Polk County’s homelessness planning organization, forging strategic partnerships toward ending homelessness. By distributing funding, resources, and data, Homeward seeks to create an efficient, effective homeless response system that meets all residents’ strengths and needs. We lead community-wide homelessness planning efforts to ensure that one day, everyone in Polk County will have a safe place to call home. For more information, visit https://www.homewardiowa.org/
—John Krantz, University Communications & Marketing