Conducted in partnership with Drake University and a research team lead by Professors Elizabeth Talbert and Mathew Record 

 

The Unsheltered Des Moines Study was commissioned to better understand the experiences of people living unsheltered (on the streets or in places not intended for human habitation) in Polk County. The study examines why individuals face barriers to shelter and permanent housing in Greater Des Moines and provides a platform for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness to tell the community how best to help them. Drawing from first-hand accounts and extensive research, the study presents recommendations to improve homeless services, create system-wide change, and ultimately reduce the number of our neighbors living outdoors.