At Principal Foundation, we believe financial security begins with a stable place to call home. Safe, secure housing is the bedrock of thriving communities, whereas eviction is a catastrophic financial shock that derails employment, education, and economic mobility.

We are investing in CIERAS because proactive intervention is more effective than reactive crisis management. By directly addressing outstanding rent, CIERAS works to:

• Prevent displacement avoiding the devastating, compounding costs associated with being unhoused;
• Foster economic resilience; and
• Disrupt the cycle of poverty and establish a stronger foundation for long-term financial well-being.

“Northwest Area Foundation stands alongside changemakers and funds work that leads to systems change and justice. Supporting Mid-Iowa Health Foundation’s work directly aligns with our mission and vision for an inclusive region where everyone thrives on their own terms. CIERAS research is locally based and community informed; this approach provides valid, real-world information to inform housing policy and practice. It has the potential to create long-term, sustainable change to ensure everyone has a safe and accessible place to shelter.”

– Nikki Foster, Program Officer

“The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines is proud to support this collaborative effort because stable housing is foundational to individual and family well-being. By investing in research and community-informed solutions, we have an opportunity to better understand barriers, strengthen systems and help ensure more Central Iowans can remain safely housed during times of crisis. This creates more effective pathways to long-term stability across our region.”

– Angie Dethlefs-Trettin, Chief Community Impact Officer

“Telligen Community Initiative (TCI) is proud to be an early contributor to the Central Iowa Emergency Rental Assistance Study. This collective impact effort is intriguing to TCI because it advances research on housing and homelessness avoidance in a way that is guided by research and is very localized.  We’ll begin to learn from this work and the project design on how to design efforts at emergency rental assistance to be most impactful. This TCI contribution is also important to continue to advance the power of intentional and pooled philanthropy.  Under Mid-Iowa Health Foundation catalyzing the effort, this work has garnered private philanthropy, municipal support, and contributions from individuals in a collective impact manner.  As we enter into an unprecedented funding environment for our nonprofit sector, new ways of sourcing support are absolutely critical.  TCI is proud to be part of modeling that work with other like-minded community stakeholders.” 

-Matt McGarvey, Executive Director, TCI

“Safe, stable housing is the foundation that allows families to stay rooted and build toward a stronger future. By investing in evidence-based research, this partnership will help inform solutions that prevent homelessness, keep working households on track and improve outcomes for families.”

– Kristin Schechinger-Camper, Director Corporate Citizenship

The City of Urbandale is participating in the Central Iowa Emergency Rental Assistance Study to better understand which local strategies are most effective in helping residents remain stably housed during a crisis. This regional public-private research effort will provide data and recommendations to help Urbandale evaluate housing-related needs, consider cost-effective approaches, and make informed decisions in the future.

“West Des Moines Human Services has been committed to supporting neighbors in need for nearly 50 years. We are delighted to partner with Mid-Iowa Health Foundation on this research study, which will evaluate both the short-and long-term outcomes of our efforts, and identify evidence-based practices that can more effectively support families in need and keep them housed.”

– Audrey Kennis, Director of Human Services

“The City of Windsor Heights continues to search for innovative solutions to better serve its residents, especially those who are rent-burdened or low-income. We are proud to support the Central Iowa Emergency Rental Assistance Study, as we recognize that housing affordability is an issue across the Des Moines Metro, leading to increased houselessness. It is up to local leaders to find the answers for their residents and neighbors. Data-driven research and reporting, not anecdotal evidence, is how policymakers make informed decisions, and we can count on the UpLift team for those reliable findings.”

– Mike Jones, Mayor of the City of Windsor Heights

“The Directors Council is proud to support CIERAS because housing stability is a cornerstone of economic mobility. Through One Economy: A Path Forward, we have documented that nearly 60% of Black renters in Polk County are housing cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on housing, while approximately 35% are severely cost-burdened, paying more than half of their income toward rent. These disparities create barriers to wealth building, educational success, workforce participation, and long-term community stability.  Supporting this research reflects our commitment to using data, community voice, and cross-sector collaboration to develop equitable, evidence-based solutions that prevent housing instability before it becomes a crisis. By better understanding the effectiveness of emergency rental assistance, we can help inform policies and investments that strengthen housing security and advance economic opportunity for Black families and the broader community.”

“At the Iowa Women’s Foundation (IWF), we believe that safe, stable, and affordable housing is not simply a place to live, it is the foundation upon which individuals, families, and communities build opportunity and economic prosperity. IWF invests in housing affordability research because lasting solutions require more than good intentions, they require reliable data, thoughtful analysis, and informed decision-making.  Research helps identify where the greatest needs exist, which populations face the largest barriers, and which policies and community investments produce measurable results. It enables philanthropy, government, businesses, and nonprofit organizations to align resources where they will have the greatest impact.  We believe real change doesn’t come from one-off solutions. Change comes from research, advocacy, policy, partnerships and investment to identify and address the complex and interconnected barriers that keep economic prosperity out of reach for women and girls. Real change is systemic.”

– Claudia Schabel, President and CEO