June 12, 2025 Site Update

A note from our CEO to our amazing supporters:

Dear Friends of Greater Des Moines Supportive Housing,

It is with a heavy heart that I share this update with you.  Despite our best efforts over the past 9 months, we have not been able to reach an agreement to purchase the downtown Holiday Inn building and convert it to supportive housing.  And because of this, we must let the site go.

Over these months we have worked hard to build community partnerships, secure funding for the acquisition and renovations, and complete necessary predevelopment work.  We have been excited to have so much public-private support and momentum.  We raised $9,750,000 towards the project and have spent another $500,000+ to get us to this point in the process.  We had a plan for the rest of the funding stack to get this project over the finish line and begin operating.  Unfortunately, we couldn’t get to the final details on a purchase agreement and time has run out with funding timelines and requirements and the puzzle pieces are starting to fall apart.

To say that I am heartbroken about this result is an understatement.  The GDMSH Board has worked tirelessly to find a path.  There have been so many conversations and sleepless nights.  We do believe we have tried everything we could, but that doesn’t make it easier.  There is so much need in our community.  That is why I am heartsick.  There are people who do not know where they will sleep tonight or when their next meal will be.  There are people who know they will not be able to pay their rent next month.  We have worked towards this mission for almost 4 years now and have been close three times.  This was the closest we’ve been.  It is crushing.

I know that you’re all wondering, “What’s next?  Is there a 4^th site?”  You should know that every site takes money, time, and energy.  I don’t have the math for our WDSM site that we worked on for several months, but our Pleasant Hill site was 14 months and conservatively $300K, and this DSM site was 9 months and $500K.  There is so much design work and due diligence that must happen to even get it to the start line for city approvals and funding applications, on top of the politics of a location and our needs in a site.  All that to say, I don’t know what’s next or if there’s a 4^th site.  I do know that there is more need than there’s ever been and it only looks to increase.  I do know that our board and staff team is as committed and passionate as ever.  I just can’t see the direction right now.  We will debrief and regroup and be back in touch.

In the meantime, I am so sorry to disappoint you all.  I hate sharing this news.  Your support has been invaluable.  I am grateful for each one of you that has created ripples of hope and momentum throughout our journey. 

Thank you for everything.

Emily