A Campus for Recovery, Stability, and Her Future
Rooms to Thrive
Together, we are building Iowa’s first permanent supportive housing and empowerment campus designed specifically for women rebuilding after incarceration, addiction, and domestic violence.
This multi-phase campaign will bring 64 units of permanent supportive housing with on-site case management to Northeast Des Moines—offering long-term safety and support for women recovering from homelessness, incarceration, sexual and domestic violence, human trafficking, and addiction.
According to Homeward’s Blueprint to Prevent and End Homelessness in Polk County:
“Women and families are among the fastest-growing groups experiencing homelessness in Polk County, many of whom have survived domestic violence, sexual exploitation, or incarceration.” (p. 10)
“Central Iowa needs at least 50 additional permanent supportive housing units for single adults to address the current gaps.” (p. 14)
“We must scale housing programs that work, create incentives for innovation, and commit to evidence-based solutions.” (p. 12)
Rooms to Thrive is our response. Grounded in evidence, built on compassion, and designed for long-term impact.
Why This Matters
At The Beacon, our trauma-informed shelter program is a vital first step for women in crisis. Every day, we provide safe space, structure, and recovery support for those fleeing domestic violence, facing addiction, or returning from incarceration.
But many women need more than short-term care. They need long-term housing with ongoing support to stay sober, stable, and safe.
65+ women are added to our housing waitlist each month
779 people were unhoused in Polk County in 2025—a 9% annual increase
1 in 3 unhoused individuals are women or mothers
Homeward’s strategic plan identifies 50+ permanent supportive housing units needed for single adults
Rooms to Thrive expands—not replaces—our care. It fills a long-missing piece of the housing continuum for women in Central Iowa.
Our Vision: A Full Recovery Campus on East Euclid
Phase 1 – Secure & Strengthen | $3.5 Million
This phase anchors our entire vision.
We are purchasing the full parcel at 1348 E Euclid Avenue, which includes the fully occupied 32-unit Beacon Village, a second building for rehabilitation, and surrounding land for future growth. This investment secures the future of Beacon Village and eliminates $18,700/month in rent.
Phase 1 Budget Breakdown:
$2.1 Million – Land and building acquisition
$700,000 – Five years of operations (case management, on-site staffing, property support)
$700,000 – Endowment growth to preserve affordability and respond to future needs
In addition to the $3.5M campaign goal, we have requested $3 million from the Federal Home Loan Bank to support vital infrastructure upgrades: a new roof, siding, reinforced doors, and enhanced security to keep the women we serve safe.
✅ $1.525M secured from IFA, Prairie Meadows, and the Community Foundation
Remaining Phase 1 Need: $1.975 Million
Phase 2 – Expand Capacity | $4.75 Million
This phase will transform a long-condemned structure on the Beacon Village campus into 32 new units of permanent supportive housing—doubling our capacity and bringing the total to 64 trauma-informed apartments on site.
These homes will provide women in recovery with long-term, supportive housing designed for safety, autonomy, and dignity, helping them stabilize and thrive after experiences of incarceration, homelessness, addiction, or violence.
Each unit will be NARR-certified and built with recovery in mind, ensuring the physical environment supports healing for women exiting incarceration, homelessness, addiction, and gender-based violence.
Phase 2 Budget:
$4.75 Million – Construction Only
This includes full renovation of the building’s structure, systems (HVAC, plumbing, electrical), interiors, and core infrastructure to make it habitable, safe, and code-compliant.
This expansion advances our mission and directly aligns with Homeward’s Blueprint:
“Central Iowa needs at least 50 additional permanent supportive housing units for single adults to address the current gaps.”
— Homeward, p. 14
These 32 new permanent supportive housing units move our community significantly closer to that goal—while revitalizing a neglected corner of Des Moines into a place where women can thrive.
Phase 3 – Empower & Employ | $2.5 Million
This phase brings healing full circle—into stability, skills, and sustainability.
We will construct a Community Empowerment & Training Center on the Beacon Village campus: a flexible, trauma-informed space where women can access job readiness workshops, peer recovery groups, financial coaching, life skills training, and community-led programming.
This new center will become the hub for The Beacon’s long-term vision—eventually launching a mission-aligned LLC to employ graduates and generate unrestricted revenue to support operations well into the future.
Phase 3 Budget:
$2.5 Million – Construction of the Empowerment & Training Center (building, site work, accessibility, utilities, interior)
This is more than a building. It’s a launchpad—for women to rebuild, reenter the workforce, and reclaim their independence with support and strength.
Note: LLC development, staffing, and programming costs are part of a future operational plan supported by additional grants and revenue diversification.
Help Us Build the Future of Healing in Des Moines
The Beacon Village Campus is more than a housing project. It’s a blueprint for community reinvestment, healing, and long-term sustainability.
Through structured rent contributions, a future Empowerment & Training Center, and mission-aligned social enterprise, this campus will help fund our shelter and supportive housing programs—and lay the groundwork to one day serve women and children together.
We’re restoring safety and dignity to a corner of Des Moines that’s long been overlooked—and turning it into a place where women can thrive. And we’re not alone in this vision—our community partners, leaders, and neighbors believe in it too:
“Revitalizing neighborhoods takes more than buildings—it requires a commitment to the people who call those communities home.”
— Dr. Rachelle Keck, President, Grand View University
“Safe, affordable housing is the first step toward a stable future—and it opens the door to meaningful employment, personal growth, and lifelong success.”
— Judy Downs, Executive Director, Dress for Success Des Moines
“This expansion by The Beacon is a meaningful step toward addressing critical gaps in our community’s housing continuum.”
— Angie Arthur, Executive Director, Homeward
Donate Today to Build the Future of Recovery in Des Moines
The Beacon at Sherman Hill offers structured recovery housing and wraparound services in a six-phase program. Women typically stay 6–9 months before transitioning to independence or to the Village.
The Beacon Village, launched in 2024, provides permanent supportive housing for women earning below 50% AMI—with independent apartments, on-site case management, peer recovery, and ongoing support.
Together, these two campuses meet women where they are—and walk with them toward lifelong change.
What Your Gift Makes Possible
Your support goes beyond covering costs.
It rebuilds lives, restores dignity, and breaks generational cycles of poverty, incarceration, and violence.
100% of program graduates exit with permanent housing, reliable income, health coverage, and at least $600 in savings
85%+ of Beacon graduates avoid relapse or reincarceration after exiting
68%+ of Beacon Village residents remained in or exited to stable housing in year one
Most women arrive with no income, no diploma, and decades of unhealed trauma—yet walk out ready to lead, work, and thrive
Gift Impact Levels
We invite you to make a one-time or annual contribution—or check
“Show my support by making this a recurring donation” to sustain this impact every month.
$590 – Keeps a woman housed for a month during a mental health crisis, preventing displacement and stabilizing recovery
$3,000 – Funds a full year of apartment maintenance and emergency repairs—ensuring safety and dignity
$10,000 – Supports one full year of trauma-informed case management, therapy coordination, and recovery coaching
$50,000+ – Names a recovery apartment or job training space—leaving a lasting legacy of healing
$250,000+ – Powers a cornerstone gift in the Empowerment & Training Center, changing lives for generations to come
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Over the past several years, The Beacon has made strategic investments in our staff, Board, and programming, creating meaningful growth that has expanded our reach and deepened our impact. As more women sought our services and more community partners engaged with our mission, it became clear that the need for safe, stable, and affordable housing was greater than ever.
To ensure that any expansion was thoughtful, sustainable, and aligned with our long-term vision, The Beacon conducted a comprehensive feasibility study in 2023. This study carefully assessed community needs, financial viability, and capacity for growth, helping us determine the size, scope, and strategic approach for the project. Guided by insights from key interviews, strategic planning, and expert analysis, we officially launched the silent phase of our capital campaign in early 2024, securing foundational support and refining our approach.
Now, with a strong foundation and momentum behind us, we are excited to launch the public phase of the Rooms to Thrive Campaign in March 2025—inviting our entire community to be part of this transformational initiative.
Des Moines is lacking in housing and supportive service options specifically for women. There are no services in Des Moines like The Beacon, which offers housing, trauma-informed programming, and equity-centered care. The Young Women’s Resource Center offers some excellent programming for girls and women, especially around maternal health.
Unlike men who have multiple options when experiencing homelessness, there are no emergency shelters for women. There is one all-gender shelter, but women sometimes do not feel safe there due to a past or potential perpetrator. It’s important to note that women are often victimized by landlords when they are unable to pay their rent.
The Beacon Sherman Hill is more structured, very inexpensive, and provides a significant amount of support for women who are just coming out of trauma. Once they are more stabilized, The Beacon Village is an opportunity for more autonomy while still receiving supportive services and community support in affordable, substance-free apartments.
The renovations are already completed, and clients have moved into The Beacon Village. There is definitely room for volunteer groups to help with the grounds or organize donations.
Since The Beacon is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, gifts to the campaign are tax-deductible as allowed by law. The application of such laws varies with individual financial circumstances. Households with specific questions regarding tax deductibility should contact their attorney or tax preparer.
Let’s Build It—Together
This isn’t just a real estate project. It’s a people-centered movement.
We’re creating homes, not beds.
We’re restoring dignity, not just delivering services.
We’re expanding a proven model—because she deserves a path forward that doesn’t end with shelter.
CLICK HERE Make your pledge or donation today →
(And consider selecting “Make this a recurring donation” to deepen your impact.)
Interested in naming opportunities or leadership gifts?
Contact Amy Landrigan, Executive Director