Alcoholics Anonymous

Alcoholic Anonymous meets every Friday evening at 5:30 p.m. It is a fellowship of individuals who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other’s to recover from alcoholism.

The Community Kitchen

The Community Kitchen is a United Way funded program that prepares and delivers more than 90,000 meals a year to meal sites across the metro. Meal sites are located in Polk County neighborhoods where poverty levels range from 25% to 33% (U.S. Census- 2000). The program provides on- the-job training and employment for up to 15 homeless men and women each year. This program is staffed and operated by CISS.

For locations and hours of each meal site, see our Google Map.

Day Shelter Health Initiative

With this safe daytime alternative, the homeless are being released and referred earlier from community-funded medical facilities, and some are able to avoid the need for hospitalization entirely. To date, the program has assisted nearly 900 health-impaired guests that received supplemental case management and services from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Support Group

Support Group is a group for people staying at the Shelter who are looking to connect with others in similar situations during their period of homelessness.

Transit Shuttle Service

TSS provides van transit assistance for guests needing to access employment and other Polk County community services outside existing public transportation routes and schedules. The service goal is to improve access to job training, education and placement services for extremely low-income adults, while improving opportunities for sustainable self-sufficiency.

Veterans Per Diem Program

In partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Administration, we provide a 14-bed transitional housing dorm for eligible veterans. These guests can reside for up to 24 months while they are assisted with supplemental case management, job training, housing placement and resources.

In addition to a bed and daily meals, clients have access to showers, donated clothing, laundry facilities.

Partner Programs

We also work with other organizations to help facilitate our clients’ move toward self-sufficiency.

Des Moines Area Community College GED Program – provides teachers and classroom instruction twice a week to assist clients in obtaining their GED (General Equivalency Diploma).

U.S. Department of Veterans Administration (see Veterans Grant Per Diem program)

Iowa Legal Aid and volunteer attorneys help the legal system work for those who cannot afford to hire an attorney to assist them with their legal issues.

Broadlawns Dental Clinic provides dental screening, minor dental work and referral to a variety of dental groups throughout Polk County for those who need major dental work done.

Primary Health Care provides medical care mental health and outreach services to our clients on a weekly basis. They are a nonprofit community health center dedicated to serving the medically insured, uninsured, and underinsured with their health care needs.

AIDS Project of Central Iowa provides HIV/AIDS testing, counseling, and education.