Affordable Housing Online is monitoring the federal government's response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. As of March 13, 2020, Public Housing Agencies across the nation are closing their doors to the public. Most offices are still running and will communicate by phone, email, or mail. Some offices have drop boxes installed outside, so documents can still be hand-delivered. Visit the housing authority's website for the latest on its current operations, if one is available. If there is no information online, contact the housing authority directly. Due to a high volume of calls and modified office hours in most areas, expect a long wait time (days or weeks) for a response. To find your local PHA's contact info, browse by state here.
An extensive list of coronavirus resources for low-income households can be found here.
Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency
Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency is a Public Housing Agency that participates in the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV), and Public Housing programs. As of July 6th, 2020, Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency has 2 waiting lists that are open now or opening soon.
The Scattered Site Public Housing Waiting List is open indefinitely. The Senior Public Housing Waiting List is open indefinitely.
Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency serves Polk County.
Waiting List Statuses
| Waiting List | Status |
|---|
| Scattered Site Public Housing |
Open Until Further Notice |
| Senior Public Housing |
Open Until Further Notice |
| Polk County, Iowa Housing Choice Voucher |
Closed |
| Public Housing |
Closed |
Open Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency Waiting Lists
Due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, some waiting list openings may be postponed until further notice. Visit the housing authority's website for the latest on its current operations, if one is available. If there is no information online, contact the housing authority directly. Due to a high volume of calls and modified office hours in most areas, it may take days or weeks to get a response.
Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency Website: https://www.dsm.city/departments/housing_services/index.php.
Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency Phone: (515) 323-8950.
Open Until Further Notice:
Scattered Site Public Housing Waiting List
Please Note: Due to the decentralized nature of affordable housing information, the information about this waiting list may be out of date.
How To Apply to the Public Housing Waiting List
The Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency (DMHA) Scattered Site Public Housing waiting list is currently open, until further notice. Waiting lists for a specific bedroom size may be closed. This waiting list was last briefly closed when the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list was open for two days in July, 2018.
To apply, complete the online application here.
This waiting list has the following preferences: Victim of physical violence; Victim of hate crime; Victim of natural disaster; Involuntarily displaced; Working.
Selected applicants will be placed on the waiting list by date and time the application is received, by order of preferences.
For more information, visit the DMMHA website, or call the office at (515) 323-8950.
Reasonable Accommodation
Applicants who need help completing the application due to disability can make a reasonable accommodation request to the housing authority via (515) 323-8950.
Next Steps
Learn more about what happens after the application is submitted.
Last Updated on 10/31/2018.
Open Until Further Notice:
Senior Public Housing Waiting List
Please Note: Due to the decentralized nature of affordable housing information, the information about this waiting list may be out of date.
How To Apply to the Senior Public Housing Waiting List
The Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency (DMHA) Elderly Public Housing waiting list is currently open, until further notice. Waiting lists for a specific community or bedroom size may be closed. This waiting list was last briefly closed when the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list was open for two days in July, 2018.
To apply, complete the online application here.
This waiting list has the following preferences: Victim of physical violence; Victim of hate crime; Victim of natural disaster; Involuntarily displaced; Working.
Selected applicants will be placed on the waiting list by date and time the application is received, by order of preferences.
For more information, visit the DMMHA website, or call the office at (515) 323-8950.
Reasonable Accommodation
Applicants who need help completing the application due to disability can make a reasonable accommodation request to the housing authority via (515) 323-8950.
Last Updated on 10/31/2018.
Other Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency Waiting Lists
Closed:
Polk County, Iowa Housing Choice Voucher Waiting List
How To Apply to the Housing Choice Voucher Waiting List
The Des Moines Municipal Housing Authority (DMMHA) Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list is currently closed. It was last open for two days in July 2018; and before that in 2011, and in 2008. There is no notice of when this waiting list will reopen.
To apply during the opening period, applicants were required to complete the online application.
This waiting list had the following preferences: Persons with disabilities, veterans, homeless persons, persons who were terminated from assistance due to lack of funding, persons referred by local assistance programs (FUP or Shelter Plus Care).
3,500 applicants were placed on the waiting list by random lottery, by order of preferences.
For more information, visit the DMMHA website, or call the office at (515) 323-8950.
Last Updated on 09/18/2018.
Closed:
Public Housing Waiting List
How To Apply to the Public Housing Waiting List
The Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency (DMMHA) waiting list for 2, 3, 4 and 5-Bedroom Public Housing apartments is currently closed. Applications were last accepted on January 31, 2019. There is no notice of when this waiting list will reopen.
To apply during the opening period, applicants were required to complete the online application.
Once the application has been completed, it must have been mailed or hand delivered to the DMMHA.
Preferences have not yet been confirmed.
For more information, visit the DMMHA website.
Service Area
This waiting list is for rental assistance in Des Moines, Iowa.
Apartments offered through this waiting list are only located within this service area.
Last Updated on 02/10/2020.
About Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency
More information about Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency can be found on its website at https://www.dsm.city/departments/housing_services/index.php.
Representatives of Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency may be available by phone at (515) 323-8950. Unless otherwise noted above, applications will not be provided or accepted by phone.
About the Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program
As of the HUDs most recent Voucher Management System report, Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency manages 3,194 active Housing Choice Vouchers.
The following is a summary of the types of vouchers managed and the monthly costs of each as of December 31st, 2019:
|
Standard | Homeownership | Family Unification | Tenant Protection | Ported Out | VASH | Non-Elderly Disabled |
| Vouchers |
2,786 | 9 | 108 | 44 | 37 | 140 | 53 |
| Monthly Cost Per Voucher |
$441 | $344 | $596 | $1,227 | $786 | $386 | $369 |
| Monthly Cost |
$1,228,199 | $3,099 | $64,372 | $53,973 | $29,100 | $53,973 | $19,569 |
Household Characteristics of Voucher Holders for Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency
Waiting List and Tenancy
According to the 2016 Q4 Picture of Subsidized Households database, the housing authority's voucher program has an annual turnover of 13% having issued approximately 225 vouchers in the past year. The average voucher holder has received housing benefits for 7 years and 5 months. According to the 2016 PSH database, persons who were issued a voucher in the preceding 12 months waited an average of 38 months on the waiting list1.
Income Characteristics
According to 2016 Q4 Picture of Subsidized Households data, the average voucher household contains 2.2 persons and has a household income of $12,456 per year. 98% of households were very low income (VLI) and 82% were extremely low income (ELI). 29% of households had wages as a major source of income, 3% of households had welfare (TANF, General Assistance or Public Assistance) as their primary source of income, and 61% of households had other income (Social Security, Disability or Pension) as their major source of income.
Heads of Household Characteristics
3% of households were headed by a person 24 years old or less, 54% were headed by a person 25 to 49 years old, 25% were headed by a person 51 to 60 years old, and 17% were headed by a person 62 years old or older. In addition, 2% of households were headed by a person 85 years old or older.
41% of households included children, 4% of which had two adults in the household. 38% of households with children have a female head of household. 73% of all households were headed by a female.
42% of all voucher households were headed by minorities with 38% of all heads of households being Black and 0% being Hispanic.
Of all households participating in the Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency Housing Choice Voucher program, 26% include at least one person with a disability. 43% of households with a head of household 61 years or less were headed by a person with a disability. 72% of households headed by someone 62 or older were headed by a person with a disability.
Bedroom Size and Overhousing
41% of voucher holders reside in a home with zero or 1 bedroom, 32% with 2 bedrooms and 27% with 3 or more bedrooms. 14% of voucher recipients are considered overhoused, meaning they occupy a rental unit larger than their family size requires.
Rent, Assistance, and Utility Allowances
The average monthly tenant contribution to rent by Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency voucher holders in 2016 was $342 and the average monthly HUD expenditure per voucher holder was $522. The average utility allowance across all voucher recipients is $101.
1. This Picture of Subsidized Households data field is the average wait time of those who received a voucher in the preceding 12 months. Due to special voucher programs like VASH, recent waiting list purges, or waiting list preferences the average wait time can vary significantly from one year to the next and it is entirely possible many current applicants on the waiting list have been waiting for assistance for far longer.
Public Housing Apartments Operated by Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency
1101 Crocker St
Des Moines, Iowa
3700 E 31st St
Des Moines, Iowa
3308 Kinsey Ave
Des Moines, Iowa
1513 Dixon St
Des Moines, Iowa
2417 SouthWest 9th Street Des Moines, IA
Des Moines, Iowa
3717 6th Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa
3400 8th Street
Des Moines, Iowa
2309 Euclid Avenue (Housing Services Office)
Des Moines, Iowa
