DES MOINES — The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) has named New Visions Homeless Services of Council Bluffs and Shelter House in Iowa City as winners of the 2026 Iowa Innovation in Homelessness Incubator Pitch Competition, awarding a total of $200,000 supporting pilot initiatives designed to advance homelessness response in Iowa communities.
The competition invited Iowa homeless service organizations to develop approaches that advance the goal of making homelessness rare, brief and nonrecurring across the state. Up to $200,000 was available, with winning projects eligible for as much as $100,000 each to support pilot initiatives. Three finalist teams presented their proposals at the 2026 HousingIowa Conference in Des Moines, where winners were selected by a panel of housing and homelessness experts.
"Organizations on the front lines of homelessness often see emerging needs and opportunities before anyone else," said Debi Durham, Director of the Iowa Finance Authority and Iowa Economic Development Authority.
By supporting projects grounded in local experience and expertise, this competition helps bring forward approaches that are responsive to the unique needs of Iowa communities.
As communities across Iowa respond to the complex factors that contribute to homelessness, there is growing interest in approaches that address immediate needs while creating lasting change. The selected projects offer an opportunity to test new strategies, measure outcomes and better understand how individuals and families can achieve lasting housing stability.
New Visions Homeless Services (Council Bluffs)
Shut the Front Door: Keeping Iowans Housed Before Shelter Is Needed
Award: $100,000
Shut the Front Door: Keeping Iowans Housed Before Shelter Is Needed is a new homelessness prevention initiative designed to resolve housing crises before emergency shelter becomes necessary. Through dedicated diversion staff, flexible financial assistance, trauma-informed problem-solving and partnerships with the Iowa West Foundation and Threshold Continuum of Care, the initiative will help more Iowans remain safely housed while creating a model that can be replicated across the state.
Shelter House (Iowa City)
Community Integrated Health Program
Award: $100,000
The Community Integrated Health Program (CIHP) is an innovative partnership between Shelter House, Iowa City, and University of Iowa Health Care that brings medical care directly to people experiencing homelessness. Supervised Internal Medicine resident clinics at Shelter House provide primary care, chronic disease management, wound care and post-hospital follow-up for individuals who face barriers to traditional care.
By connecting shelter-based care with the health system’s electronic medical record, CIHP improves coordination across hospitals, emergency departments, outreach teams and homelessness services. The model strengthens continuity of care, reduces unnecessary emergency department use and helps address health challenges that can stand in the way of housing stability.
For more details about the competition and this year's finalists, visit 2026 Innovation in Homelessness Pitch Competition.
1963 Bell Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50315