Feeding Futures
Fighting food insecurity with innovative action. A story series sponsored by Principal® Foundation
Cynergy: Building a Foundation for Food Security
A new development connects housing and opportunity
When housing costs rise, families are often forced to make difficult choices about where their money goes. For many households, that can mean stretching grocery budgets to keep a roof overhead.
That's why affordable housing is an important part of the fight against hunger.
"For people and families living on a budget, the connection between housing and hunger couldn't be clearer," says Julian Neely, Director of Advancement and Community Investment for the Polk County Housing Trust Fund. "Higher housing costs mean a family's food budget is stretched to the edge by the end of the month or between paychecks."
A new mixed-use development called Cynergy aims to help address that challenge. Developed by Oakridge Neighborhood, the project will provide affordable family housing alongside supportive services designed to help residents build long-term stability.
The development will include larger three- and four-bedroom units, which are often difficult for families to find.
“More than 1,500 Des Moines renter families live in overcrowded conditions due to the lack of access to units that meet their needs,” says Deidre DeJear, president and CEO of Oakridge Neighborhood.
In addition to housing, residents will have access to workforce development, early childhood education and youth programs through Oakridge's existing services.
"It's one thing to supply housing, but it's another thing to really invest in every aspect of the family so that sustainability is truly something that's attainable," adds DeJear.
Neely believes developments like Cynergy can create lasting impact by combining affordable housing with the services families need to thrive.
By helping families secure stable housing and access supportive resources, Cynergy is working to create a stronger foundation for food security, financial stability and opportunity.
Read more Feeding Futures stories at iowastopshunger.com/feedingfutures