Central Iowa Shelter and Services

What Central Iowa Shelter and Services does

Central Iowa Shelter & Services (CISS) is a Des Moines-based nonprofit founded in 1992 (originally as Churches United) that operates the largest low-barrier homeless shelter in Iowa. The organization provides free, 24/7/365 emergency shelter (150 beds, average length of stay 25 days) to adults experiencing homelessness, supplemented by 81 on-site Section 8 single-efficiency apartments (including 19 veteran-designated units), a community kitchen producing over 100,000 meals annually, and street outreach that helped 59% of Polk County's unhoused adults find permanent housing in 2022. CISS serves approximately 1,722 individuals per year at its main campus and extends services to 15 rural Iowa counties through the Rolling Hills Coalition, which was founded in 2020.

CISS's service model is built on an "Empowerment Command Center" framework — a codified approach combining effort, motivation, and support into personalized pathways toward self-sufficiency — and has increasingly been delivered through proprietary technology. In 2024 CISS launched the bindl Companion mobile app (iOS and Android), which uses geolocation to direct users to nearby shelter, food, and healthcare resources and enables case managers to locate clients for housing transitions. A Housing Command Center is scheduled to launch in 2025 across Des Moines, Grinnell, and Ottumwa, funded by a $2.55 million, two-year grant from Iowa Total Care and the Centene Foundation (announced November 2023). Supporting programs include the Mulberry Farm & Food program (a Schoen Greenhouse with HydroCycle Aquaponics System producing shrimp and lettuce, plus a 4-acre Agrihood planned for 2026), job training in janitorial and farm skills, a clothing closet, a food pantry, and veterans-specific housing and treatment referrals.

CISS is funded primarily through individual donations, corporate and foundation grants, and event sponsorships (Heroes for Homeless gala, Fore! Veterans Golf Tournament, Coldest Night of the Year 5K, Summer Meals Program, Giving Tuesday). A secondary revenue stream comes from e-commerce sales of Mulberry Farm produce, herbs, shrimp, and CSA subscriptions, as well as a food truck operated under the Savor & Share initiative. The organization is governed independently with no parent company, employs 11-50 staff, and is led by CEO Melissa O'Neil. Core government partners include the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Polk County Housing Trust Fund, Des Moines Municipal Housing, and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.

Name

Central Iowa Shelter and Services

Legal name

Central Iowa Shelter & Services

Website

https://centraliowashelter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Central Iowa Shelter & Services is a Des Moines-based nonprofit operating Iowa's largest low-barrier homeless shelter, providing free emergency shelter, meals, Section 8 housing, job training, and veterans programs to adults experiencing homelessness across 15 rural counties, supported by proprietary technology including the bindl Companion app and Housing Command Center.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless Shelter and Support Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Other Community Housing Services (624229), Community Food Services (624210), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Affordable/Subsidized Independent Living (HUD/LIHTC) Communities (HLADAAAB)

Keywords

• Homeless shelter services
• Emergency housing assistance
• Community meal programs
• Veteran housing support
• Job training services

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute monetary gifts through the organization's website and fundraising events. Donors can make one-time or recurring donations.
2. Corporate & Foundation Grants: Organizations like Iowa Total Care and Centene Foundation provide significant funding commitments. Example: $2.55 million over two years for Housing Command Center and mobile app development.
3. E-commerce Produce Sales: Sale of fresh produce, herbs, shrimp, and CSA boxes from Mulberry Farm operations. Products include chives, cilantro, sage, thyme, kale, red romaine, and gift certificates.
4. Event Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships for annual fundraising events including Heroes for Homeless, Fore! Veterans Golf Tournament, Coldest Night of the Year 5K, Summer Meals Program, and Giving Tuesday.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Central Iowa Shelter and Services operates Iowa's only low-barrier emergency shelter, providing free 24/7/365 shelter (150 beds), meals, Section 8 efficiency apartments (81 units), case management, job training, veterans housing, street outreach, and rural regional housing assistance to adults and families experiencing homelessness. The organization also runs Mulberry Farm & Food, an on-site agricultural program including a Schoen Greenhouse with a HydroCycle Aquaponics System producing sustainable shrimp and produce. CISS complements these services with proprietary digital tools—the bindl Companion mobile app and the Empowerment Command Center framework—and is launching a Housing Command Center system in 2025.

Product overview

Central Iowa Shelter & Services (CISS) is a low-barrier homeless shelter offering a comprehensive suite of services centered around emergency shelter, permanent housing, and economic empowerment. The core service portfolio includes Emergency Shelter (150 beds, 24/7/365), Section 8 Apartments (81 units), Community Kitchen (100,000+ meals annually), and Job Training Programs. CISS has developed two key digital products: the bindl companion App—a geolocation-powered mobile application connecting individuals to housing, food, and healthcare resources—and the Empowerment Command Center framework deployed across multiple Iowa cities. Supporting services include Veterans Support Programs, Street Outreach, Rolling Hills Coalition (regional housing assistance), Clothing Closet, Food Pantry, and Mulberry Farm & Food (agricultural program with food truck). The organization is expanding its Agrihood to 4 acres by 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bindl Companion: A digital mobile app designed to support individuals experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, and poverty by connecting them with vital services including shelters, food banks, healthcare, and job listings.
• Mulberry Farm & Food
• Rolling Hills Coalition
• Veteran Grant and Per Diem Program
• Veteran's Contract Emergency Residential Program
• Mulberry Farm & Food Truck
• Empowerment Command Center

Products and services

• Emergency Shelter 24/7/365 low-barrier emergency shelter for men and women experiencing homelessness, providing 150 beds and pairing each guest with a case manager to access services and secure permanent housing.
• Section 8 Apartments 81 single-unit efficiency apartments reserved for clients with Section 8 vouchers, including 19 veteran-designated units, 44 project-based vouchers, and 18 single-room occupancy units.
• Community Kitchen Prepares and delivers over 100,000 meals annually throughout the Des Moines metro area, serving lunch and dinner daily including fresh salads, using ingredients grown on-site at Mulberry Farm along with donated and purchased items.
• Mulberry Farm & Food An ever-expanding farm program run by CISS staff and clients that provides healthy, locally grown food including fresh produce and sustainably farmed shrimp, and operates the Farm Training Program.
• Job Training Programs On-site job training including the Janitorial Skills Training Program and the Mulberry Farms & Food Training Program, helping clients gain work experience, build skills, and expand résumés.
• bindl Companion App Mobile application that connects individuals experiencing homelessness with vital services including shelters, food banks, healthcare, job listings, and emergency contacts. Includes geolocation to direct users to nearby services, personalized goal tracking, and case-manager locator functionality.
• Empowerment Command Center Comprehensive framework addressing homelessness using the formula Effort x Motivation² + Support³ = Pathway, combining effort, motivation, and support to create personalized pathways to self-sufficiency across multiple Iowa communities.
• Veterans Support Programs Housing, meals, clothing, and case management for veterans, including the Veteran Grant and Per Diem Program (19 efficiency apartments) and the Veterans Contract Emergency Residential Program (5 efficiency apartments).
• Street Outreach Mobile outreach initiative helping unhoused individuals secure housing, IDs, birth certificates, medical attention, foster homes for pets, temporary storage, and seasonally appropriate clothing through case management and resource connections.
• Clothing Closet Provides adult clothing of all types and sizes, including cold-weather necessities, free of charge to community members and shelter guests.
• Rolling Hills Coalition CISS-supported program helping individuals in 15 rural Iowa counties secure safe, affordable housing in their area with housing search, deposit assistance, first month's rent, and a landlord mitigation fund.
• Mulberry Farm & Food Truck Food truck that prepares fresh meals using produce and shrimp from the Schoen Greenhouse, available for event bookings, with proceeds supporting CISS operations and feeding programs.
• Housing Command Center Centralized emergency operation management system designed to streamline processes for securing housing and resources for unsheltered individuals, utilizing technology and natural disaster response tactics across Des Moines, Grinnell, and Ottumwa.

Quantifiable outcome

• 59% of Polk County unhoused adults found permanent housing through street outreach and housing intake services in 2022
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and strategic.

• DroppettminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDroppett is the partnering sponsor for the Coldest Night of the Year 5K event, providing a can and bottle drop site at the starting line. Proceeds from bottle redemption benefit CISS' emergency shelter and cold weather initiatives.
• Des Moines Municipal HousingcoreOthersProvides support for the 81 single-unit efficiency apartments through Section 8 housing vouchers. Part of the core housing infrastructure supporting clients with project-based vouchers.
• Polk County Housing Trust FundcoreOthersProvides funding support for the apartment program supporting the 81 single-unit efficiency apartments. Collaborates with CISS on housing initiatives for low-income individuals.
• U.S. Department of Veterans AffairscoreOthersPartners with CISS for the Veteran Grant and Per Diem Program (19 efficiency apartments) and Contract Emergency Residential Program (5 efficiency apartments) for veteran housing and transitional support.
• Iowa Department of Health and Human ServicesstrategicOthersState agency collaborating on the Housing Command Center initiative. Director Kelly Garcia and Medicaid Director Liz Matney participated in the announcement ceremony with Governor Kim Reynolds.
• Churches United (Historical)minorOthersIn 1992, eight local churches formed Churches United (later renamed Central Iowa Shelter & Services) in response to five men freezing to death on the streets. This founding partnership established the organization's roots.
• Amazon Wish ListminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAmazon Wish List allows supporters to purchase and ship supplies directly to the shelter, including men and women's summer clothing, can openers, pots, pans, plates, bowls, silverware, travel-size toiletries, new underwear, shower sandals, and canned food.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hope Ministries: Des Moines-based nonprofit operating emergency shelter, transitional housing, and meals programs for individuals experiencing homelessness. Directly comparable as a same-city peer offering overlapping shelter and food services to a similar client population.
• Shelter House Iowa City: Eastern Iowa emergency shelter and housing services provider serving Johnson County. Comparable as an Iowa-based low-barrier shelter operator delivering case management, meals, and housing placement, with similar funding model reliant on donations and grants.
• Catholic Charities of Central Iowa: Des Moines-area social services nonprofit delivering housing assistance, emergency services, refugee resettlement, and food programs. Comparable as a multi-service social services organization serving overlapping client populations in the same geography with similar government and faith-based funding streams.
• Community Shelter Board (Columbus, OH): Columbus, Ohio's lead agency for homelessness response, coordinating shelter, housing, and prevention across multiple providers. Comparable as a regional backbone organization similar in role to CISS's vision for the Housing Command Center as Iowa's coordination hub.

Regional players

• Primary Health Care (Des Moines): Federally qualified health center serving medically underserved populations in Des Moines, including homeless individuals. Comparable as a regional healthcare-for-the-homeless provider that often co-locates with shelter services and shares similar SDOH funding mechanisms.
• Humility of Mary Housing (Davenport, IA): Eastern Iowa nonprofit providing permanent supportive housing and case management for individuals experiencing homelessness and disabilities. Comparable as an Iowa-focused housing services peer utilizing HUD/Section 8 vouchers and operating supportive housing programs for similar vulnerable populations.

Broad incumbents

• Family Promise: National nonprofit network operating shelter, housing, and prevention programs for families experiencing homelessness across 200+ affiliates. Comparable as a larger, established operator in the same vertical with replicable program models and affiliate-franchise structure relevant to CISS's framework-based scaling ambitions.
• The Salvation Army USA: National faith-based nonprofit operating emergency shelters, transitional housing, meals programs, and veterans services across the U.S. Comparable as a larger, established incumbent offering overlapping services (shelter, meals, veterans housing) with a much broader geographic footprint and federal contracting relationships.
• St. Vincent de Paul USA: National nonprofit network providing emergency shelter, housing assistance, food, and case management through local councils. Comparable as an established multi-service social services operator with parallel shelter and housing programs serving similar low-income and homeless populations.

Others

• National Alliance to End Homelessness: National advocacy, research, and capacity-building organization for the homelessness sector. Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem participant that informs best practices CISS adopts, partners with for technical assistance, and benchmarks outcomes against for funder reporting.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CI_Shelter
• Facebookfacebook.com/CentralIowaShelterandServices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/central-iowa-shelter-and-services
• Instagraminstagram.com/ci_shelter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Central Iowa Shelter and Services