Des Moines – A multimillion‑dollar redevelopment project is set to provide safe, stable housing for at‑risk youth in the heart of the city. The former Elim church on East Ninth Street is being converted into the Starts Right Here apartment complex, featuring 18 fully‑furnished units and shared community spaces.
Project details and timeline
Founder Will Keeps announced that the first apartments will be ready for tenants on November 16. Each unit includes a spacious kitchen, a living area, and a bedroom designed to promote independence while fostering a supportive environment. Classroom facilities will be located in the building’s basement and are slated for completion in January, giving residents access to educational and counseling resources on‑site.
Community impact
The development addresses a critical need for affordable, youth‑focused housing in Des Moines. By repurposing an existing church structure, the project preserves a piece of local history while delivering a modern solution that aligns with the city’s commitment to family stability and personal liberty. The apartments are intended to serve young people who have experienced homelessness, foster care, or other forms of instability, offering them a stable base from which to pursue education, employment, and personal growth.
Support and partnerships
Starts Right Here is a nonprofit initiative that has secured funding from a blend of private donors, local businesses, and charitable foundations. The organization emphasizes faith‑based values, encouraging residents to develop strong moral foundations alongside practical life skills. Keeps highlighted that the project’s design incorporates communal areas where mentors and volunteers can engage with youth in a safe, nurturing setting.
Looking ahead
Once the first residents move in, the organization plans to monitor outcomes such as school attendance, job placement, and overall well‑being, using the data to refine the program and potentially expand the model to other neighborhoods. The classroom space, once completed, will host tutoring, life‑skills workshops, and counseling sessions, reinforcing the holistic approach that Starts Right Here champions.
Local officials have praised the initiative as a constructive use of vacant property that benefits both the community and the city’s broader efforts to reduce youth homelessness. The project exemplifies how faith‑inspired nonprofit work can partner with civic leaders to address pressing social challenges while respecting the traditional family structure and individual liberty of each resident.
Original reporting: KCCI Des Moines — read the source article.
