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Council backs a needs assessment and targeted approach as committee readies 2027 human‑services funding recommendations
Summary
Councilmembers signaled support for a Des Moines‑focused needs assessment and a funding philosophy that favors targeted, larger awards to organizations demonstrating clear benefit to Des Moines residents; staff will estimate assessment costs and the CAB committee will prepare 2027 recommendations.
The Des Moines City Council on April 9 discussed priorities for the human‑services grants that staff and the volunteer Human Services Committee (CAB) will review for the 2027–28 budget cycle.
Corrine Anderson Ketchmark, volunteer chair of the committee, outlined the application and review process (a ShareOne platform used by 16 King County cities), past funding amounts (historically $150,000 per year in the most recent biennium, previously $250,000), and the committee’s funding priorities: secure affordable housing, food security, safety from violence, physical and mental health, workforce development, and early‑childhood/youth success. The committee reported that during the last cycle about 73 applications requested more than $800,000 in total and that the city’s contribution cannot meet all requests.
Councilmembers generally supported commissioning a comprehensive needs assessment focused on Des Moines to identify service gaps and inform future allocations. Members asked whether the assessment cost would come from the human‑services allocation or an alternate source; staff said they would estimate costs and seek council direction about funding the assessment, preferring to find supplemental funds where possible to avoid reducing direct grants in the near term.
Several councilmembers expressed a preference for concentrating limited funds into fewer, larger awards that demonstrate measurable impact on Des Moines residents rather than spreading small amounts across many agencies, while acknowledging some regional providers (for example Lighthouse Northwest) serve many Des Moines residents. Staff and the committee will incorporate council feedback and return with recommendations as part of the 2027 budget process.
