Willis Dady Homeless Services

Jim Welborn, a Veteran who experienced homelessness for much of his adult life, founded Willis Dady in 1987.

Welborn started the Willis Dady day center as his senior project to complete his Social Work degree at Mount Mercy College. Jim wanted to provide a place where men with experiences similar to his own would be "respected but held accountable for changing their lives". 

Welborn named his project "Willis Dady" to honor the life of a man who experienced homelessness named Willis Dady from Des, Moines, Iowa. Dady jumped into the Des Moines River and lost his life while trying to save a drowning child in May of 1984.

Willis Dady Homeless Service's mission is to empower all experiencing homelessness to build futures of self-sufficiency through advocacy, housing, and employment.

Our goal is to provide services to individuals and families at risk of, or experiencing literal homelessness. We aim to help those experiencing homelessness enter stable housing as quickly as possible, or help them never enter homelessness.

We have 7 programs at Willis Dady:

• Street Outreach
• Emergency Shelter
• Winter Overflow Shelter
• Veteran Services
• Employment Services
• Rapid Rehousing
• Permanent Supportive Housing