Board of Directors

The Iowa Balance of State Continuum of Care (IA BoS CoC) Governing Body serves as the primary decision-making body for the Continuum of Care and helps guide efforts to prevent and end homelessness. Made up of 11-18 individuals from across the Balance of State’s geographic area and across the spectrum of services, this group hosts public meetings on the second Thursday of the month.

Table of Contents

See information on our Board of Directors, Recruitment, & Governing Documents.

Governing Body • Recruitment • Governing Documents/Policies • Letter of Support Requests

Governing Body

  • Autumn Kai

    Board Chair

    Housing & Homeless Services Advocate
    Winterset


    Term 2023-2026

  • Jeremy Mask

    Board Vice-Chair

    District 7 Leader
    Iowa Primary Care Association
    Cedar Rapids

    Term: 2025-2028

  • Ben Brustkern

    Executive Director
    Friends of the Family
    Waterloo

    Term 2023-2026

  • Cassandra Peiffer

    Co-Chair Coordinated Service Regions

    Women’s Services Case Manager
    Catherine McAuley Center
    Cedar Rapids

    Term 2025-2028

  • Christine Efferding


    Homeless Program Coordinator
    Community Solutions of Eastern Iowa
    Dubuque

    Term: 2025-2027

  • Crissy Canganelli

    Co-Chair of Strategic Planning

    Executive Director
    Shelter House
    Iowa City

    Term 2023-2026

  • Darlene Terrill


    Regional Administrator Iowa/Minnesota
    WestCare Iowa Family Alliance for Veterans of America
    Forest City

    Term: 2022-2025

  • Emily Harvey


    Executive Director
    Muscatine Center for Social Action
    Muscatine

    Term 2025-2027

  • Heather Kriener

    Financial Literacy Director
    Iowa Insurance Division
    Carlisle

    Term 2025-2026

  • Hope Metheny


    Major Grants Director
    Youth & Shelter Services
    Ames

    Term: 2024-2027

  • Jan Heidemann

    Program Coordinator
    Center for Disabilities & Development Iowa’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
    Waverly


    Term 2024-2027

  • Joshua Stanger

    Community Corrections Program Coordinator
    Seventh District- Iowa Department of Corrections
    Davenport

    Term 2025-2028

  • Linda Munden

    Co-Chair- Coordinated Service Regions

    Senior Grants Accountant
    Youth Shetler & Services
    Ames

    Term: 2024-2027

  • Shaney Ford

    Family Support Specialist
    Davenport Community Schools
    Davenport

    Term 2025-2028

  • Stephanie Pickinpaugh

    Co-Chair of CoC Impact Task Group

    Executive Director
    SafePlace
    Sioux City

    Term: 2023-2026

Recruitment

To ensure cohesion and promote efficiency, the Iowa Balance of State CoC Board consists of 11 - 18 voting members and follows 24 CFR 578.5. The Board is representative of the relevant community partners involved in preventing and ending homelessness within the CoC and includes at least one homeless or formerly homeless individual. Given the broad geographic area of the Balance of State CoC, special attention is paid to ensure that Board membership includes community partners from across Iowa.

  • An open invitation for Board membership is done annually to prepare to fill terms set to expire in March for an April 1st term start date.

    • We respectively request any Board member, Task Group members, or CoC Volunteer to document their donated time with the Continuum of Care to assist in showing the match our CoC is investing into this work. If you have any questions, please reach out to CoC Staff.

Governing Documents/Policies

Review the CoC Governing Documents by using the links in the drop-down folder below. Please note that all CoC governing documents and policies are reviewed annually and updated with the appropriate revisions.

Letter of Support Requests

It is the policy set forth through the IA BoS CoC that any requests for a Letter of Support or Memorandum of Understanding for a project within the CoC that pertains to at-risk and/or homeless individuals and families follow the prescribed procedure to assure the timeliest response to the request.  

Expectations for all requesting Organizations:  The IA BoS CoC expects that the agency requesting the LOS or MOU be an active member of the CoC, which includes: 

  • Participating in CoC Board and Task Group meetings; 

  • Participating in the Point in Time Count; 

  • Participate in Coordinated Entry; and 

  • Utilize the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) or a comparable database (DVIMS) whenever possible.

Please see the folders below regarding additional expectations and the timeline of requests for funded or non-funded organizations.

  • For CoC or ESG-funded organizations:  

    • The request should be submitted no later than 7 days before the grant application is due, or MOU is needed to ensure adequate response time.  

    • Must complete Letter of Support and Memorandum of Understanding Request form 

    • In the request form provide a sample LOS or MOU (A sample is available on the request form for organization to utilize.) 

    • In the request form for an MOU request, you must also outline the roles and responsibilities of the organizations and the CoC.

    • For CoC or ESG-funded organizations, the CoC Director can provide a letter of support and place a copy of the letter in the monthly Board packet, if the organization is in good standing.   

  • For non-CoC or ESG-funded organizations: 

    • The request should be submitted no later than 21 days before the grant application is due. Organizations must be prepared to present their letter of request to the Executive Task Group for approval. 

    • Must complete Letter of Support and Memorandum of Understanding Request form 

    • In the request form, provide a sample LOS or MOU (A sample is available on the request form for organization to utilize.) 

    • In the request form for an MOU request, you must also outline the roles and responsibilities of the organizations and the CoC. 

    • The Collaborative Applicant will review the request and send on to the Executive Task Group. Requesting organizations will present their request to Executive Task Group members. Task Group members will have  5 business days to review, and a vote will occur to approve or deny the letter or request. If approved the CoC Director will sign the LOS or MOU and return it to the agency. If the requesting organization does  not attend to present the request, the request will be denied.

  • Please make sure to review the expectations to ensure your submission is done within the timeline laid out.