During the monthly meeting of the Hamilton County Supervisors, Julie Edwards, Executive Director of Upper Des Moines Opportunity–UDMO–gave an update on the services provided to Hamilton County residents during 2025.

Their mission, according to Edwards is “to address the effects of poverty on individuals and families and build stronger communities.” Their programs range from food and housing to weatherization and childcare, just to name a few ways their assistance is used.

UDMO serves 22 counties in Iowa. In addition to Hamilton county, they serve Lyon, Sioux, Osceola, O’Brien, Dickinson, Clay, Buena Vista, Sac, Emmet, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Calhoun, Kossuth, Humboldt, Webster, Winnebago, Hancock, Wright, Worth, Cerro Gordo and Hardin.

During 2025, she reported assistance to 506 households in Hamilton County from their programs. Assistance with energy needs was used by 303 households, while addressing housing downpayments or deposits were just two households, and weatherization news were 12 households.

Direct assistance to these households totaled $476,563 in 2025

The demographics of the age groups that the assistance programs helped in Hamilton County in 2025 were as follows:

36% are children aged 0-17

42% are age 18 to 59

22% of individuals are over the age of 60 or retired.

In addition, 25 individuals are Veterans or active military.

35% of the individuals are employed

25% report a disabling condition

46% are a single person household

14% are led by a single female parent

42% of the households assisted own their own home

25% of households have a total annual income at or below poverty level

36% of households also have SNAP

During her presentation, Edwards requested a continued partnership with Hamilton County and an investment of $18,000 for 2026.