"Uni-Hope changed everything for our family. Our son finally has a safe place to live with a host family that truly cares about him. He's thriving in ways we never thought possible."
Supporting Lives.
Building
Community.
Uni-Hope Life Skills & Services provides person-centered disability support, host home care, and habilitation services across Iowa — empowering individuals to live with dignity, independence, and joy.
✅
Iowa DHS Licensed
🏛️
SCL Waiver Approved
🩺
Amerigroup · Molina · Total Care
⚖️
Equal Opportunity
📍
West Des Moines, IA
6
+
Service Programs
100
%
Person-Centered
Iowa
✓
State Licensed
Our Programs
Comprehensive Support
Tailored to You
From in-home daily care to group living and community integration — every service is built around each person's unique goals, strengths, and waiver eligibility.
Brain Injury (BI) Support
Specialized SCL and hourly support for individuals living with acquired or traumatic brain injuries — focused on safety, rehabilitation, and restoring independence.
Learn moreIntellectual Disability (ID)
Daily and hourly support helping individuals with intellectual disabilities build independence, develop life skills, and thrive in their community under Iowa's ID waiver.
Learn moreSCL Host Home
Supervised Community Living with a trained host family. 24/7 personalized care in a real home environment — the warmest alternative to group or facility living.
Learn moreHabilitation (HAB)
Structured skill-building programs focused on daily living, communication, social skills, and community participation under Iowa's Habilitation waiver.
Learn moreHealth & Disability (HD)
Support for individuals under Iowa's Health and Disability waiver — addressing medical, functional, and daily living needs to promote safety and quality of life at home.
Learn moreSCL Group Home
Supervised Community Living in a shared residential setting with 24/7 staff support, structured daily routines, and community integration opportunities.
Learn moreOur Mission
"To support and guide people with mental and physical disabilities, by empowering their choices, enhancing their safety and quality of life, to help them excel in the community independently."
Who We Are
Care That Starts
With the Person
Uni-Hope Life Skills and Services provides home companion services to the elderly, and support and guidance to individuals with mental and developmental disabilities.
Our goal is to support our clients so they can live a quality life. We provide our clients with the tools and support that encourage them to be active members of their community.
Our Value: We strive to enrich the lives of our clients, their families, and our collective communities.
Empowering Choices
We honor each person's right to make their own decisions and direct their own care journey.
Safety & Quality of Life
Enhancing safety and daily wellbeing so every individual can thrive with confidence at home and in the community.
Community Independence
Providing tools and support that encourage clients to be active, independent members of their community.
Simple Process
Getting Started Is
Straightforward
Submit Your Application
Complete our online Application for Services with supporting documentation. Our team reviews every application thoroughly.
Intake Interview
Our Admissions Director meets with you and your guardian (if applicable) to understand your goals and needs. Decision within 7 business days.
Build Your Care Plan
Your assigned Service Coordinator designs a personalized care plan aligned with your PCSP, goals, and waiver eligibility.
Begin Your Services
Services begin on your start date with a dedicated team committed to your growth, safety, and wellbeing every step of the way.
Our Impact
Real Lives.
Real Outcomes.
6
+
Specialized service programs across Iowa
4
MCO & waiver funding sources accepted
24
/7
Host home and group home care availability
"As a case manager, I refer clients to Uni-Hope with complete confidence. Their team is responsive, professional, and genuinely committed to each person's success."
Ready to Take the
First Step?
Whether you're seeking services for yourself or a loved one, or looking to join our team — we're here to help.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Uni-Hope's services and admission process.
Uni-Hope provides six core programs: Brain Injury (BI) support, Intellectual Disability (ID) support, Habilitation (HAB) services, Health and Disability (HD) services, SCL Group Home, and SCL Host Home. Each program is tailored to the individual's Person-Centered Support Plan (PCSP).
We accept Brain Injury, Elderly, Health and Disability, Intellectual Disability, and Habilitation waivers. For Medicaid MCO, we work with Amerigroup Iowa, Total Care, Molina HealthCare, and Polk County Funding. Private funding sources are also considered.
You can apply online through our Application for Services form or call 515-441-1756. Once submitted with supporting documentation, our Admissions Director will contact you for an intake interview. A written decision is issued within 7 business days of your interview.
An SCL Host Home is a private family residence where a trained individual or family provides 24/7 residential care under the Supervised Community Living (SCL) waiver. It offers a personalized, family-centered alternative to group home or facility living.
Yes! Requirements include being 18+, a high school diploma or equivalent, passing background checks, a valid Iowa driver's license, and reliable transportation. Apply through our Employment Application at /employment-application.
Uni-Hope is based in West Des Moines, Iowa (939 Office Park Rd, Suite 201) and provides services across Central Iowa. Call 515-441-1756 or email [email protected] to discuss your location and service availability.