What We Do

Harbor of Hope is a non-profit and charity recovery house, located at 3650 Cottage Grove Ave, Des Moines, Iowa, that strives to provide men coming from prison, jail, the streets, treatment, or other programs with access to resources in the Des Moines area and to foster fellowship within the recovery community. We accept men without financial means get to a position where they are able to help themselves. Our goal is to connect clients to resources in the Des Moines area while being provided safe, sober housing.

Harbor of Hope works hard to provide a home that cultivates growth, mutual respect, and camaraderie. We have developed a Lifetime Recovery Program and through that have built strong relationships with providers in the community to ensure our residents have access to the best resources available. Many men have built a firm foundation at the Harbor of Hope that enables them to rebuild their lives at home, in their career, and in their community.

Read our clients’ testimonials to learn more about the impact our program has had on their lives.

The Harbor focuses on five key areas of recovery:
Education
Employment
Financial Training
Reconnecting with family and friends
Physical and mental health

Where We've Been

Harbor of Hope was established in 1984 as a homeless shelter and eventually transitioned into a recovery center for drug addicts in 2005. The original Harbor of Hope building was constructed in Des Moines’ River Bend neighborhood in 1880 and served as the permanent home for Harbor of Hope for 28 years. In 2019, the Harbor of Hope moved to our new home located at 3650 Cottage Grove Ave.

  • 2014

    • 21 clients served

  • 2015

    • 32 clients served
    • 25 clients completed a six-month commitment

  • 2016

    • 42 clients served
    • 28 clients completed a six-month commitment

  • 2017

    • 46 clients served
    • 32 clients completed a six-month commitment

  • 2019

    • 56 clients served
    • 21 clients completed a six-month commitment

  • 2020

    • 41 clients served
    • 20 clients completed a six-month commitment

Who We Are

Tom Pontow

Executive Director

Dan Tearney

Program Director

The Harbor Board of Directors

  • Tom Pontow (Executive Director) - Harbor of Hope
  • Barry Freed (President) – Freed Construction
  • Dan Tearney (Secretary) – Harbor of Hope
  • Pastor Tammy Harris – Elpis Christian Fellowship
  • Craig Millhollin – RBC Wealth Management (Retired)

Harbor of Hope partners with the following local resources