Joppa Welcomes Brandy Waters as Chief Operating & Financial Officer

DES MOINES, IA (March 30, 2026) – Joppa is thrilled to welcome Brandy Waters as its new Chief Operating and Finance Officer. Waters brings more than two decades of leadership experience and a deep commitment to supporting individuals experiencing homelessness throughout central Iowa.

“Joppa is already making a meaningful difference in the lives of so many,” said Waters. “I’m excited to contribute my experience in operations and strategic growth to help Joppa serve more individuals, strengthen its programs, and support our community’s most vulnerable neighbors.”

Joe Stevens, Joppa CEO and cofounder, added, “Brandy brings exceptional leadership and a collaborative spirit that aligns perfectly with our mission. Her operational expertise and dedication to serving others will help us continue walking alongside individuals as they survive, find housing, and rebuild their lives as we continue to grow and build Joppa Village.”

Waters’ thoughtful approach to organizational excellence and team development will support Joppa’s ongoing efforts to deepen its impact and expand services. 

For Waters, the move into the nonprofit sector reflects a personal desire to focus more intentionally on work that creates lasting community impact.

“Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to experience a great deal of professional success,” Waters said. “At this stage in my life, I felt called to focus more on significance – work that creates lasting change for individuals and families in our community.”

That sense of purpose was reinforced during her first week at Joppa, when she witnessed a family with a one-year-old child move from living in their car into stable housing.

“Seeing that moment of relief and hope was incredibly powerful,” Waters said. “It reminded me that the work happening at Joppa is about more than programs or services. It’s about restoring dignity, stability and hope for people during some of the hardest moments of their lives.”

As Chief Operating Officer, Waters will focus on strengthening operational planning, oversight and organizational development while supporting the continued growth of Joppa’s programs and services. Her experience building strong teams, improving systems and guiding complex initiatives will help ensure the organization has the structure and resources needed to expand its impact.

Waters will also play a key role in advancing the next phase of Joppa’s mission, including the development of Joppa Village – a community designed to provide stable housing and supportive services for families experiencing homelessness.

“Joppa Village represents an exciting step forward in creating stability and opportunity for chronically homeless individuals,” Waters said. “By strengthening our operational foundation and building strong partnerships, we can help ensure this project – and the many other services Joppa provides – continue making a lasting difference in people’s lives.”

The need for these services continues to grow. In recent years, Joppa has experienced a significant increase in homeless individuals seeking assistance, underscoring the importance of continued collaboration and community support.

“Homelessness is often misunderstood,” Waters added. “Many people don’t realize that a large percentage of those experiencing homelessness are families with children and the elderly comprise the fastest growing segment. For many households, the margin between stability and crisis is incredibly small. One unexpected medical bill, job loss or life event can change everything.”

Along with housing initiatives like the village, Joppa provides a wide range of services including outreach, nutrition programs, winter survival support, job assistance and aftercare for individuals transitioning into housing.

“My hope is that as more people learn about the work happening at Joppa, they will feel inspired to step forward and support these efforts,” Waters said. “Together, we can help more families move from crisis to stability and build stronger futures.”

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About Joppa

Joppa is a nonprofit organization based in Des Moines, Iowa, that helps homeless people survive, find housing and rebuild their lives. Joppa engages the community to give their time, talents and treasures. We work together to help people access resources and fill gaps in homeless services, housing and education – because we believe community collaboration is key to ending homelessness. 

For 900+ consecutive weeks, trained Joppa volunteers visit hundreds of unsheltered and recently housed individuals each week to deliver food and supplies and build relationships—for nearly. Joppa has helped lift more than 800 people off the streets since it started in 2008, and over 80% remain off the streets today. In 2025, Joppa helped lift 117 homeless individuals off the streets, plus 35 more this year to date with support from private donors, volunteers and partners.