A new public-private coalition tasked with implementing the Blueprint to Address Homelessness in Polk County held one of its first board meetings this week, tapping businesses, advocacy groups and governments to increase accountability and expand regional participation.

Why it matters: The metro has a rising number of people experiencing homelessness while key funding sources decline — creating urgency for a coordinated, multijurisdictional response.

Catch up quick: The Housing Solutions Alliance (HSA) is a new version of the Homeless Coordinating Council, a longstanding metro-area group that managed efforts among governments and service providers.

• The HSA aims to promote greater participation by business and civic leaders and unite them with metro governments in a shared decision-making process.
• It follows the comprehensive regional blueprint plan created by local advocacy groups and governments, released in May. That plan acknowledged the lack of a coordinated system for how the metro prevents, responds to, and reduces homelessness.

Zoom in: The plan highlights focus areas to reduce the flow into the homelessness system, enhance crisis response, and speed up access to stable housing over the next five years.

• It frames the goals as a regional responsibility rather than solely a government jurisdictional issue.

State of play: The HSA board includes representatives from about 15 governments, businesses and human service advocacy groups, such as Polk County, DSM, Urbandale, West Des Moines, UnityPoint Health, Hy-Vee and the Principal Foundation.

• The group is still finalizing bylaws and vetting strategies to achieve its goals and track progress, HSA director Doug Romig told the DSM City Council this week.

The intrigue: DSM has already started working with the HSA to explore ideas for a facility with private units — including indoor and outdoor sleeping pod models — to expand emergency shelter capacity, Amber Lewis, the city's homeless policy administrator, told the council this week.

• The work also collaborates with the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, a nationwide program aimed at helping mayors and city staff solve complex problems.

What we're watching: How governments and businesses provide resources to support the group's upcoming efforts.

• Municipalities haven't been asked for funding yet, Romig told the DSM council this week.

For Venus Moon owner Nicole DeMondo, an empty storefront along University Avenue in Windsor Heights felt like the perfect spot to open her vintage shop and art studio last month.

The big picture: "We're all local businesses," DeMondo tells Axios. "There are people walking up and down the street every single day from the neighborhood."

State of play: Venus Moon Studio & Shop mixes DeMondo's passions: vintage vendors, local makers, an art studio and beauty services.

• Curated vintage items include apparel and home decor ranging from the 1940s to the 1990s.
• A back-room art studio will host workshops for people to create their own pieces.
• DeMondo also offers makeup and permanent cosmetics.

What's next: The shop is hosting a "scrap and yap" event Saturday with the Creative Social Club, a scrapbooking and junk-journal session open to anyone.

What they're saying: The name Venus Moon was inspired by DeMondo's sister, who died of cancer.

• While her sister was in hospice, DeMondo asked what sign she should look for to know her sister was still with her.
• Her sister told her that she'll know she's there when the sun and the moon appear in the sky together.
• "I just associate the moon so much now with my sister," DeMondo says. "It's just good energy to me."

If you go: Noon to 6pm every day, and later holiday hours on Thursdays and Fridays this month.

• 6563 University Ave., Windsor Heights

Instacart orders for cold and flu medicine, cough suppressants and other sick-day essentials tend to spike around Christmas, per new data the company shared with Axios.

What they found: Orders for cold and flu medicine and cough suppressants both peaked on Dec. 26 last winter, per Instacart.

• Facial tissues peaked on Dec. 27, while "immune support" products peaked on Dec. 28.

What's next: Experts are warning of a new flu outbreak tied to an emerging version of strain H3N2, Axios' Herb Scribner reports.

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📚 The West Des Moines school board is considering closing Walnut Creek, its alternative high school, and reallocating resources to keep all students learning at Valley High School. (KCCI)

🏀 ISU's Audi Crooks had 30 points and 10 rebounds last night, helping the Cyclones beat Iowa for a 74-69 victory. (WHO-13)

🎲 Des Moines now has its own Monopoly edition, featuring central Iowa landmarks on the board game. (KCCI)

💪 Iowa's unemployment rate decreased slightly to 3.7%, marking its first drop in over a year and a half, according to the latest jobs report. (DSM Register)

🚜 Iowa farmland values increased slightly in the past year but not enough to keep up with inflation. (Iowa Public Radio)

Hi, there! We asked you to share your unique holiday ornaments, and you didn't disappoint:

• "Our dog Winston's Bark Ranger tags from all the National Parks we visited this year." — Susan Sandor of Ankeny.