The city of Des Moines, Iowa is looking into proposals to address its homeless population following a recent Supreme Court ruling that allowed the city of Grants Pass, Oregon to penalize sleeping in public.
In the wake of this decision, city leaders in Des Moines are calling for a “harder-line” approach to help deal with homeless campsites by reducing the number of days people can leave their belongings and fining people camping in public spaces.
Getting People Off the Streets
Chris Coleman, a city council member and chair of the Homeless Coordinating Council, says the new ordinance proposals to deal with homelessness are aimed at getting people off the streets and into programs that will ultimately improve their lives.
“And I know it’s hard to live on the streets,” Coleman said. “It’s not easy. It’s not healthy, a lot of times it’s not safe. But we have too many people (who feel like) that’s a better situation than moving into one of our shelters, and that’s a problem.
Improving Shelters
Coleman also asserted that part of the solution needs to be improving the quality of shelters, services, and programs for the homeless so staying on the street is not such an attractive option.
“And so we need to improve our shelters and make it not quite so easy to live on the streets. We want it to be easier to live where there are services and programs that can build their lives better,” Coleman said.
Opposing Viewpoint
Des Moines Council member Josh Mandelbaum who heads an organization that supports homelessness service providers, criticized the recent proposal.
According to Mandelbaum, there is a lack of resources for the homeless if they get kicked off the streets. He said that Polk County, where Des Moines resides, lacks shelter space for the current homeless population and affordable housing options are slim.
American Homelessness
Homelessness in America has been on the rise in recent years. According to data from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), homelessness in the United States skyrocketed by 12% in 2023.
This brought the unhoused level to to highest number of people experiencing homelessness since yearly surveys started in 2007 to count the homeless population in the country.
Need For Solutions
When the data was released, HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge emphasized the need for solutions in the country to address the problem.
“This data underscores the urgent need for support for proven solutions and strategies that help people quickly exit homelessness and that prevent homelessness in the first place,” said Fudge.
Growing Concern
Council member Coleman noted that there has been a rise in the visibility of homeless people that has been worrying Des Moines residents.
The latest figures of the homelessness count in Polk County conducted in January showed an 11% increase over last year.
Tipping Point
According to Coleman, the city has reached a “tipping point” that if not addressed could make the situation spiral “out of control.”
“And we have to be very serious about sounding the alarm that it’s important to act. To do more, fund more, provide more and hold people accountable more than ever,” said Coleman. “Or the tipping point will happen.”
Soon to Be Considered
According to City Manager Malcolm Hankins, the ordinances could go into effect as soon as 14 days after they are approved. They are due to be considered at a Council meeting on Monday, July 22.
The proposed ordinance will feature two primary changes that will affect homeless camp cleanups in public.
Encroachment Policy
The first primary change involves the way cleanups of camps are done. Under current rules, a resident has to file a complaint to get them removed and then the camp owner is given 10 days to clean up their tent, shelter, and belongings before they are removed and disposed of by the city.
If passed, the new ordinance would allow the city to act without a complaint and would only give the camp owner three days to move their items. However, the city would also store items of value for up to 30 days without charge.
Camping Restrictions
The second major change to city rules involves the act of camping itself on sidewalks, streets, parks, and other public spaces.
If someone is caught camping out, they will be given 24 hours to clean up the campsite themselves, otherwise, they will be subject to a fine of $120.
Mercy For the Weather
One restriction to the new rules, if the ordinance proposal passes, is that the city will have to hold off on clearing camps if the weather forecasts predict a wind chill below ten degrees Fahrenheit over a 48-hour period.
“This is about helping people. And we are not helping people when we let them perpetually live on our streets and in our woods,” Coleman said. “We can be a better community on that. But it takes both a carrot and a stick, and we need to be good at both of those things.”
