Do It Better, Des Moines – Bleeding Heartland

Tim Nelson is a campaign worker from Des Moines.

The Des Moines City Council will hold an emergency meeting on July 22 to decide whether to criminalize homelessness in the city.

This ordinance would allow the city to fine homeless people for sleeping in public spaces, and it would also allow the city to more quickly dispose of the few assets these people have.

As someone who has been homeless myself, I find this ordinance cruel and ineffective.

In 2014 I had a major mental breakdown, which left me homeless for a few months.

In between my hospital stays, I often slept in parks or other places.

If this ordinance had been in effect, I could easily have been fined, which would have made it even more difficult to escape the homelessness spiral.

What pulled me out of homelessness was the resources. If Des Moines wants to solve its homeless problem, the city needs to spend money on providing shelter instead of spending money on enforcing this cruel future ordinance.

I would encourage anyone with a conscience to contact the Des Moines City Council and Mayor.

Our homeless population is unable to advocate for themselves, so we must advocate on their behalf.

Editor’s Note from Laura Belin: Here is the full text of the proposed regulation.