To the Des Moines City Council, City Manager, and Mayor Boesen,

We are a group of Des Moines residents, led by small business owners and community organizers, and as constituents of yours we are collectively writing to express our concerns regarding the fast-tracking of a policy that is a direct attack of cruel and unnecessary punishment against people experiencing houselessness in our city that will fine folks for sleeping on public property. Rather than further criminalizing houselessness by issuing fines, we implore you as our city leaders to focus our tax dollars on providing shelter, sustainable housing, and more public services in Des Moines as your top priority. 

As small business owners and residents of Des Moines in areas like downtown and Highland Park, many of us have regular engagement with our unhoused neighbors and to think that our city leaders want to fine these folks simply for needing a place to sleep is absolutely shameful. Penalizing those experiencing houselessness is not only a direct violation of human rights, it is not a viable solution to this vulnerable reality that our unhoused community faces. 

The punitive approach that you are fast-tracking does not address the underlying issues of poverty, mental health, addiction, and lack of safe affordable housing that contribute to houselessness. Instead, it pushes people further into the margins of society, making it harder for them to reintegrate and rebuild their lives. The city has already spent over $150,000 taxpayer dollars on destroying homeless camps since March this year (data from July 22 special city council meeting), perhaps our city’s resources would be better spent focusing first on completing the projects in the pipeline and on providing sustainable support for our most vulnerable citizens rather than literally throwing taxpayer dollars in the dumpster.

Criminalizing houseless individuals can lead to a cycle of punishment that exacerbates their already vulnerable situation. Arrests and fines (no matter the size) can result in criminal records, making it even more difficult for individuals to secure employment, housing, and access to necessary services. In contrast, alternative housing solutions have proven to be more effective in addressing houselessness. Studies have shown that Housing First programs significantly reduce chronic houselessness and improve outcomes related to mental health, addiction recovery, employment, and overall well-being by providing a secure and supportive environment.

Taxpayer dollars should be spent on the development of more affordable and transitional housing options that offer temporary, structured environments where individuals can receive support services, such as job training, counseling, and healthcare to help them transition to permanent housing. Such housing must be accessible to public transit, public services such as libraries, healthcare, and supportive services - the very housing that was denied re-zoning on the southside at the July 22nd city council meeting. You have told us over and over again in these meetings and in emails that there are many housing projects in the pipeline, however when those projects are turned down time and time again due to criticism from residents with the "not in my backyard" mentality we are continually seeing you over promise and under-deliver.

In order for a member of the City Government to serve their constituents as strong leaders, they must ensure they lead with empathy, compassion, and integrity. We would like to thank Councilman Mandelbaum for being the only member of the council who has continuously voted against these harmful encampment policies that are being fast-tracked by others. When we have leaders who truly listen and believe in the constituents who elected them, we are rewarded with healthy and vibrant communities as a result. It is not leadership to schedule inaccessible city council meetings at 7:30am on a Monday morning in an attempt to secretly propose harmful policy that fines those who are most vulnerable in our city - this is shameful behavior. Communities built on and led by compassion and empathy do not criminalize human misfortune and suffering. 

As small business owners and residents of Des Moines, we implore you to take a step back and please place these harmful encampment policies on hold and instead focus on securing safer shelter options, transitional housing, and more public services to aid our unhoused population. Please focus on the goal of creating a compassionate and inclusive community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive by showing up for ALL of your constituents, including those who have a tarp over their head instead of a roof -  a city where small businesses and residents are proud to call home.

SINCERELY, 

Des Moines Small Business Owners and Residents