Des Moines accuses cities of sending homeless people to its shelters

Des Moines alleges other communities are transporting people experiencing homelessness to its shelters — an accusation officials from multiple cities deny.

Why it matters: The allegation comes as the city asks some of these same metro governments to bolster services for people who will be affected by DSM's proposed sleeping and camping bans.

Catch up quick: DSM's proposals follow recent increases in homeless encampments and a U.S. Supreme Court decision that allows cities to regulate illegal camps.

• The City Council approved the second of three readings of the ordinances last week.

What they're saying: The last known addresses of about half of the people who receive local shelter services are outside of Des Moines, Mayor Connie Boesen said in last week's council meeting when noting her desire to have the Metro Advisory Council (MAC) help find solutions.

• Neighboring governments and social welfare advocacy groups are "bringing them from Waterloo. They're bringing them from Osceola. They're bringing them around and dropping them at our shelter," Boesen said.
• Councilperson Josh Mandelbaum accused Ankeny of using a policy that permits police to transport people camping in its parks to metro shelters, effectively sending them to Des Moines.

Yes, but: The source of the mayor's data is unclear. Nearly 84% of those experiencing homelessness in a Polk County estimate earlier this year reported their last permanent address as being in Polk.

• A DSM spokesperson deferred questions about the statistic to Central Iowa Shelter & Services, which did not respond to Axios' inquiry on Monday.

The other side: Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart tells Axios that it is "unequivocally false" that his city transports people experiencing homelessness to DSM.

• Osceola City Administrator Ty Wheeler tells Axios about a recent situation where a person was transported to DSM for assistance at the person's request. But Wheeler denied there being "a pipeline of homeless persons" coming from his municipality.
• Ankeny has transported at least one person experiencing homelessness to a Des Moines hospital but police have not transferred anyone to a homeless shelter in the last year, city spokesperson Amy Baker tells Axios.

What's next: A MAC subcommittee will review how area governments can work together to resolve homelessness, Boesen said in last week's meeting. The group includes officials from three counties and 19 cities.

• The DSM City Council meets next week but final approval of the ordinances could be delayed amidst continued scrutiny.