Des Moines launches public sleeping, camping bans
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Des Moines is now enforcing its public sleeping and camping bans after a series of City Council initiatives were met, the city announced in a news release early Thursday.
Why it matters: The initiatives are intended to prevent unintended consequences of the new ordinances that could counter the city's goals of reducing its homelessness crisis.
- Critics, including Polk County Attorney Kimberly Graham, have warned that missteps could inflame problems associated with homelessness and cause the city additional legal headaches.
Catch up fast: The number of unhoused people and instances of illegal camping has escalated recently, with some complaints reporting blocked building entrances and human waste and trash in public walkways.
- DSM proposed the bans last July, shortly after a U.S. Supreme Court decision effectively allowed cities to enact more restrictive laws targeting outdoor camping.
- The City Council approved the ordinances in September after public feedback and multiple revisions.
Zoom in: Enforcement was on hold until city manager Scott Sanders determined that enough progress on the council's 10 initiatives had been completed.
- They included procedures to store personal items and care for animals left at the sites.
- More outreach workers, a hearing officer to expedite appeals, and the opening of public restrooms were also ordered.
How it works: The ordinances prohibit people from sleeping on sidewalks, streets, and doorways as a matter of public safety.
- They allow the city to remove campsites with as little as 24 hours' notice and assess $15 fines — as opposed to a previous process requiring a 10-day window and no fines.
State of play: Thursday's press release does not specify when enforcement officially started but states that no citations had been issued yet.
- The ACLU of Iowa stands behind its earlier warnings that the ordinances risk violating a person's due process and constitutional rights, director Mark Stringer told Axios earlier this week.
What's next: Work continues to improve some of the initiatives, including efforts to increase shelter beds and expand housing options, Sanders said in Thursday's release.