Des Moines destroys homeless camps
Homeless advocates from Hope Builders worked alongside unsheltered homeless people to build huts from scrap lumber for them to live in the woods. The “hootches” were solidly built and insulated and even had windows. A homeless advocated explained why the men preferred to live separately and not in shelters: “Everybody needs private space in this world.”
But after a fire in one of the huts (with minor injuries to one resident), the City of Des Moines tore all of the huts down. (I hope there are no house fires in Des Moines. The city just might decide to tear down all the houses as a precautionary measure.) I guess the city decided it was better for all of the men to sleep outside in the snow and freezing temperatures than to take a chance that there might be another fire. So, definitely freeze vs. possibly burn. Hmmm…
These videos are must-watch:
about Hope Builders, the huts and the residents
[video link]
the city destroys the camp; and more
[video link]
Thanks for passing this along, Anna. Love you.
December 17th, 2008 at 10:32 am
I just fired off an email to the Mayor and City Council of Des Moines giving them hell for their actions and asking them if they had provided a replacement for what they had destroyed. Finished by wishing them a merry and warm Christmas. Suggest others do the same. Enough emails and they may give their actions some thought. Tho if their City Council, Mayor and City Manager are anything like ours they are deaf, blind and certainly dumb. BB
December 15th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Welcome!
December 15th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
[...] two video interviews about Hope Builders homeless camps, since destroyed by the City of Des Moines, a homeless advocate says: “Most of the religious [...]