Meeting Public Comments

Brant Kassel []

Homelessness is not a crime. It is a symptom of economic failures. We have enough houses and food and money to fix these issues. We lack a moral backbone to stand up for those who are worse off. Never mind that it will cost more to enforce these laws than to house these folks. Never mind that giving people money results in them finding stable housing. How shameful that in the face of human suffering and misery that we are somehow choosing penalties and punitive action for the crime of being poor or not being able to afford housing.

Natasha Drake []

This bill will do more damage to our community and will criminalize our neighbors simply for existing. We cannot criminalize homelessness and simultaneously do nothing to ensure people have the proper support in life to meet their basic need. Most Iowans dont even have enough savings in the bank to cover a $1,000 emergency. As someone with two chronic medical conditions who incurs thousands in unexpected bills at a time due to visits to the emergency room, surgeries, & ongoing treatments, were it not for the financial security & backing of my parents & grandparents, I too would be homeless. In this economy & society, someones wealth is not determined solely by hard work. It is by sheer luck & privilege. Human beings dont deserve punishment for being less fortunate, they deserve compassion. Nothing in this bill will do anything to solve homelessness and will instead only criminalize your family members, friends, & neighbors for situations that could be resolved by simply dedicating enough resources to our communitys needs.

Maggie Canero []

Its inhumane that we have to convince our government that people deserve housing and assistance before being incarcerated for not having a home. Its obvious you are attempting to maximize prison populations in order to exploit people for free labor using the 13th amendment. Its cowardly you try to hide these things from your constituents. Behind closed doors its easy to strip people of their most basic rights. Its a lot harder when you look us in the face, isnt it? We see what youre doing and we arent going to forget it. Your silence will not protect you. Your complicity will be remembered.

Kelsey Vail []

Its unfathomable to me that our government would spend time and energy debating the legality of a persons right to exist. Poverty is cause by our government. If people are without adequate housing they have not broken a law, we as a society failed them. How can anyone think the answer is to criminalize people for circumstances beyond their control. This is absolutely shameful and a complete waste of time. Time and effort should be spent helping people without adequate housing not punishing them.

Michaelyn Mankel []

Criminalizing people who dont have homes for falling asleep is cruel and it doesnt make anyone safer. Policies like this keep people entrenched in poverty. Please read this out loud, we want to penalize people who dont have beds to sleep in and then ask yourself what kind of human being would do this to another human being? People have died outside and alone MY NEIGHBORS IN DES MOINES HAVE FROZEN TO DEATH because they have nowhere safe to sleep.

Abby Bankes []

Criminalizing homelessness is the most backwards way possible to solve homelessness. First of all, how is someone experiencing homelessness supposed to find housing considering our minimum wage is still absolutely impossible to survive on? Secondly, if this bill passes and people are arrested and get charges on their record simply for living outside because THERE ARE NO OTHER OPTIONS, do you know how much harder that would make it for them to find housing??? Have you talked to anybody who has ever been homeless ever? Based on the contents on this bill, the answer is a resounding NO. If you had, I hope youd be finding a solution to why our neighbors keep freezing to death instead of ways to incarcerate them.

Tricia Ingram Williams []

This is absolutely disgusting. Leave unhoused people alone! Sleeping in public spaces is no threat to anyone. Use common sense and decency to guide your decisions, rather than hatred and fear.

Allan Merz-Rosendale []

Instead of trying to fix homelessness with a stick, why not try a carrot?I don't see how criminalizing poverty eliminates it. If you want to solve a homelessness crisis, you provide better access to housing. Period.This is just unnecessary cruelty.

Ren Mattson []

Homelessness is not a crime. Please do not advance this bill. Instead of criminalizing homelessness, why not support our houseless neighbors? There are so many alternatives that could help houseless folks rather than further jeopardizing them for something thats out of their control.

Zakariyah Hill []

Criminalizing houselessness adds an unjust layer of suffering to those already facing hardships. It's crucial to approach this issue with empathy, recognizing the underlying struggles people endure. Addressing homelessness through compassion and support rather than punishment is a step toward building a more compassionate society.

Meghan Johnson []

Homelessness is not a crime and should not be addressed as such. We need action that will aid Americas homeless population. Criminalizing activities that individuals depend on for survival is despicable.

Luke Bascom []

What is the intent of this bill? To penalize people who don't have beds to sleep in? What would that accomplish?? Who would it help? Policies like this are cruel they destroy lives & make the problem worse. What kind of person would support this bill?

Nicole Gomez []

The moral test of a society is the way it cares for and treats its most vulnerable members. If you cared, you would want to solve the problem of homelessness. It is a no brainer that you cannot solve homelessness with fines, jail time and trashing the little possessions they have. Provide housing, stop othering and criminalizing poor people. Instead of creating more separation and barriers make it easier for these people to be helped by their community members who would love and care for them.

Millie Varley []

You need to provide support to people who can't afford a home, not criminalize being unhoused.

Asher McClain []

Provide access to housing. Provide a solution to the problem. Criminalizing poverty has never been and will never be a solution. Shame on you!

Olivia Houchins-McCallum []

The further criminalization of the unhoused has no benefits. Making existing while poor even more difficult and expensive and dangerous is a poor choice that will hurt everyone. All people deserve understanding, resources, and care.

Luis No last name []

I am not gonna sit here and try to appeal to your humanity as youve proven time and time again that you have none.Im addressing Iowans at this point.Dear working class Iowa, I see you struggle to make ends meet while rich Republicans and Democrats divvy up your tax dollars and deny you your thriving wages. Wages they hold over your heads to threaten you with the same unfortunate fate our houseless siblings endure. I see you struggle as they push on an AntiTrans bill targeting you while you just wish to live on peace and in community. I see you struggle as these people prioritize the profit they make over the death of 10s of thousands civilians in Gaza and the West Bank telling us, we dont have money for Iowans sorry were too busy murdering children and paying for others healthcare.I see you struggle when these rich politicians introduce bills that criminalizes homelessness, a human condition only capable of existing under a system the prioritizes capital over human lives.I urge you as working class people to start coming together to build the infrastructure we need to take care of each other and the community because the people sitting in that capital dont care about you or your families and much less the most vulnerable people in our community. We are all much more likely to find ourselves at the receiving end of these atrocious bills then we will ever be able to live these cushy lifestyles that these politicians live in while the rest of Iowa struggles. They only care about their pockets and the sooner we realize were on the same team, they lose.