Omaha and Des Moines Implement Divergent Policies on Homeless Encampments Amid Rising Fatalities
Omaha and Des Moines are taking different approaches to managing homeless encampments as fatalities among unhoused individuals rise in the Midwest. Omaha has launched a pilot program to manage encampments with community involvement, while Des Moines enforces a camping ban, leading to frequent displacement of unhoused individuals. Recent deaths in these communities, including a woman who died of hypothermia in Omaha, highlight the severe risks faced by those living outdoors. The U.S. Supreme Court's 2024 decision in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson allows cities to criminalize unauthorized camping, influencing these policies. 
