Central Iowa Shelter

Central Iowa Shelter (formerly Churches United Shelter) is a homeless shelter located at 205 15th street in Des Moines, Iowa. According to their pamphlet Central Iowa Shelter touts itself as the "shelter of last resort" as they are the only homeless shelter in the Des Moines area that will take people who are high on drugs or intoxicated.

According to their website, Central Iowa Shelter was formed by 9 area churches in the early 1990s to give the homeless a place to stay. The Central Iowa homeless seem to prefer it to other area shelters due to its lack of rules and its tolerance.Fact|date=January 2008 The "Des Moines Register" reported that this is central Iowa's largest shelter. Central Iowa Shelter calls 911 more than 250 times each year and is well known to local police, firemen, and paramedics.

External links

* [http://www.centraliowashelter.org/ Central Iowa Shelter & Services]

References

* [http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070424/BUSINESS01/704240384/1001/RSS01 Des Moines Register, April 24, 2007 – High-flying commodity prices crimp U.S. food buying for poor - The cutback in the surplus purchases is apparent as Iowa pantries and soup kitchens stock fewer items.]
* [http://www.bettercommunities.org/index.cfm?method=nimby.view&nimbyID=88 The NIMBY Report on the continuing struggle for inclusive communities, Number 76, December, 2006 - Iowa: Shelter struggles to find suitable location in Des Moines ]
* [http://www.kcci.com/news/11522028/detail.html KCCI - April 4, 2007 - Des Moines Council Gets Lesson On Helping Homeless - Leaders See Davenport Shelter's Operations]