CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – An Iowa bill that would designate homeless shelters as Drug-Free Zones would also impose criminal penalties on shelter staff and strip state funding from organizations found in violation.
House File 2584 would classify homeless shelters and a 300-foot radius around them as Drug-Free Zones. The zone around Willis Dady Homeless Shelter in Cedar Rapids, for example, would encompass nearby Wellington Park and dozens of surrounding homes.
Increased penalties for offenders and staff
The bill would increase fines and add an additional year in prison for drug offenders convicted of crimes within a designated zone. Shelter staff could also face penalties, including an Aggravated Misdemeanor charge if convicted of helping residents access drugs.
“They would have a criminal history, they would have to pay fines that they likely cannot pay or afford,” said Alicia Faust, executive director at Willis Dady…