The Granger native believes God has called him and HOPE Builders to help solve what he calls Des Moines' housing crisis. HOPE stands for "Helping Other People Every Day." The group is not affiliated with Hope Ministries, which operates the Bethel Mission and related facilities. More than 5,700 people experienced homelessness in Des Moines at some point in 2007, up nearly 500 from the previous year, according to the Iowa Institute for Community Alliances, which conducts annual studies of homelessness in Iowa. Costello addressed the City Council two weeks ago to gain favor for his group's mission, but instead he drew criticism for the group's methods. City leaders complimented the group's desire to help, but expressed frustration that HOPE Builders defied building, fire and safety regulations when members assembled the shacks, or "hooches" as Costello calls them.
Ecuador RPCV David Costello is the public face of HOPE Builders, a nonprofit group that helped construct a small cluster of huts along the Des Moines River that city officials and a district court judge have ordered torn down
Man credits Des Moines huts for raising awareness
By JASON PULLIAM | The Des Moines Register
9:43 AM CST, December 8, 2008
DES MOINES, Iowa - A Des Moines man with little money and scant political backing has triggered a flash point in the city's struggle to combat hunger and homelessness.
David Costello, a 67-year-old retiree, is the public face of HOPE Builders, a nonprofit group that helped construct a small cluster of huts along the Des Moines River that city officials and a district court judge have ordered torn down.
The controversial camp's residents were evicted and the huts can be leveled as soon as Monday, Dec. 8, but Costello and his supporters say they are far from finished.
"It's already been turned into a positive," Costello said. "We've raised awareness. I know the people of Des Moines are compassionate, and if we commit our hearts and souls, we can lick this problem right now."
Costello is trying to draw upon his faith and his past experiences as a farmer, Peace Corps volunteer, Firestone tire builder and union leader to compel broad public action to fight homelessness.
Costello is the same activist who, in summer 2006, distributed fliers at metro-area churches that called for peace and decried the United States' war in Iraq.
This time, the Granger native believes God has called him and HOPE Builders to help solve what he calls Des Moines' housing crisis.
HOPE stands for "Helping Other People Every Day." The group is not affiliated with Hope Ministries, which operates the Bethel Mission and related facilities.
More than 5,700 people experienced homelessness in Des Moines at some point in 2007, up nearly 500 from the previous year, according to the Iowa Institute for Community Alliances, which conducts annual studies of homelessness in Iowa.
Costello addressed the City Council two weeks ago to gain favor for his group's mission, but instead he drew criticism for the group's methods.
City leaders complimented the group's desire to help, but expressed frustration that HOPE Builders defied building, fire and safety regulations when members assembled the shacks, or "hooches" as Costello calls them.
Some of the fears held among Des Moines leaders about the safety of the shanties were confirmed Dec. 1 when one of the huts burned to the ground and left the homeless man who was sleeping inside with minor burns.
City officials later that day declared the huts fire hazards and ordered their residents out the next day.
Costello shamed city officials at the time, but said he will apologize and appeal for their help again at Monday night's City Council meeting.
Des Moines leaders want to harness the passion of Costello and HOPE Builders to help address poverty in a way that doesn't flout city codes.
"I think they have the best of intentions," City Manager Rick Clark said. "Our goal in working with them is to make sure their future actions fall within the confines of what we can do here in Des Moines."
Costello has said city officials, shelters and social service providers have been slow to deliver the level of outreach and programs homeless people need to get back on their feet.
He says he fears that if much more time passes, the city could face conditions he saw during his time in the late 1990s as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ecuador.
"If you're going to help the poor, you have to be with them," he said. "You have to experience and go through the suffering."
Costello, Chuck Galeazzi, Dwight Mericle and the others behind HOPE Builders have made offers on two Des Moines homes. They want to call their sanctuary for the homeless "HOPE House."
Costello sat inside the Catholic Worker House at 1310 Seventh St. on Friday and described the faith that drives HOPE's work.
Frank Cordaro of the Catholic Worker offered a one-word endorsement of Costello's vision for combating poverty and homelessness: "Amen."
