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Neighbor’s wellness check prompts Home Inc. purchase and rebuild; council honors resident who raised alarm
Summary
The council recognized West Des Moines resident Sarah Shires after her request for a wellness check led to life-saving intervention, relocation of her neighbor and Home Inc.'s purchase and redevelopment of the property. The council adopted a proclamation honoring Shires' actions.
The West Des Moines City Council on Aug. 18 recognized Sarah Shires for actions that city officials said led to a life‑saving intervention and the redevelopment of a home by the nonprofit Home Inc.
What happened: Council members said Shires requested a wellness check at a neighbor's home at 636 Tenth Street. City staff and emergency responders determined the neighbor needed relocation for health and safety reasons; Home Inc. purchased the property and this summer broke ground on a new single-family home at the site.
Why it matters: Council members and the nonprofit said the intervention moved a vulnerable resident into a “healthier and more supportive living environment” and enabled redevelopment of the property into a new single-family home. The council noted the case as an example of community members and city partners working together.
Council action: Mayor Russ Trimble read a proclamation honoring Sarah Shires and the council voted 5–0 to adopt it. Shires spoke at the meeting and emphasized the collaborative nature of the response, praising emergency responders, Home Inc., city housing staff and neighborhood volunteers.
Next steps: City and nonprofit partners have completed a public groundbreaking and are proceeding with construction on the new home; council members said the effort was a rapid, coordinated response to a welfare concern raised by a neighbor.
Ending: Council members asked staff to convey the council's thanks to all partner organizations involved and praised Shires for raising the initial concern that led to the intervention.
