Denver, CO. Letter to Mayor re Cold Weather Shelter Needs

Dear Mayor Johnston and staff, 

We are writing today to make clear what is needed for cold weather shelter for houseless people in Denver this winter. 

We are in the community on the streets and at shelters every day and deeply aware of the suffering of houseless people in the cold. We give people rides to shelters at all times of day and night, we get people gear to try and survive on the streets (after the City takes their gear), we serve food at shelters, we meet people where they are at on the streets and support them how we can, we listen to people share their experiences with shelter and streets, and some of us personally have years of experience living houseless in Denver. 

We acknowledge the efforts of HOST to provide more shelter in the cold, but more is needed to meet the need. Furthermore, better communication is also needed as the information to the public, advocates, providers, and especially houseless people has been inaccurate and inconsistent. Text message updates have stopped going out (why?). Shelter activation is usually announced late in the day, making it hard to get that info out to people. HOST, DSOC and shelter providers are usually told before advocates and community members and it takes a long time to approve the press release. Advocates and community members would like to be informed at the same time as DSOC and shelter providers. We are often scrambling at the last minute to identify additional shelter space and that leads to confusion and difficulty getting info out. This is another reason we are adamant about having the additional large site (McNicols or Coliesum) up before shelters get full. Much time is wasted for advocates and houseless people going around trying to find shelter due to the lack of space and communication issues. 

We have been communicating with you, your staff, and HOST about cold weather shelter needs continually through this winter. Severe cold weather can continue into May. Before we enter the next cold weather activation the following needs for cold weather sheltering must be ready for implantation: 

• Open McNichols or the Coliseum at the start of the next (and following) cold weather activation(s). Announce this shelter in press releases as a Front Door Shelter for the entirety of the SWA. 
• Open all other cold weather shelters also at the start of the cold weather activation. 
• Ensure transportation is provided to and from all sites that are activated, regardless of who is the service provider. (Some CWS did not have transportation available as the service provider was not under contract to provide it.)
• Post clear signs informing people they can stay inside and wait for transportation to another shelter site any time a shelter is full. 
• Ensure the Family Connection Center phone line is working and fully staffed. (This line has not been working on many occasions, giving a message saying there are ‘system problems.’ Other times families have had to call the line upwards of 30 times to get ahold of staff.) 
• Provide clearer, timely, more concise information to the houseless community, and advocates. (i.e. text message alerts, information provided to day shelters, and advocates)
• Direct police, SET, and yellow vests to stop all enforcement (including move along orders without a citation) of laws used to push people and their property out of public space. This includes but is not limited to camping ban, trespass on public property/alleys/CDOT, or park curfew/erecting structures in parks. (This is in line with the promise you made to us at a meeting at the beginning of this winter where you said police would not be sweeping during cold weather activations). 

We firmly believe these actions must be done, and expect them to be done upon the next cold weather activation. It is necessary for the City to provide this shelter. We appreciate your work to meet these needs to reduce the suffering and loss of limbs and life. Please let us know if you have any questions. 

Sincerely, 
Housekeys Action Network Denver
Mutual Aid Monday 
Together Denver