The City and County of Denver activated its Cold Weather Shelter Plan at 1 p.m. today and will keep it open until weather conditions improve. Whether you’re in Denver or elsewhere in the area and need shelter, here are open shelters across the area.

Yellow Scene sourced the following information during the weekend of January 17th, 2025.

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The post Open Shelters for January 2026 – English and Spanish appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Cold Weather Expected!

The City and County of Denver is activating its Cold Weather Shelter Plan at 1 pm Thursday, Jan. 8, and will keep it open until weather conditions improve.

Individuals in need of shelter are encouraged to go to “front door” shelter access points:

• For individual men – Denver Rescue Mission Lawrence Street Community Center, 2222 Lawrence St.
• For individual women – Samaritan House, 2301 Lawrence St.
• For youth/young adults ages 12-24 – Urban Peak, 1630 S. Acoma St.
• Families in need of shelter – Inn at the Highland, 2601 Zuni St. (families must arrive in person)
• For 24/7 shelter – 2601 W. 7th Ave.,  375 S. Zuni St., and 4411 Peoria St.
• For additional support or questions – Call the Connection Center at 303-295-3366.

Cold weather poses a serious danger to people who are unsheltered, and the city encourages people to come inside. Residents who see someone in need should call 311 or direct them to the nearest shelter. Find more information about shelter access on Denver’s city website.

The post Denver To Activate Cold Weather Shelter Plan Until Further Notice appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Junie Joseph represents Colorado’s House District 10 in the State Legislature. As a dedicated public servant and advocate for her community, she brings a thoughtful, informed perspective to the issues shaping Colorado today.

Her contributions to Yellow Scene draw on firsthand legislative experience, offering readers insight into policy discussions and their real-world impacts.

Junie Joseph appears here as a guest contributor for Yellow Scene Magazine.

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On August 1st, I was honored to receive the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators’ (NCEL) Rising Environmental Leader Award. I accepted the recognition with deep gratitude, but also a quiet irony. While I have fought hard for clean air and water, for wildfire mitigation, and for climate resilience, my most meaningful environmental work has not come through traditional “green” policy.

It has come through renters’ rights.

Each year that I’ve served in the Colorado Legislature, I’ve introduced legislation to keep more of our neighbors housed. Housing justice is environmental justice. Renters protection, too often treated as a separate policy silo, is central to building a sustainable, humane, and climate-resilient future.

I didn’t always see it that way. But lived experience has a way of clarifying our purpose.

When I first moved to Boulder to attend law school, I struggled to find affordable housing. I had a car and told myself, “If worst comes to worst, I can live in it.” For about two nights, I was technically homeless. A classmate offered me a spare bedroom for a short stay, and I considered it. However, I had another plan. I went camping with my law school class while waiting to hear back from a local Church of Christ member, someone connected to me through my congregation in Orlando. On the second day of camping, she called and offered me a room in her house. I stayed with her for nearly three months.

Even as a sitting Boulder City Council member, I remained housing insecure. I lived in substandard housing, an apartment I never fully furnished. Visitors would comment that it looked like I had just moved in. In truth, I feared eviction. The less I had, the easier it would be to leave. I learned from those living on the streets: their backpacks and carts were filled with the essentials of a life constantly on the move. I vowed to never carry more than I could walk away with.

That experience has shaped my policy work. I have passed one renters protection bill every year, including HB23-1120, which introduced eviction safeguards for Coloradans receiving public assistance, and HB25-1240, which protects tenants from discrimination based on housing subsidies. I also sponsored HB24-1286, which expands access to legal services for low-income renters through the Equal Justice Fund. These are deliberate, focused steps toward ensuring our communities remain stable, secure, and resilient. Because housing insecurity is not just a crisis of shelter. It is a crisis of environmental sustainability.

Joseph accepts NCEL Rising Environmental Leader Award Photo from NCEL

When people lose housing, they often lose stability in every other part of their lives. They turn to public spaces to survive: parks, trails, and open lands. Homelessness can be physically and emotionally shattering. It alienates, isolates, and exposes people to judgment and criminalization. It also forces people into the margins of our environmental assets, treating nature not as a refuge but as a last resort.

According to the Common Sense Institute, there were nearly 10,000 unhoused individuals in the Denver metro area in 2024. Colorado ranked ninth in the country for homelessness per capita. If we want to protect our streets, parks, and open spaces, we must keep people housed.

Unfortunately, the federal government is moving in the opposite direction.

On July 24th, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order focused on “ending crime and disorder” in American cities. The language is coded, but the intent is clear: to criminalize poverty and dismantle harm reduction strategies. His order calls for the removal of encampments, bans on “urban camping,” targets safe consumption sites, rolls back civil rights protections, ends “housing first” policies, and expands pathways to civil commitment for those with mental health and substance use disorders.

These are not policies of compassion or safety. They are policies of abandonment and fear.

The best way to reduce encampments is not through bulldozers and criminal charges. It is through housing. Through strong renters protections. Through stability and dignity.

We all want beautiful, vibrant streets and thriving parks. But those goals will remain out of reach if we continue to push people to the edges of society instead of supporting them where they are. If we want to protect our environment, both natural and civic, we must recognize that keeping people housed is as essential as any recycling program or solar subsidy.

Renters protection is environmental protection.

And I will keep fighting for it, award or not.

The post Renters Protection Is Environmental Protection appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

By: Eric Strumpf

The Housekeys Action Network Denver (HAND) recently unveiled new survey data examining the state of hotel shelters in the Denver area. The report is part of ongoing efforts to examine the effectiveness of alternative sheltering models and make any improvements to better serve the homeless population. 

HAND’s survey data sheds light on the conditions of Denver’s hotel shelters, which have been used past their limit as temporary housing for homeless individuals since the start of COVID-19. The main problem that the survey addresses is the need to improve stable housing and find long-term outcomes for residents. 

From March through July 2024, HAND’s outreach team conducted surveys and interviews at Denver hotel shelter sites. One hundred seventy-five surveys and 60 interviews were conducted with the respondents, who were given $15 gift cards as compensation for their time.

The biggest takeaway from the data is that residents have a strong desire to allow guests into their homes and to improve transportation options. Additional data from the survey shows that 65.1% believe they will be housed within the 90-day time limit, while the remaining 34.9% do not believe this is enough time to find secure housing. 

Other issues found in the temporary housing include that over 30% of maintenance reports are not completed in a timely manner, and residents face problems such as trash pile-ups, dirty water from water fountains, and dead rodents on the properties. Throughout the last year, HAND received reports that their Best Western, DoubleTree, and Radisson shelters had a majority of these issues, along with problems such as black mold and a lack of access to laundry machines. 

“Resources should come faster. [They] told us we get housing, people with medical needs not getting help faster, been there 120 days and yet to talk to anyone [about] what I’m doing,” said a Best Western Resident during the HAND survey.

In response to the Supreme Court’s ruling permitting cities to enforce camping bans even without available shelter, Denver has intensified enforcement. HAND reported a 50% increase in arrests and citations related to anti-houseless ordinances from 2023 to 2024.

A significant concern highlighted in the survey data is the safety of residents at the shelter locations. In March 2024, a double homicide occurred at the DoubleTree location, leading to increased scrutiny of its safety protocols. 

According to a report by the Associated Press, the victims, Sandra Cervantes and Dustin Nunn, were found dead in a residential room at the former DoubleTree Hotel in Denver’s Central Park neighborhood. The coroner’s office listed homicide as the manner of death for both victims. 

Another resident, David Heitz, wrote about his experience visiting Fusion Studios, a homeless hotel operated by the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. The property details claim that units are fully furnished studios, equipped with a kitchenette, and offer a full-service food pantry for residents. 

Heitz talks about how at this location he has experienced rodents, fires, and was even assaulted by a fellow resident. He also lists other issues with the property, including an internet connection that doesn’t work and broken elevators. After constant complaints to the Colorado Coalition, he has been given nothing more than transfer tickets to different properties.

“When you put a bunch of formerly homeless people all under one roof – and don’t require substance abuse or mental health treatment – you’re going to have a lot of problems,” David Heitz told Newsbreak.

Through the survey data, you can find that the top responses when it comes to reasons for feeling unsafe are staff, drugs, abuse, and deaths on the properties. 

HAND suggests improved security as a first step to making all sites feel safer. HAND also suggests a more robust safety infrastructure that includes installing cameras, security lights, and automatic door locks. Then, to increase the number of staff who can be there for guests. 

One of the most critical resources for improving the living conditions of Denver’s unhoused is the Behavioral Health Solutions Center (BHSC). The BHSC has been serving as a vital resource for individuals who need immediate help. The center, located at 2929 W. 10th Ave., was opened in May 2021 and is operated by WellPower. WellPower is Colorado’s largest community mental health center, known locally and nationally as a model for innovative and effective behavioral health care. 

Council Resolution 25-0016, which renewed the city’s contract with It Takes a Village and added an additional $58,985, bringing the new total to $625,756, was approved with broad support. This secured the necessary funding to continue caring for individuals in crisis. The resolution passed with a 5-0 aye vote from Denver City Council Members. 

The following steps for HAND will likely include an extended analysis of expanding these services throughout Denver to create shelter models that are more effective and sustainable in the long term. The main goal of HAND is to help individuals transition from crisis care to permanent housing solutions. The future of homelessness and mental health care remains an evolving challenge, but solutions and programs are being tested to tame these challenges for the greater good of the community.

The post Housekeys Action Network Releases Survey Data of Hotel Shelters appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Four women are transforming the streets of Longmont and Boulder, Colorado, by charting their paths in a male-dominated industry: real estate development. Each one has a unique vision they want to bring to life, but what they have in common is a passion for enhancing the communities they call home. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women make up only 11% of the overall construction industry, and four of Colorado’s real estate developers are part of that statistic. 

Sarah Carillo began her development career over a decade ago with The Speakeasy bar, Jennifer Peterson recently broke ground on the mixed-use Casa Lou Cardenas, Greeley Sachs pivoted into real estate development after years working in construction, and Danica Powell founded the Trestle Strategy Group consulting firm after losing her job in 2008.

Carillo, owner of The Imperial 301, opened The Speakeasy bar on her own, despite having no formal training in development. As someone who handles a lot of the work on her own, Carillo has had to stand strong to make sure her voice is heard. 

Sarah Carillo at the 301 Imperial

“I’m doing this all by myself,” Carillo said about her work on The Speakeasy.

When working with investors, Carillo noticed that a majority of them were men. This is one part of the industry where she has experienced the most challenges. 

“Ninety-nine percent of all the personal investors that I have met with, and toured and gone down the path of potentially having an investor, has been a man,” Carillo told Yellow Scene Magazine. “It always gets to the point where they want to redirect the vision.”

However, she has continued to stand firm in her vision for the project. 

Ground broke on Peterson’s Casa Lou Cardenas development in 2022. When she decided to open the mixed-use building, she wanted to honor a powerful voice in Longmont’s Latino community, Eloyda “Lou” Cardenas.

“She had been very significant to the Latino voice being heard in the community at a time when things were very segregated and, frankly, there was a lot of racism,” Peterson, who owns JSY Properties, told Yellow Scene.

Cardenas was a trailblazing community member in Longmont who died in 2017 at 99 years old. She was pivotal in establishing bus transit services in Longmont, served on Longmont’s Senior Citizens Advisory Board, and established the first small Senior Opportunity Center.

When Peterson chose to open her recent mixed-use building, she wanted to memorialize Cardenas. Naming the building after one of Longmont’s trailblazers was a way to preserve her legacy. 

For Peterson, her career is about fostering communities that appreciate their cultural differences.

She started without any prior development experience and found it rewarding to learn from those she worked alongside. 

“The relationships are the best part of it,” Peterson said. “And to see when you’re finished, something beautiful and useful.”

“I think [male contractors] respect the fact that you’re doing this work,” Sachs said. “Every guy that I’ve worked with has been incredibly kind. I have two different teams that I’ve worked with downtown, and each one has been wonderful to work with. They understand the vision I have. I think they’re proud of the buildings they’ve worked on.”

Sachs has worked in construction for years and feels it is a great space for women to find a career.

“I don’t see it as a disadvantage at all to be a woman and doing real estate development,” she said. “I think sometimes people are surprised by it.” 

Sachs and Carillo have found support through their relationships with the community, including groups such as the Longmont Downtown Development Authority. They shared that the LDDA executive director, Kimberlee McKee, has been a big help behind their projects. 

Powell is the founder and owner of Trestle Strategy Group and has spent her career crafting a diverse portfolio. She has been a consultant for schools, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and more. In the past 15 years, Powell has grown used to working in a male-dominated industry. 

After being laid off in 2008, she began her firm as a “small but mighty team ” and worked to cultivate her voice in the field. 

“I think when people hire me, they know I have strong opinions and have good experience,” Powell told Yellow Scene. “I tend to have really great working relationships with my clients because they do listen.”

For Powell, it is important that her clients understand the challenges that come with real estate development, especially at a time when the field is just becoming more complex. 

One of her most rewarding and challenging projects was her work on the Ponderosa Mobile Home Park. Throughout the development process, she worked from a non-displacement premise to keep people living in their community. 

Despite difficulties, families were able to stay in their mobile homes. Now, Habitat For Humanity has joined as a partner to build homes in the community.

Danica Powell at the 2023 Chamber Leadership Awards

“About four or five families are already moved into new Habitat homes,” Powell said.

She shared that she notices being one of a few women in her field and encourages young women to get involved through programs and education. 

“I always encourage people to just be really scrappy,” Powell shared. “I think a lot of my success has come from having defeats.”

Despite the construction industry being male-dominated, it is clear that Longmont and Boulder have a supportive community of women working in real estate development right now. They have forged unique paths in the field, and there is plenty of room for other women to do the same.

Like journalism like this? Support the local press that’s been telling the truth for 25 years. Become a sustaining member and get our monthly print edition at home. We’ve weathered 9/11, floods, fires, economic crashes—and some deeply chaotic years. With your support, we’ll keep going. Because democracy still depends on journalism.

The post Building More Than Spaces: The Women Shaping Colorado’s Future, One Development at a Time appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

The city is testing a two-year guaranteed income pilot program to provide low-income households with unconditional cash stipends. While the project is only eight months old, the results have been positive. Does this mean that the city will approve a basic income program once the two-year project is over? Could this program help the homeless situation in Boulder County? 

It’s no secret that times are tough. With a rising cost of living and stagnant salaries, more and more American families cannot afford necessities like food and housing. The Financial Health Pulse 2024 U.S. Trends Report found that 70% of American households remain financially unhealthy, with day-to-day financial realities becoming harder to maintain. The U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey for 2024 revealed that 36.4% of households reported having a very difficult time paying their usual household expenses, and the people in Boulder County were more so. 

According to BestPlaces’ cost-of-living calculator, Boulder County’s cost of living is 41% higher than the national average and 17% higher than the Colorado average. What does this look like for the average family in Boulder County? The calculator suggests that in order to live comfortably, families need to earn at least $15,930 per month, a staggering 195% more expensive than the national average. 

Source: BestPlaces

One of the biggest factors driving up the cost of living in Boulder County is a lack of affordable housing. BestPlaces reports that a typical home in Boulder County is 194.9% more expensive than the national average, and renting a two-bedroom unit in Boulder costs 44.1% more than the national average. So, someone working full-time earning minimum wage, roughly $32,600, will struggle to afford housing that is 30% of their salary, as this is what the city considers “affordable housing.” 

To help families struggling to pay for housing and utilities, the City of Boulder launched Elevate at the beginning of 2024. The project offered 200 Boulder households a stipend of $500 per month for the next two years with no strings attached. Housing and Human Services Deputy Director Elizabeth Crowe revealed why the project was created.

“We see the increased need in our community as a result of COVID-19 and the rising costs of living. We believe in the transformative power of direct cash assistance and look forward to seeing its positive impact on participants and our community as a whole,”  Crowe said. 

To qualify for the project, participants had to be at least 18 years old, have experienced hardship due to COVID-19, and have an annual income between 30% and 60% of Boulder’s median income, around $30,000 to $60,000. From there, applicants were chosen via a lottery system, and the consulting firm Omni Institute, which helped manage the process, revealed that most of the applicants were families. 

The idea of a guaranteed basic income is not new and has been discussed by experts worldwide for years, whether it’s helping or not. 13 countries and 16 U.S. states are implementing basic income programs to reduce poverty with positive results. 

Shafeka Hashash, associate director of guaranteed income at the Economic Security Project, explained, “Everything is showing that these families are able to pay bills, switch careers, save for the future, spend time with their kids.”  

In the first eight months of the Elevate project, Crowe was pleased to announce that “participants are seeing significant improvements in household food security, mental health, and their ability to pay for basic needs like rent and utilities.” 

With high housing costs comes another problem: homelessness. Despite idyllic neighborhoods and picturesque landscapes, Boulder County is facing crisis levels of homelessness. In 2023, the city conducted a Point-in-Time (PIT) count that showed 727 people in Boulder County were experiencing homelessness in January 2024. However, the real number is likely much higher since unhoused people living in temporary shelters, vehicles, or short-term rentals were not included. 

Some critics are not convinced basic income programs are the solution to homelessness. Two of the biggest arguments against these kinds of projects are funding and political will. While private donors fund some projects and research grants, most are federally funded, like Boulder’s Elevate. The income project received $3 million of the $20.15 million in federal funds the city received from Biden’s economic relief package, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Critics are concerned about the potential impact on taxpayers. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton called the Guaranteed Basic-Income Pilot in Harris County unconstitutional. 

Despite concerns about whether these programs could raise taxes, multiple cities in the U.S. have implemented these programs and seen positive results, particularly Michael Tubbs’s project. Tubbs is the former mayor of Stockton, California, and founded the massively successful Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration, or SEED. The program ran for 18 months, beginning in February of 2019. During this period, 125 people in neighborhoods at or below Stockton’s median household income received an unconditional monthly stipend of $500.

Tubbs revealed to Yellow Scene Magazine that the outcome of the Stockton program far exceeded his expectations, saying, “The results were even more significant than we expected–guaranteed income had a positive effect on all these dimensions–and it turned Stockton into a national story.”

He added, “The biggest lesson we learned is that people can be trusted with money. People aren’t poor because they can’t manage money. It is because they don’t have enough money to manage.” 

The study on the project revealed that by relieving participants of financial hardships, the income program created “new opportunities for self-determination, choice, goal-setting, and risk-taking.” One participant of the program revealed that the program was a lifeline. In an interview with NPR, a participant referred to as ‘Laura’ said, “Before SEED came along, I was paying a lot of bills and didn’t know how I was gonna eat,” and added, “It’s like being able to breathe.”  

Other successful programs that offered much-needed relief for struggling participants were Alabama’s Guaranteed Basic Income program, which gave 110 single mothers $375 a month for a year, and the Denver Basic Income Project (DBIP). DBIP gave participants a lump sum of $1000 per month. According to their website, the project has provided $10.8 million to over 800 unhoused people in Denver. 

The participants themselves can see the success of these income projects. One participant in the Elevate Boulder project said, “Before I was accepted into this program, I was struggling really hard to make ends meet. The extra $500 per month has changed my life for the better in ways that are impossible to describe.” 

Tubbs told YS that over 70 guaranteed income pilot projects are happening across the country. Many of them have “ended, and a full research report has been published, and the results mirror what we [Stockton project] found.”  

Source: Stanford Basic Income Lab

Could Elevate Boulder be an answer to the city’s homeless problem? Boulder County is experiencing soaring homelessness due to people’s inability to afford housing. A study conducted by the San Francisco nonprofit Miracle Messages and the University of Southern California Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work tested whether this project could solve homelessness.

One hundred homeless people in Los Angeles County and San Francisco Bay were given $750 a month for a year. Ben Henwood from the project told Business Insider, “We ended up seeing the unsheltered numbers dropping pretty quickly in the experimental group that was getting the income.” The 30% of unsheltered participants at the start of the trial dropped to 12% by six months, so the project does have the potential to help reduce homelessness levels. 

Tubbs agrees that guaranteed income programs have the potential to decrease homelessness, explaining to Yellow Scene Magazine, “Denver’s cash program for people experiencing homelessness actually led to cost savings for the city due to less reliance on emergency services. We’re seeing that guaranteed income meets a lot of different needs precisely because cash is so flexible.” 

With the Elevate Boulder project and others across the country achieving successful results, will Boulder City permanently implement something like this? According to CPR News, Crowe feels that while the city has not determined whether it will move from pilot to permanent, after seeing the report, she hopes the program will be extended for more than two years.

This will depend on political will, which Tubbs believes is the only real barrier. He explains, “We need elected leaders who are willing to lean in and say, ‘You know what doesn’t work? The way we’ve been trying to address poverty.’” He adds, “People in government don’t need to know how to solve every single problem; we can do a lot better by getting out of the way and giving people the money they need to do what’s best for them.”   

Tubbs had a message for states and municipalities considering whether guaranteed income would work: “The answer is yes. There’s no question that guaranteed income will improve people’s lives. It’s just a question of building the political will to get the cash into their hands.”  

So, it’s clear that a guaranteed income can help more people afford housing, but it’s not a solution on its own. Even Tubbs agrees, “A guaranteed income would not solve every problem,” but he believes it sets the right foundation to help and “help us begin to alleviate poverty. And I think it would improve people’s trust in the government to meaningfully address social problems and create better safety and stability for us all.”

In addition to basic income programs, tackling the county’s affordable housing crisis and removing inhumane camping bans are necessary steps to making Boulder County more equitable to all of its citizens. 

The post The City of Boulder Releases Interim Evaluation Report for Guaranteed Income Pilot Project appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Trailhead Community in Littleton emphasizes the importance of housing access and independence for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The area’s first-of-its-kind housing project encourages “A Community of good neighbors” with the opportunity for residents to build independence and connections.

Trailhead Community’s journey was not an easy one. The team had no federal funding or county money; they were continuously turned down or had partners back out at the last minute. Despite the obstacles they faced, they pushed through and broke ground in August 2022.

Construction ended, and the building opened at the end of 2024 with 83 independent living units. Half are allocated for individuals with developmental disabilities, and the others for full-time professionals and seniors. It has 24/7 staffing and a long list of amenities, including a community kitchen and communal dining room, to facilitate social gatherings. A sports court, a theatre, and a craft room are just a few of the features available to residents.

“The whole intention is to form connectedness and to form community and break down social isolation, which is what is rampant in IDD folks and seniors,” Treasurer and Secretary Beth Rodriguez told Yellow Scene Magazine.

Just a few weeks after its opening, the team began to see shifts in the way the community was working together. They watched their residents take ownership of the building, just as they had hoped. 

“Our focus is helping our residents find that independence and empowering them to know that they are able to do this. I think that message is one that’s not commonly talked about – that many, many, many of our individuals with disabilities have the ability to live independently, successfully, and flourish,” Executive Director Jeans Mobley said. 

Trailhead Community could not have come to fruition without its beloved founder, Barb Ziegler, who dedicated her life to serving her community. She was described as a “visionary” who began her career as a teacher and started a charter school before co-founding Stepping Stone Support Center – an organization offering employment services, life skills training, and more to adults with developmental disabilities. 

When Ziegler’s husband suddenly passed away, she was left as the sole caretaker of her daughter Lexi, who has a disability. She wanted to ensure Lexi would have somewhere stable to live as they both grew older. A week later, Ziegler met with the Stepping Stone team and a group of parents to discuss what would later become Trailhead Community.  

Ziegler passed away following a lengthy health battle on October 21st, 2024. Her decade-long dream welcomed its first residents shortly after. Her spirit is embedded into the community with a team that exudes the same unwavering passion and dedication she did.

With love filling her voice, Worbley said, “In her lack of self-serving ways, [Ziegler] did not take enough credit for this project.” 

“She was the heart and soul of this project. I think it’s important to call out that she has a thread throughout this entire project,” Co-Board President Ken Wilkinson added. 

Trailhead Community is the first of its kind in the area and has already begun making waves. They have connected with families globally and spoken to people from France, India, and more. The team’s passion for supporting the community is only growing as the development does too.

As for the future of Trailhead Community, Wilkinson said, “One of the things I’m most excited about is to see how the multigenerational community comes together when we have neurotypical people and active seniors along with the IDD community come in and integrate, build community, and cross. I think it’s such a beautiful connection that I hope to see get replicated elsewhere.” 

Even with the rapid growth that they have had so far, the team made it clear that their work is far from over. They are actively trying to build resources and partnerships to expand accessibility to housing. 

Mobley reflected on their mission as a whole, saying, “There is a need for communities like this to be successful so that we can continue to build upon this and build upon being accommodating for more levels of care needs.” 

A strong support system is vital for projects like this to thrive. There are several ways to contribute to the cause, most of which are on their website. They are celebrating their milestones with a Grand Opening Gala on April 10th.

Trailhead Community is a testament to the power of perseverance and compassion. Barb Ziebler’s legacy will continue to shine and inspire future projects. The residence opening its doors is just one of its numerous milestones, and there are many more to come.

Listen to McMullen’s podcast called The Art of Construction.

Like journalism like this? Support the local press that’s been telling the truth for 25 years. Become a sustaining member and get our monthly print edition at home. We’ve weathered 9/11, floods, fires, economic crashes—and some deeply chaotic years. With your support, we’ll keep going. Because democracy still depends on journalism.

The post Trailhead Provides More than Just Housing: How one couple’s dream became a diverse community  appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Town lawmakers are debating how to build more affordable housing during a trying economic time. 

It’s becoming more expensive to live in Erie, yet pathways to lowering the cost of buying a home in the city are proving to be difficult to find. 

At issue is whether Erie should increase its affordable housing stock through subsidized or income-restricted units or through naturally occurring affordable housing. Subsidized and income-restricted units often require government funding to operate, whereas naturally occurring affordable housing refers to existing housing units that are cheaper compared to newly built homes. 

Former Mayor Justin Brooks campaigned on a promise to support the development of affordable housing and led the charge to purchase land for the Cheesman Street Residences, a 35-unit affordable housing development for Erie residents earning 120% of the area’s median income or less. That means a family of four can earn no more than $175,000. 

However, Erie’s new town leadership appears to have other ideas in mind. During a town council study session on March 4, Erie Mayor Andrew Moore said the town should revisit the affordability requirements included in Erie’s Comprehensive Plan, a planning document that is designed to guide development in the town. Moore added that the town should revisit Ordinance 017-2023, which sets forth Erie’s guidelines for affordable housing development. 

“For me, this is less about growth because I believe growth will happen,” Moore said. “It’s really more about the quality, type of housing, and, of course, the quantity of housing that we’ll move forward with.” 

Erie is one of the fastest-growing cities in Boulder County, with its population more than doubled to over 40,000 residents between 2010 and 2024. That growth has put significant upward pressure on home values in the town, with Erie’s median home price standing at just under $760,000 as of February, according to Redfin. 

Rising home prices are a double-edged sword for Erie. On one hand, they are a sign that the city’s growth has attracted higher-income households. These households often pay more property taxes while requiring fewer municipal services, thereby improving the town’s revenue per acre. However, the rising cost of living also makes it more difficult for service workers, firefighters, and teachers to live in town. 

According to Erie’s 2024 Housing Needs Assessment, about 16% of all households are cost-burdened, meaning they pay more than the recommended 30% of their income on housing expenses. But Erie has few options to preserve existing housing units to accommodate its growth, thereby requiring the city to focus on building new homes to address the issue, the report states. 

As of 2024, Erie’s Housing Needs Assessment showed it had a housing shortage of more than 3,300 units compared to its population growth with housing units for senior citizens facing the most significant gap. 

Relying on new construction can be challenging, given the myriad economic challenges homebuilders face. The cost of debt, material, labor, and land have all increased significantly since the pandemic began. These factors make it difficult, if not impossible, to build new homes at affordable price points. 

Erie has made several attempts to incentivize more affordable housing development. For instance, the city committed to meeting Boulder County’s goals of having at least 12% of new homes slated as affordable. The city also created a policy to incentivize new affordable home construction within special districts. 

It also passed an inclusionary housing ordinance in 2024. The ordinance required all new developments with eight or more units to reserve 15% of the units as affordable housing. For ownership properties, the units needed to be affordable for people earning between 100% and 120% AMI, or $146,000 to $175,000 for a family of four. Rental properties needed to reserve units that were affordable for households earning between 60% and 80% AMI, or $87,000 to $116,000 for a family of four. 

However, the plan faced significant pushback from residents and homebuilder groups alike. The Home Builders Association of Metro Denver sent a letter to former mayor Brooks saying the inclusionary housing ordinance will increase the cost of building in Erie. 

“While we understand the intention of inclusionary housing policies is to make housing more affordable and may feel like a win, the reality is these policies typically make housing less affordable – either through lowering supply and/or adding costs that are passed onto other homebuyers in order to keep projects feasible,” the letter reads in part. 

Town Councilor Brandon Bell also questioned the need to build more deed-restricted affordable housing. Most affordable deeds carry a 30-year affordability requirement, which Bell said placed an extra burden on the city to manage the properties. 

“It gets to the point where we’re less in the business of creating housing stock…and we become housing management,” Bell said. 

Moore’s administration appears to be shifting the focus to more tax-based solutions, such as increasing the city’s open space fee or adding additional mill levies to pay for more affordable housing development. He said there will be future study sessions dedicated to talking about these ideas in depth. 

For Town Council Emily Baer, building more affordable housing is about more than simply adding housing units at a certain price point. It will also help Erie grow and attract the new retail and employment opportunities that town residents want. 

“It’s all connected, and that affects our economic vitality,” Baer said.

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The post Erie’s Murky Future for Affordable Housing appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Pennrose LLC to build senior affordable housing. 

The town of Superior has approved the development company, Pennrose, LLC, to build senior affordable housing units downtown near Discovery Office Park. The units will be called Kite Route Crossing. Along with this approval comes a rebate opportunity. 

According to Superior’s Planning and Building Director, Lisa Ritchie, this will be the first affordable housing project for the town. She says it will be a three-story structure with roughly 50 apartments. These units will be set aside for individuals aged 55 or older.  

“The town approved it,” Ritchie told Yellow Scene. “We haven’t acted on it yet because they haven’t pulled a building permit.” 

The pre-development agreement proposes to rebate 47% of permit and plan review fees to Pennrose. Applicable fees include inspection fees, system development fees, and impact fees. The estimated rebate amount is around $725,000. The reimbursement would occur after project development. If the company cannot secure a building permit by Dec. 31, 2025, the rebate/pre-development agreement will be terminated. 

“As is the nature of affordable housing, there is a financial gap on this project of roughly three million dollars,” Ritchie said in a town board meeting on Sept. 23, 2024. 

Kite Route Crossing will be located in the alluring location of Downtown Superior. Within a few blocks of the lot are public transportation options, a grocery store, medical services, retail stores, and more. Included will be 36 one-bedroom units and 12 two-bedroom units. 

Kite Route Crossing’s location is an upside for potential residents, especially those who don’t own a car. One anonymous Boulder resident says the location of their affordable housing unit has made a huge difference. It is within walking distance of a bus stop, their doctor, a market, and a pharmacy. 

Commercial and office space near to Kite Route Crossing, photo by Hope Munoz.

“I can get to Denver and anywhere in Boulder County on the bus easily,” an anonymous resident said. “I can also ride my bike.” 

Although the location of this resident’s home is ideal for them, they say the apartment hasn’t come without downsides. They live in a mixed facility with seniors and people with disabilities. When units opened up, they noticed that many who went there were transitioning from incarceration. They said that some relapsed, and others became violent. 

“The reason why I stayed where I live so long, even though it’s been very unpleasant, even unsafe, from time to time, is the location,” they said. 

In future housing units, the resident feels it would be beneficial to units build that are smaller and exclusively for seniors. Being around younger people brings up a slew of issues, according to the resident. They cited communicable diseases and differences in lifestyles as some of their concerns. Kite Route Crossing shouldn’t encounter mixed facility issues as it is set to only accept seniors for its units. 

Although the situation has not always been ideal, the affordability and location of the housing have greatly impacted this resident’s life. They enjoy that the rent costs slide up and down with their income. Now that they are retired, those costs provide a lot of stability in the later stages of their careers.

According to the Boulder Community Foundation’s trends report, the median home rent has nearly doubled since 2000. In 2000, the median cost was $983 per month and was at $1,893 in 2023. The current median rent costs exceed that of the rest of Colorado and the United States as a whole. Colorado’s is $1,693, and The United States is $1,348. In Superior, the median home rent is $2,355 per month. 

“As for Superior, I think that sounds great,” says the resident. “They need to have some options prioritizing seniors versus middle-income people. I think that’s next. I think those are two key populations.” 

On Jan. 27, 2025, Superior adopted its first-ever Housing Needs Assessment and Strategic Plan. The plan states that in 2018, the town committed to making 12% of its units affordable by 2035. It also says that the 2021 Marshall Fire destroyed 390 residential properties and exacerbated housing needs. Now, housing demand is high, and vacancy is low. 

Neighborhood of proposed construction, photo by Hope Munoz.

Superior’s affordable housing objectives include: 

1. Increase housing choices for people.
2. Support and promote local and regional affordable housing efforts.
3. Remove housing barriers for people who often encounter them.

The property for Kite Route Crossing is currently under contract. Pennrose recently requested a Letter of Support from the Superior Town Council for an application to the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. If the plan moves forward, Superior will soon have its first affordable housing units. 

In the Sept. 23 presentation, Brad Weining, a developer with Pennrose, shared the anticipated timeline of the project. It predicts that construction will begin in the spring of 2026 and open in the summer of 2027. Updates on the project can be found on Pennrose LLC’s page.

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The post Superior’s First Affordable Housing Units in Pre-Development appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

If you see someone on the streets this weekend, please help get them to shelter. The subzero temps will be deadly.

City of Boulder

The city and county Extreme Weather Shelter will be set up in the Age Well wing East Boulder Community Center, 5660 Sioux Drive, and operate from Saturday, Jan. 18 through at least Tuesday, Jan. 21 .

Community members in need of safe shelter are asked to:

• Go to the All Roads Shelter, located at 4869 Broadway . Even if the person typically does not meet criteria to use All Roads, they must check in here first.

• When All Roads reaches capacity transportation will be provided to the overflow facility at the East Age Well Center.

The following alternative sheltering options are also available for specific populations:

• Haven Ridge for persons identifying as women, transgender or nonbinary. Learn more on the Haven Ridge website or call 303-447-9602.

• TGTHR’s The Source for homeless youth. Youth drop-in will be open 12 pm to 5:30 pm daily for ages 24 and under. Learn more on TGTHR’s website or call 303-447-1207.

City staff and partner organizations have been conducting direct outreach throughout the week to people experiencing homelessness to ensure all individuals are aware of the upcoming cold weather, know about available services and have a plan to stay safe during the extreme cold.

The East Boulder Community Center (EBCC) will remain open for regularly scheduled hours during this time, with recreation activities occurring as usual aside from programming in the Age Well wing of EBCC. The East Age Well Center will close at noon on Friday, Jan. 17 and will remain closed through Sunday, Jan. 26 to allow for clean-up and full restoration of services. Staff members are working to cancel or reschedule upcoming programs that will be impacted by this closure. Contact Age Well staff at 303-441-3148 for more information.

East Boulder Community Center , 5660 Sioux Drive, and will operate from Saturday, January 18 through at least Tuesday, January 21.

Community members in need of safe shelter are asked to: Go to the All Roads Shelter , located at 4869 Broadway. Even if the person does not normally meet the criteria to use All Roads, they must first register here. When All Roads reaches capacity, transportation will be provided to the overflow facility at East Age Well Center.

The following alternative shelter options are also available for specific populations: Haven Ridge for people who identify as women, transgender, or nonbinary. Learn more on the Haven Ridge website or call 303-447-9602. TGTHR’s resource for homeless youth. Youth intake will be open from 12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily for those under 24 years old.

Learn more on the TGTHR website or call 303-447-1207. City staff and partner organizations have been conducting direct outreach throughout the week with individuals experiencing homelessness to ensure all individuals are aware of the cold weather ahead, know about available services, and have a plan to stay safe during extreme cold.

The East Boulder Community Center (EBCC) will remain open during regular hours during this time, with recreational activities taking place as usual in addition to programming in the Age Well Wing of EBCC. The East Age Well Center will close at noon on Friday, January 17, and will remain closed through Sunday, January 26 to allow for cleaning and full reestablishment of services. Staff members are working to cancel or reschedule upcoming programs that will be impacted by this closure. Please contact Age Well staff at 303-441-3148 for more information.

Offers shelter intake for individuals experiencing homelessness to have access to shelter and services even if individuals did not stay overnight…

City of Longmont

Support Services

Coordinated Entry (CE) is required to receive services from Homeless Solutions for Boulder County (HSBC).

Reach CE by phone (720-453-6096 ) or walk in: Mon, Tue and Thu noon–4 pm and Fri noon-2 pm at

HOPE , 804 S. Lincoln St. (basic needs, meals and clothing are also available)

Wed, noon–5 pm at 1335 Francis St. Specialists will attempt to resolve housing instability issues or refer individuals to services.

Coordinated Entry (CE) is required to receive services from Homeless Solutions for Boulder County (HSBC). Contact CE by phone (720-453-6096) or stop by: • Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday noon–4 p.m. and Friday noon–2 p.m. at HOPE, 804 S. Lincoln St. (basic needs, meals, and clothing also available) • Wednesday, noon–5 p.m. at 1335 Francis St. Specialists will attempt to resolve housing instability issues or refer individuals to services.

Boulder County St. Vrain Community Hub Resources for Public Assistance

515 Coffman St. Mon-Fri, 8am-4:30pm. For housing call 303-441-1000

HOPE’S Outreach Center HOPE

Provides a sack lunch, clothing, hygiene and other supplies to anyone experiencing homelessness.

Mon, Tue and Thu, noon-4 pm and Friday noon-2 pm.

804 S. Lincoln St.; bus 323. 720-494- 4673/720-210-7217

Journey Church

Free meals and showers.

Sun-Wed 5:30 pm-7 pm.

1201 Alpine St.

bus 323/324/Bolt. 720-453-6999

Veterans Community Project (VCP)

Provides veterans experiencing homelessness with food, hygiene kits, housing referrals, case management, military documentation assistance, and referrals for VA benefits.

Call 720-340-2916 to make an appointment or to learn current walk-in hours at: www.veteranscommunityproject.org/longmont

1228 Main St.

The Refuge Café

The Refuge offers the Refuge Café providing free lunch, showers, essential items, access to local resources, outdoor gear, and a safe place to rest. Please check with the Refuge regarding operating hours.    

Call 720-295-2270  

Visit: 11600 Quay Street #200, Broomfield 

Services for Youth

TGTHR’s The Source

3080 Broadway in Boulder

Provides employment and education assistance, short-term shelter and long-term housing navigation.

Free daytime drop-in center for 12 to 24-year-olds is open daily 12:30 pm–5 pm.

Free emergency overnight shelter for those 12–21 opens daily at 5 pm. 303-447-1207

Services for Families

Atwood Shelter

For Families For short-term sheltering at the Emergency Family Assistance Associations’ Atwood Center

call OUR Center at 303-772-5529.

Mother House and Lodge

Provides shelter for pregnant individuals and women/trans parents with at least one child under two years.

303-447-9602

Safe Shelter of St. Vrain Valley

Provides English/Spanish programs and services to address the needs of victims of domestic and family violence, abuse in later life, teen dating violence, and human trafficking.

Call 24/7: 303-772-4422

Hygiene and Internet

Centennial Pool Showers are $1, no towels provided, no vouchers accepted. Tues & Wed, noon-3 pm. 1201 Alpine St., bus 323/327/324. 303-651-8406

Journey Church Free meals and showers. Sun-Wed 5:30pm-7pm. 2000 Pike Road, bus 323/324/Bolt. 720-453-6999

Longmont Public Library Free internet access Mon-Thu 9am-8pm, Fri-Sat 9am-5pm, and Sun 1-5pm. 409 4th Ave. 303 665-5200

Longmont Recreation Center Showers are $1. Mon and Thu, noon-5 pm. 310 Quail Rd, bus 324. 303-774-4800

City of Loveland

The City of Loveland manages the Loveland Resource Center as the City’s main daytime space with capacity to serve as an additional overnight space when needed, and the South Railroad Facility which serves as the City’s main overnight shelter space.

The Loveland Resource Center and Overnight Shelter

The Loveland Resource Center (LRC) is currently the City’s day center and overflow shelter space, providing those experiencing homelessness with access to resources and shelter.

Located at :
137 S. Lincoln Ave.
Loveland, CO 80537

Contact via phone :
970-962-2951 and 970-962-2952

Hours of operation :
Sunday – Friday: 7 am — 7 pm
Monday – Sunday: 7 pm — 7 am

The LRC will be closed from 4:45 — 7 pm every first Thursday of the month for staff meetings and training.

Services offered :
Showers, bathrooms, laundry, mail, locker storage, access to partner agencies that can assist with locating employment and obtaining Social Security Cards, IDs, Birth Certificates, public benefits and more.

Monday – Friday

Sign-Up:

Sign up by 1:00 pm by calling or coming in person.

If you don’t want to share your real name, you can use a nickname.

Lottery

Staff will put all names into a random name picker.

By 1:15 pm, staff will:

Announce the selected names.

Post the list on the shelter door.

Saturday – Sunday

Weekend Sign-Up:

Sign up for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday spots by 1:00 pm on Friday.

You can sign up for one day, two days, or all three.

Lottery:

Staff will pick names randomly and announce Friday’s list by 1:15 pm

The lists for Saturday and Sunday will also be posted on Friday.

Check-Ins

Check-in by 7:30 pm to keep your spot.

Any spots not claimed by 7:30 pm will go to others on a first-come, first-served basis.

This process ensures everyone gets a fair chance to stay at the shelter.

Si ves a alguien en las calles este fin de semana, por favor ayúda a llevarlo a un refugio. Las temperaturas bajo cero serán mortales.

Ciudad de Boulder

El refugio para clima extremo de la ciudad y el condado estará ubicado en el ala Age Well del East Boulder Community Center, 5660 Sioux Drive, y funcionará desde el sábado 18 de enero hasta al menos el martes 21 de enero.

Se solicita a los miembros de la comunidad que necesiten refugio seguro que:

• Acudan al refugio All Roads, ubicado en 4869 Broadway. Aunque la persona normalmente no cumpla con los criterios para usar All Roads, debe registrarse aquí primero.
• Cuando All Roads alcance su capacidad, se proporcionará transporte a las instalaciones adicionales en el East Age Well Center.

Las siguientes opciones de refugio alternativo también están disponibles para poblaciones específicas:

• Haven Ridge para personas que se identifiquen como mujeres, transgénero o no binarias. Más información en el sitio web de Haven Ridge o llamando al 303-447-9602.
• The Source de TGTHR para jóvenes sin hogar. El centro de atención para jóvenes estará abierto de 12 pm a 5:30 pm diariamente para personas de hasta 24 años. Más información en el sitio web de TGTHR o llamando al 303-447-1207.

El personal de la ciudad y las organizaciones asociadas han estado realizando actividades de divulgación directa durante la semana para informar a las personas sin hogar sobre el clima frío que se avecina, los servicios disponibles y la necesidad de tener un plan para mantenerse seguros durante el frío extremo.

El East Boulder Community Center (EBCC) permanecerá abierto durante su horario regular en este período, con actividades recreativas normales, excepto en el ala Age Well del EBCC. El East Age Well Center cerrará al mediodía el viernes 17 de enero y permanecerá cerrado hasta el domingo 26 de enero para limpieza y restauración completa de servicios. El personal está trabajando para cancelar o reprogramar los programas afectados por este cierre. Para más información, comuníquese con el personal de Age Well al 303-441-3148.

Centro Comunitario East Boulder, 5660 Sioux Drive, funcionará desde el sábado 18 de enero hasta al menos el martes 21 de enero.

Se solicita a los miembros de la comunidad que necesiten refugio seguro que: Acudan al refugio All Roads, ubicado en 4869 Broadway. Aunque la persona normalmente no cumpla con los criterios para usar All Roads, debe registrarse aquí primero. Cuando All Roads alcance su capacidad, se proporcionará transporte a las instalaciones adicionales en el East Age Well Center.

Las siguientes opciones de refugio alternativo también están disponibles para poblaciones específicas:

• Haven Ridge para personas que se identifiquen como mujeres, transgénero o no binarias. Más información en el sitio web de Haven Ridge o llamando al 303-447-9602.
• The Source de TGTHR para jóvenes sin hogar. La recepción para jóvenes estará abierta de 12 pm a 5:30 pm diariamente para personas de hasta 24 años. Más información en el sitio web de TGTHR o llamando al 303-447-1207.

El personal de la ciudad y las organizaciones asociadas han estado realizando actividades de divulgación directa durante la semana para informar a las personas sin hogar sobre el clima frío que se avecina, los servicios disponibles y la necesidad de tener un plan para mantenerse seguros durante el frío extremo.

El East Boulder Community Center (EBCC) permanecerá abierto durante su horario regular en este período, con actividades recreativas normales, excepto en el ala Age Well del EBCC. El East Age Well Center cerrará al mediodía el viernes 17 de enero y permanecerá cerrado hasta el domingo 26 de enero para limpieza y restauración completa de servicios. Para más información, comuníquese con el personal de Age Well al 303-441-3148.

Desayuno, Duchas y Acceso Matutino al Refugio

Refugio All Roads (capacidad máxima de 180 camas) 4869 N Broadway – Boulder County

Ofrece acceso a refugio y servicios para personas sin hogar, incluso si no se alojaron durante la noche…

Elegibilidad: Adultos sin hogar que hayan pasado por el sistema de Entrada Coordinada del condado.

Horario: lunes a domingo, horario variable. All Roads (anteriormente “Boulder Shelter for the Homeless”) La admisión es de 5 pm a 7 pm. Se requieren mascarillas. 4869 Broadway, Boulder; autobuses Skip/204. 303-442-4646

Ciudad de Longmont

Información sobre el Refugio para Clima Severo

ACTUALIZACIÓN 17/01/25: Con la asistencia de voluntarios de Seguridad Pública y la Ciudad, HOPE abrirá los refugios en Messiah Church y Journey Church desde el sábado 18 de enero a las 5 pm hasta el martes 21 de enero a las 8 am. Los clientes pueden acudir a cualquiera de las ubicaciones durante este tiempo.

HOPE ofrecerá refugio nocturno para clima severo del viernes 17 al miércoles 22 de enero:

• Viernes 17 y sábado 18 de enero: El refugio estará en Messiah Church, 1335 Francis Street.
• Domingo 19 al miércoles 22 de enero: El refugio estará en Journey Church, 2000 Pike Road.

Cualquier persona que no haya sido previamente vetada y necesite un lugar cálido para pasar la noche es bienvenida. Las puertas abren a las 5:30 pm. HOPE también abrirá un refugio diurno el sábado 18 de enero en Messiah Church, y el domingo y lunes (19 y 20 de enero) en Journey Church. Encuentre recursos adicionales en bit.ly/Homeless-Solutions

Programa de Refugio de Emergencia de Broomfield

36 Garden Center, Broomfield, Colorado

Ejército de Salvación

Broomfield Corps 1080 Birch St, 303-635-3018

DENVER (Citadel), CO: Corps Community Center

4505 W. Alameda Avenue, Denver, 303-922-4549, Denver, CO: Intermountain Division

1370 Pennsylvania Street, Denver 5280 Echelon

1370 Pennsylvania Street, Denver 303-860-5460 Servicios Sociales Metro Denver: Lambuth Family Center (Vivienda Transicional para Familias)

2741 N. Federal Boulevard, Denver 720-305-4678

Servicios Sociales Metro Denver: Denver Harbor Light Center

2136 Champa Street, Denver 303-863-2191

DENVER (Red Shield), CO: Corps Community Center

2915 High Street, Denver, 303-295-2107

Ejército de Salvación – Colorado

Servicios de Apoyo

Se requiere Entrada Coordinada (CE) para recibir servicios de Homeless Solutions for Boulder County (HSBC).

Comuníquese con CE por teléfono (720-453-6096) o preséntese: lunes, martes y jueves, 12 pm – 4 pm y viernes, 12 pm – 2 pm en:

HOPE, 804 S. Lincoln St. (tambén están disponibles necesidades básicas, comidas y ropa).

Miércoles, 12 pm – 5 pm en 1335 Francis St. Los especialistas intentarán resolver problemas de inestabilidad de vivienda o remitir a las personas a servicios.

Se requiere Entrada Coordinada (CE) para recibir servicios de Homeless Solutions for Boulder County (HSBC). Comuníquese con CE por teléfono (720-453-6096) o visite:

• Lunes, martes y jueves, 12 pm – 4 pm, y viernes, 12 pm – 2 pm en HOPE, 804 S. Lincoln St. (tambén disponibles necesidades básicas, comidas y ropa).
• Miércoles, 12 pm – 5 pm en 1335 Francis St. Los especialistas intentarán resolver problemas de inestabilidad de vivienda o remitir a las personas a servicios.

Recursos de Asistencia Pública de Boulder County St. Vrain Community Hub

515 Coffman St. Lunes a viernes, 8 am – 4:30 pm. Para vivienda, llame al 303-441-1000.

Centro de Alcance HOPE

HOPE ofrece un almuerzo empacado, ropa, artículos de higiene y otros suministros a cualquier persona sin hogar.

Lunes, martes y jueves, 12 pm – 4 pm, y viernes, 12 pm – 2 pm.

804 S. Lincoln St.; autobús 323. 720-494-4673/720-210-7217.

Iglesia Journey

Comidas y duchas gratuitas.

Domingo a miércoles, 5:30 pm – 7 pm.

1201 Alpine St.

Autobús 323/324/Bolt. 720-453-6999.

Veterans Community Project (VCP)

Proporciona a los veteranos sin hogar alimentos, kits de higiene, referencias de vivienda, gestión de casos, asistencia con documentación militar y referencias para beneficios de VA.

Llame al 720-340-2916 para hacer una cita o conocer el horario actual de atención sin cita previa en: Veterans Community Project

1228 Main St.

Veterans Community Project (VCP) Proporciona a los veteranos sin hogar alimentos, kits de higiene, referencias de vivienda, gestión de casos, asistencia con documentación militar y referencias para beneficios de VA. Llame al 720-340-2916 para hacer una cita o conocer el horario actual de atención sin cita previa en el Centro de Alcance 1228 Main St.

Broomfield Fish

FISH proporciona una variedad de servicios de apoyo familiar. Generalmente, Broomfield FISH atiende a residentes del condado de Broomfield que tienen un ingreso anual igual o inferior al 200% de las guías federales de pobreza.

6 Garden Center

Broomfield, CO 80020

info@broomfieldfish.org

303-465-1600

The Refuge Café

The Refuge ofrece The Refuge Café proporcionando almuerzos gratuitos, duchas, artículos esenciales, acceso a recursos locales, equipo para exteriores y un lugar seguro para descansar. Consulte con The Refuge sobre el horario de atención.

Llame al 720-295-2270

Visite: 11600 Quay Street #200, Broomfield

Servicios para Jóvenes

The Source de TGTHR

3080 Broadway en Boulder

Proporciona asistencia para empleo y educación, refugio a corto plazo y navegación para vivienda a largo plazo.

El centro gratuito de atención diurna para jóvenes de 12 a 24 años está abierto diariamente de 12:30 pm a 5 pm.

El refugio gratuito de emergencia nocturno para personas de 12 a 21 años abre diariamente a las 5 pm. 303-447-1207.

The Source de TGTHR

Ubicado en 3080 Broadway en Boulder

Proporciona asistencia para empleo y educación, refugio a corto plazo y navegación para vivienda a largo plazo.

El centro gratuito de atención diurna para jóvenes de 12 a 24 años está abierto diariamente de 12:30 pm a 5 pm.

El refugio gratuito de emergencia nocturno para personas de 12 a 21 años abre diariamente a las 5 pm. 303-447-1207.

Servicios para Familias

Refugio Atwood

Para Familias Para alojamiento a corto plazo en el Centro Atwood de la Asociación de Asistencia Familiar de Emergencia, llame al OUR Center al 303-772-5529.

Mother House and Lodge

Proporciona refugio a personas embarazadas y mujeres/trans padres con al menos un hijo menor de dos años.

303-447-9602.

Safe Shelter of St. Vrain Valley

Proporciona programas y servicios en inglés y español para abordar las necesidades de las víctimas de violencia doméstica y familiar, abuso en la tercera edad, violencia en el noviazgo adolescente y tráfico humano.

Llame 24/7: 303-772-4422.

Higiene e Internet

Piscina Centennial Duchas cuestan $1, no se proporcionan toallas, no se aceptan vales. Martes y miércoles, 12 pm – 3 pm. 1201 Alpine St., autobús 323/327/324. 303-651-8406.

Iglesia Journey Comidas y duchas gratuitas. Domingo a miércoles, 5:30 pm – 7 pm. 2000 Pike Road, autobús 323/324/Bolt. 720-453-6999.

Biblioteca Pública de Longmont Acceso gratuito a internet. Lunes a jueves, 9 am – 8 pm; viernes y sábado, 9 am – 5 pm; domingo, 1 pm – 5 pm. 409 4th Avenue, 303-665-5200.

Centro de Recreación de Longmont Duchas cuestan $1. Lunes y jueves, 12 pm – 5 pm. 310 Quail Rd, autobús 324. 303-774-4800.

Ciudad de Loveland

La Ciudad de Loveland administra el Centro de Recursos de Loveland como el principal espacio diurno de la Ciudad, con capacidad para servir como un espacio adicional para pernoctar cuando sea necesario, y las Instalaciones de South Railroad, que funcionan como el principal espacio de refugio nocturno de la Ciudad.

El Centro de Recursos de Loveland y el Refugio Nocturno

El Centro de Recursos de Loveland (LRC) es actualmente el centro diurno de la Ciudad y un espacio de refugio adicional, proporcionando acceso a recursos y refugio para las personas que experimentan la falta de vivienda.

Ubicado en: 137 S. Lincoln Ave.
Loveland, CO 80537

Contacto por teléfono:
970-962-2951 y 970-962-2952

Horario de operación:
Domingo – Viernes: 7 am — 7 pm
Lunes – Domingo: 7 pm — 7 am

El LRC estará cerrado de 4:45 — 7 pm cada primer jueves del mes para reuniones y capacitación del personal.

Servicios ofrecidos:

Duchas, baños, lavandería, correo, almacenamiento en casilleros, acceso a agencias asociadas que pueden ayudar con la búsqueda de empleo, obtención de tarjetas de Seguro Social, identificaciones, certificados de nacimiento, beneficios públicos y más.

Lunes – Viernes

Inscripción:

Regístrate antes de la 1:00 pm llamando o presentándote en persona.

Si no quieres compartir tu nombre real, puedes usar un apodo.

Sorteo:

El personal colocará todos los nombres en un selector de nombres aleatorio.

Antes de la 1:15 pm, el personal:

• Anunciará los nombres seleccionados.
• Publicará la lista en la puerta del refugio.

Sábado – Domingo
Inscripción de Fin de Semana:

Regístrate para los lugares de viernes, sábado y domingo antes de la 1:00 pm del viernes.

Puedes registrarte para un día, dos días o los tres.

Sorteo:

El personal seleccionará los nombres al azar y anunciará la lista del viernes antes de la 1:15 pm.

Las listas de sábado y domingo también se publicarán el viernes.

Registro:

Regístrate antes de las 7:30 pm para conservar tu lugar.

Cualquier lugar no reclamado antes de las 7:30 pm será asignado a otras personas por orden de llegada.

Este proceso asegura que todos tengan una oportunidad justa de quedarse en el refugio.

La Ciudad de Loveland opera el Centro de Recursos de Loveland como el principal espacio diurno de la Ciudad, con capacidad para servir como un espacio adicional para pernoctar cuando sea necesario, y las Instalaciones de South Railroad, que funcionan como el principal espacio de refugio nocturno de la Ciudad.

Lunes – Viernes
Registro:

Regístrate antes de la 1:00 pm llamando o presentándote en persona.

Si no quieres compartir tu nombre real, puedes usar un apodo.

Sorteo:

El personal colocará todos los nombres en un selector de nombres aleatorio.

Antes de la 1:15 pm, el personal:

• Anunciará los nombres seleccionados.
• Publicará la lista en la puerta del refugio.

Sábado – Domingo
Registro de Fin de Semana:

Regístrate para los lugares de viernes, sábado y domingo antes de la 1:00 pm del viernes.

Puedes registrarte para un día, dos días o los tres.

Sorteo:

El personal seleccionará los nombres al azar y anunciará la lista del viernes antes de la 1:15 pm.

Las listas de sábado y domingo también se publicarán el viernes.

Registro:

Regístrate antes de las 7:30 pm para conservar tu lugar.

Cualquier lugar no reclamado antes de las 7:30 pm será asignado a otras personas por orden de llegada.

Este proceso asegura que todos tengan una oportunidad justa de quedarse en el refugio.

Las Instalaciones de South Railroad

Las Instalaciones de South Railroad se inauguraron el miércoles 12 de abril de 2023 y funcionan como el principal espacio de refugio nocturno de la Ciudad. El Centro de Recursos de Loveland permanecerá abierto para uso diurno, así como para necesidades de refugio adicional.

Ubicado en:
300 S. Railroad Ave.
Loveland, CO 80537

Contacto por teléfono:
970-962-3241

Horario de operación:
Diariamente: 7 pm — 7 am

Instalaciones de South Railroad

Las Instalaciones de South Railroad se inauguraron el miércoles 12 de abril de 2023 y funcionarán como el principal espacio de refugio nocturno de la Ciudad. El Centro de Recursos de Loveland permanecerá abierto para uso diurno, así como para necesidades de refugio adicional.

Ubicado en:
300 S. Railroad Ave.
Loveland, CO 80537

Contacto por teléfono:
970-962-3241

Horario de operación:
Diariamente: 7 pm — 7 am

Condado de Denver

¡Se esperan temperaturas frías!

Denver activará un refugio para clima frío desde la 1 pm del lunes 30 de diciembre hasta las 11 am del viernes 31 de enero.

Se recomienda a las personas que necesiten refugio que acudan a los puntos de acceso de refugio:

• Para hombres individuales: Denver Rescue Mission Lawrence Street Community Center, 2222 Lawrence St.
• Para mujeres individuales: Samaritan House, 2301 Lawrence St.
• Para jóvenes/adultos jóvenes de 12 a 24 años: Urban Peak, 1630 S. Acoma St.
• Familias que necesiten refugio: Llamar al Connection Center al 303-295-3366.

Refugio disponible 24/7 en las siguientes ubicaciones:

• Stone Creek Shelter (anteriormente Best Western Hotel), 4595 Quebec St.
• Aspen Shelter (anteriormente DoubleTree Hotel), 4040 Quebec St.
• Instalaciones municipales ubicadas en 2601 W. 7th Ave. y 375 S. Zuni St.
• St. Charles Recreation Center, 3777 Lafayette St., desde las 8 pm del 17 de enero hasta las 11 am del 21 de enero.

El clima frío representa un peligro grave para las personas sin refugio, y la ciudad alienta a todos a buscar resguardo. Para más información sobre el acceso a refugios, visite denvergov.org/findshelter o envíe un mensaje de texto con la palabra INDOORS al 67283.

Servicios de Apoyo en Denver

St. Francis Center (SFC): Es un refugio para hombres y mujeres sin hogar en el área metropolitana de Denver. Ofrece refugio y servicios que permiten satisfacer necesidades básicas y facilitar la transición fuera de la falta de vivienda. También proporciona un entorno seguro durante el día.

Programa de Refugio 24/7 – The Delores Project: Refugio de baja barrera para mujeres y personas transgénero mayores de 18 años. Las camas disponibles se reservan diariamente por teléfono a las 10:00 am llamando al 303-534-5411.

Irving Street Women’s Residence – Volunteers of America Colorado: Programa residencial para mujeres que experimentan falta de vivienda crónica, con discapacidades o problemas de salud mental. Proporciona un entorno hogareño y seguro.

Samaritan House Downtown (2301 Lawrence St., Denver, CO): Refugio de emergencia para mujeres que ofrece servicios inmediatos y apoyo 365 días al año. Capacidad: 40 camas estilo dormitorio. No se necesita llamar con anticipación ni referencia.

Housing First Program – Colorado Coalition for the Homeless: Diseñado para ayudar a individuos crónicamente sin hogar a mudarse directamente a una vivienda con servicios de apoyo integrales. Este no es un refugio nocturno.

Urban Peak – Urban Peak Denver: Organización dedicada a jóvenes menores de 25 años en situación de riesgo o sin hogar. Ofrece programas basados en el cuidado informado por trauma y desarrollo positivo de la juventud.

Colorado Safe Parking Initiative: Proporciona estacionamiento seguro nocturno para familias o individuos que viven en un vehículo. Los interesados deben completar una cita de aplicación y verificación de antecedentes. Teléfono: 720-230-6680.

Otros recursos clave:

• The Gathering Place (TGP): Proporciona servicios para combatir la pobreza y apoyar a mujeres, personas trans y no binarias, y niños.
• Denver Rescue Mission’s Lawrence Street Shelter: Proporciona cuidado de emergencia y es un punto de entrada para programas de cambio de vida.
• Haven of Hope: Ofrece comida, refugio, ropa, servicios de rehabilitación e higiene.
• Salvation Army Crossroads: Servicios de refugio nocturno disponibles para hombres sin hogar.

The post Open Shelters Weekend of Jan 17th, 2025 – English and Spanish appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Over the past few years, homelessness in Boulder County has reached crisis levels, with the worst of the crisis occurring in 2023. Since its implementation in 2017, the city’s homelessness strategy has helped somewhat to decline these levels in 2024. Still, nationwide figures of homelessness paint a rather dire scene and prompt questions about what’s being done to help solve the bigger picture. Are other cities following Boulder County’s lead?

Behind the picturesque scenes of rolling landscapes, vibrant culture, and tree-lined streets lies a much darker and invisible part of Boulder: homelessness. In July 2023, the city began a Point-in-Time (PIT) count to try to understand the forces driving homelessness, and the results were sobering.  

The city’s survey only included 79 participants and an additional 43 who were observed from a distance. Surveyors found that 68% of people reported experiencing chronic homelessness–one year or longer. The PIT count also revealed that 727 people in Boulder County were experiencing homelessness in January 2024, a decrease from the previous year’s count of 839. 

But in reality, this count is higher. Of the 727 people, at least 193 were unsheltered, meaning people sleeping in car parks, stations, and abandoned buildings. Last year, the number of unsheltered persons was 243, meaning Boulder County claims it is seeing a slight decline. But is this decline in numbers due to actual change, or is it the effects of the city’s recent camping ban? 

The ordinance essentially allows police to issue tickets to homeless people for sleeping in public spaces while using anything other than clothes for protection from the elements. Over the years, advocates, civil rights groups, and experts have criticized this ban. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Maria Sotomayor slammed a similar ban as “unconscionable and unconstitutional” in an October 2023 ruling.  

Timothy MacDonald, a lawyer with the ACLU of Colorado who is fighting the camping ban, emailed Boulder Reporting Lab, “We will convince the Colorado courts that sleep is a biological necessity, not a crime, and that criminally punishing people for their status as unhoused people is prohibited by the Colorado Constitution.” 

To begin solving the problem of the high number of citizens on the streets, the city needs to address the root of the problem, which experts believe is a lack of affordable housing and low income that does not meet the rising cost of living.  

The ongoing housing crisis and homelessness are not unique to Boulder County. USA Today reported that more Americans are homeless in 2024 than in 2023. The news outlet revealed that 771,800 people lived without housing in 2024, an increase of 18.1% from 2023.  

National Housing Law Project Executive Director, Shamus Roller, told USA Today, “The underlying conditions driving homelessness are not going in the right direction. Housing affordability is worse; it’s affecting more people across the country, and so you can’t be surprised that people are essentially falling off the back of the wagon.”   

Real Estate company Zillow revealed that the U.S. is now short 4.5 million homes as the housing deficit continues to grow, with this problem dating back all the way to the 2008 recession. With such a high level of demand, slow construction, and an unregulated market, housing prices are skyrocketing to the point where more than 21 million renter households spend more than 30% of their income on housing. 

An unregulated housing market means the people benefitting the most are investors and developers. In contrast, according to the Financial Times, “most American families are stuck paying high rents and gazing through brokers’ windows at unaffordable houses.” 

Redfin reported that in the first quarter of 2024, the share of homes purchased by investors was around 19%, with a focus on single-family homes. The real estate brokerage site also revealed that investors bought around 44,000 homes in the first quarter of 2024, which is an increase of 0.5%, and bought 18.7% of homes that sold in the first quarter. 

High labor and construction costs, zoning laws, and land use restrictions are some of the reasons construction has been slow. A change in policies might be the answer to kickstarting the housing supply and demand problem. President-elect Donald Trump even floated the idea of opening up federal land to build housing, but the likelihood of that happening anytime soon is low.

In addition to a severe lack of affordable housing—Redfin reports that home prices were up by 4.6% in Boulder County—a lack of shelter in the city has contributed to the increased number of people sleeping on the street. In November 2024, the largest homeless shelter, with only 130 beds total, in North Boulder saw a demand for beds that exceeded capacity as temperatures dropped. 

Currently, there are no overnight mental health services in the city of Boulder, and there is only one homeless shelter for single adults. Haven Ridge offers beds for women, transgender people, and youth fleeing domestic violence, while All Roads Shelter, the largest shelter, has 180 beds and day services. 

Boulder Homeless Shelter, which has a capacity of 130 beds

But a lack of beds isn’t the only problem forcing people out on the street. Online forums reveal some unhoused people in Boulder would rather sleep on the streets than step foot in the shelters as they’re not entirely free from drugs and alcohol that can cause altercations between those in the shelters. Jen Livovich, founder of the nonprofit Streetscape and a former homeless citizen of Boulder City, is concerned about the increasing speed of availability of fentanyl and methamphetamine amongst the homeless. Despite public perception, only 20% of people report drug and alcohol abuse as the reason for homelessness, according to Streets Team. The American Addiction Centers says that some of the biggest reasons why many homeless people suffer from substance abuse is because of self-medication to relieve the stress from their problems, a lack of social support, ease of access, and untreated mental illness.  

In addition to substance abuse, mental health problems and a lack of resources for affordable mental health care make it harder to end the cycle of homelessness. 

Mental health and homelessness often go hand-in-hand, and unfortunately, the city of Boulder is not equipped to tackle this problem. Even Mayor Aaron Brockett admits to this shortcoming, saying, “We have very limited options for people who don’t have the money to pay for them.” 

According to the Denver Gazette, Brockett feels that the city would have a 100-bed inpatient facility in a perfect world, but that would require more money when often these programs go underfunded. In fact, earlier in 2024, Boulder County commissioners announced cuts in grant funding for providers like shelters under the Community Partnership Grant program, with some receiving a decrease of 27%, according to the Boulder Reporting Lab. 

A sad reality is that for many homeless people, jail appears to be the only way to get mental health treatment. The CJS Jail Behavioral Health Teams in Boulder County offer a range of services and programs, including a Mental Health Diversion Program, which can include mental health treatment, housing, education, employment, and food.    

While Brockett may appear sympathetic to the plight of the homeless, the city continues to treat them as criminals rather than citizens who are victims of an unjust system designed to punish rather than help. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) revealed that over the past four years, the Boulder police have issued over 1,600 tickets for violations of the city’s anti-camping ordinance.  

ACLU Legal Director Mark Silverstein slammed the city and the police, “When the homeless shelters are closed or full, it is terribly unfair, and unconstitutional, to impose fines and jail sentences on persons who have no choice but to sleep outdoors.”  

In an effort to tackle this issue more humanely, local officials created the Homeless Solutions for Boulder County (HSBC). The city worked to expand housing opportunities as research has shown that other problems like employment, addiction, and mental health can be more easily addressed once people are stably housed.

In 2023, the city reported that since implementing a “housing first” approach, Boulder has seen over 1,800 exits from homelessness. However, it’s worth noting that the result doesn’t explicitly explain what these exits actually mean in reality and whether the recipients received permanent and stable housing or are temporarily housed somewhere. 

Other cities like Chicago, New York, Seattle, and Philadelphia have also seen some success in lowering levels of homelessness by making access to affordable housing easier and adjusting housing policies. For some cities like Eugene in Oregon, employing non-police crisis response systems has worked. These cases are proof that cities can work together to help solve the bigger picture of homelessness.    

The post Homelessness in Boulder County: Progress and Nationwide Lessons appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Boulder District Court Judge Robert R. Gunning ruled in favor of Boulder’s camping (aka the Blanket Ban) on Friday, December 6th, 2024, an unsurprising development given the June 28, 2024 SCOTUS Grants Pass majority decision – albeit full of pretzel-worthy twists and absurdities alluding to the blanket ban’s general applicability. 

Just as hypothermia can lead to hallucinations, the confusion and perplexity of criminalizing anyone who cannot afford housing – in one of the most expensive areas of the country is adding insult to injury and flies in the face of the city’s homelessness strategy “built around the belief that Boulder community members should have the opportunity for a safe and stable place to live.”

Reality of Housing Costs in Boulder County and the U.S. in General

The average rent for a one-bedroom in Boulder is currently $2,464. Using 30% of income as a guide, you’d need to earn $8,000 a month gross to make that work, or $6,250 if you use 40% of your income. 

A new Harvard report says 22.4 million households in the United States now spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent, with 12.1 million spending more than 50 percent.

More than your mortgage? Well, of course it is. It’s expensive to have to rent when you don’t have the money for a large down payment or the promise of consistent monthly income to be able to take on a mortgage in the first place. 

While all of Sweden, Norway, and parts of Finland and Iceland, promote “wild camping” anywhere one pleases outside of official campsites, law enforcement authorities in the land of the free will wrestle that blanket from you, lest you try to keep yourself warm in an area of the country with 89 inches of annual snowfall and lows ranging from the negatives to 20 degrees December through February. 

Efficacy and Usefulness of Camping Bans

Everything happens for a reason, and our criminal laws are no different. There has to be a purpose behind punishment, or essentially, it boils down to “I don’t like the way it looks” or “because we said so.” Either sentiment applies when looking at Boulder’s camping ban. 

Does a camping ban deter people from camping in public places? When the punishment is a fine they can’t afford to pay, it’s plain that it doesn’t. 

What about when the punishment is up to 90 days in jail? Now, they are worse off, having a criminal record for their mere presence in a public space – a presence that would not be a crime unless it is accompanied by the bodily necessities of sleeping and eating outside of daytime hours.

Boulder’s camping ban does not include “napping during the day or picnicking.” 

Although it is not clear when the day ends, it’s safe to say it would be sunset which is as early as 5 pm during wintertime in Boulder. 

Although the Grants Pass SCOTUS majority held that “camping ordinances validly criminalized the conduct of “occupying a campsite on public property” and were applicable to housed and unhoused persons alike, reality hits differently. 

An unhoused person in public space is often met with hostility by civilians and law enforcement alike. 

Ask yourself, why would anyone who already has housing camp in a city park or on city property? Newsflash buddy! They wouldn’t, and neither would you because you have a choice. Failure to admit the homeless person’s only choice is to freeze or not to freeze is as dangerous as the threat of frostbite. 

But they have shelters! Shortsightedness Runs Amok

You want to argue the unhoused have the choice of going to a shelter. Well, if there are enough beds and a winter shelter is open, it is also: 

• Where they don’t get to choose who is in there with them
• Where they don’t get to choose when they can come and go 
• Where zero-tolerance policies apply, and a rule infraction will be handled the same as putting someone else in danger. 

Plaintiffs for the unhoused in Grants Pass argued that camping bans were cruel and unusual punishment incompatible with the 8th Amendment when there weren’t enough shelter beds, an argument plaintiffs in this Boulder case cited while also claiming Colorado Constitution’s counterpart, Article II, Section 20, should apply and is more protective than the 8th Amendment. 

Judge Gunning disagreed, writing, “the Colorado Supreme Court has not yet interpreted Art. II, § 20 to afford broader protection than its federal counterpart, the Court disagrees.”

Mismatch Between Number of Shelter Beds and Number of Unhoused

Estimates of the number of shelter beds in Boulder range from 150-180 but regardless, the chances that the number of available beds will ever mirror the number of people in need is the same chance that people will ever stop referring to Boulder as the “People’s Republic of Boulder.” 

“At any given time in Boulder, we have around 500 more unhoused people than we have beds to serve them,” explains Lisa Sweeney-Miran, CEO of local homeless shelter and outreach program Haven Ridge. The last Point in Time Count published was for 1/30/23, tallying 839 homeless individuals in Boulder County, with 243, or 29% of that figure being unsheltered and the remainder in emergency or transitional housing. 

In SCOTUS’s Grants Pass decision, Gorsuch (the only Justice with Colorado ties) concluded that the punishments attached to the Grants Pass ordinances — increasing fines and up to 30 days in jail — were not cruel or unusual because they were not designed to “superadd terror, pain, or disgrace,” and are typical of other punishments for similar offenses.

Having your blankets torn away from you and being carted off to jail to be housed with no escape from dangerous and violent criminals would most certainly instill terror and is disgraceful unless you discount someone’s humanity and admit that jail should be reserved for people who commit dangerous offenses that are malum in se and not malum prohibitum. 

If we’re throwing open the jailhouse doors to anything we deem bad because we think it’s bad, Boulder jails would be teeming with jaywalkers, parking violators, or publicly intoxicated college students. Been to the Hill lately? Colorado does not have a law against public intoxication. Jail is only appropriate if you commit a crime WHILE you are intoxicated. 

Back to “typical of other punishments for similar offenses,” Jaywalking is a class B infraction punishable by a $15-$100 fine. Compare this to violations of the Blanket Ban, which are punishable by fines of up to $2,650 per violation and up to ninety days of incarceration. Not exactly apples to apples. 

Consider the cost of jail at roughly $205 per day (2023 figure) and the cost to try and obtain payment of fines, and there is a litany of other worthwhile uses for taxpayer funds than to put someone in jail for the offense of being unhoused. A job training program for trade comes to mind, or diverting that amount to a true housing first model that has proven successful in other Western cities like Salt Lake. 

If one of the most progressive towns in the nation resorts to camping bans, where is the ingenuity and the compassion Boulder likes to pride ourselves on? The means exist, but the will is lacking, and in cases such as Feet Forward and Grants Pass, is overpowered by a cruel thirst for punishment, reminiscent of vagrancy laws that existed until the 1970’s. These laws are just far enough in the rearview of our history that those in power now were only infants or young teens when these were last in favor. 

Legal scholars, judges, law enforcement and Boulder residents should revisit the 1972 case of Papachristou v. Jacksonville, striking down a vagrancy ordinance for being unconstitutionally vague because it failed to give people fair notice of what was prohibited, encouraging arbitrary arrests, and making activities that were normally innocent criminal.

While the Boulder camping ban gives notice that sleeping and eating on public property outside of daytime hours is prohibited, the ordinance encourages law enforcement to enforce only on unhoused persons as no unhoused person would have reason to sleep or eat on city property outside of daytime hours. Furthermore, eating and sleeping are innocent activities and only because of the where and when of the camping ban – are deemed criminal. 

When you hear the oft used, “he or she would give you the shirt of their back,” imagine it’s counterpart inspired by Boulder’s camping ban, “He or she would wrestle a blanket away from a homeless person.” 

“Reason often makes mistakes, but conscience never does.” Josh Billings. 

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The post Are We Progressives or Puritans? Boulder District Court Decision Criminalizes Homelessness appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.