County-level ‘disengagement’ from tackling homelessness a major challenge for Greeley, advisory group says – Greeley Tribune

Although most believe homelessness is a growing problem in Greeley, a lack of interest in the issue at the county level can be a challenge as the city seeks solutions, a Denver-based advisory group found.

Urbanity Advisors held its second community forum on homelessness on Wednesday, outlining possible options it could more formally suggest to city council in the near future.

As part of the City of Greeley’s efforts to address growing homelessness in the city, it has hired urban advisors to better understand the problem and offer solutions. Urbanity hosted two community engagement sessions in March, one in-person and one online, to learn more about the community’s perception of homelessness.

On Wednesday, the group presented its findings.

Most survey participants believe homelessness is a growing problem in Greeley. Survey participants consistently cite the cost of housing, mental health and addiction as contributing factors.

Urbanity also conducted stakeholder interviews, which analyzed strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to overall homelessness efforts.

Terrell Curtis conducted the stakeholder interviews.

“As far as threats, there were really so few,” she said.

But one of the biggest was the lack of interest and involvement at the county level to address homelessness, she said, as homelessness is often seen as Greeley’s problem. to solve.

The report called it “county-level disengagement.”

James Roy II, the founder of Urbanity Advisors, gave a brief presentation on three models that the consulting group identified as possible options that Greeley might consider in the future.

We can expect a more formal presentation to be made and considered at an upcoming city council meeting, but for now, here’s what we know.

Arroyo Village in Denver

The Denver-based project, which opened in 2019, was co-developed by Rocky Mountain Communities and The Delores Project, according to The Delores Project website.

The village aims to offer support to people in precarious housing situations.

The village’s website says it includes a new shelter as well as 35 permanent low-income units for the homeless and 95 affordable housing units for working individuals and families.

“Creating Arroyo Village in partnership with Rocky Mountain Communities enables the Delores Project to ensure that 35 homeless people will have access to ultra-low income housing,” according to the website. “These individuals will receive on-site support services to ensure their ongoing physical and behavioral health, life skills and social engagement needs – all of which are critical to maintaining housing – are met.”

The project was funded by the state under the federal low-income housing tax credit program.

Bridge of Hope Center

Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Bridge of Hope Center is part of the Bay Area Rescue Mission.

The center, which was recently built, is a two-story, 10,000 square foot structure with 26 rooms and a total capacity of 114 beds, according to a report by the Richmond Standard.

The shelter serves women and children, who make up 60% of the Bay Area’s homeless population, according to the report.

The center offers classes, counseling, job training, programs for children focused on educational and emotional well-being, referrals to health services, help finding affordable housing and more.

Housing First Strategy

The Santa Rosa, Calif. City Council adopted a Housing First Strategy in 2017, according to the city’s website.

The idea behind the strategy is to get people into stable, city-funded housing as quickly as possible – this means that the homeless person does not have to change their behavior or do anything to win a seat.

“Access to programs is not contingent on sobriety, minimum income requirements, lack of a criminal record, completion of treatment, participation in services, or other unnecessary conditions,” depending on the city.

Lee Hill of Boulder offers another example of a Housing First strategy.

Construction on the Lee Hill property began in 2013 and opened in 2014. The two-story building offers 31 fully furnished one-bedroom apartments to support the chronically homeless, according to its website.

keep up to date

To stay up to date on what the city is doing, when meetings will be held and what decisions will be made, go to greeleygov.com/government/cmo/special-programs/homeless-and-housing-services.

— Kelly Ragan is the founder and editor of the NoCo Optimist. You can usually find her covering Greeley and Weld county government. Do you have any advice? Let him know at [email protected]. Do you like this report? Let the Greeley Tribune know so they keep it. Find more NoCo Optimist content at www.thenocooptimist.com.