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Homelessness in Durango
Introduction
Homelessness is a national issue with deep roots, but solutions are often expected at the local level. Within this framework, the City of Durango, La Plata County, and numerous stakeholder groups have met for years in search of the best ways to help our local homeless population. The services offered include providing mental health support, housing vouchers, food, medical assistance, trash, and waste cleanup, and law enforcement management.
The combined efforts exemplify the community’s generosity but typically address symptoms of homelessness versus the structural causes. As such, the scale of the challenges inherent in combating homelessness makes finding permanent, long-term solutions based solely on local efforts exceedingly difficult.
Homeless advocates display great sympathy while asking that the city does more to assist this population. Like most of the community, they are very concerned when people have no place to live, can’t find housing or jobs, don’t have a place to go to the bathroom, shower, dump their garbage, or get mental health or substance abuse help. We appreciate and recognize this view.
We also hear from those in our community who are upset about trash, the safety of our parks, camping on public property, illegal fires, and crime in their neighborhoods. Many of these individuals feel that the city, the county, and support agencies do too much enabling and that many people abuse the system. These are also valid concerns.
For the police department, the response to homelessness is one of the most critical issues they face daily. Their main concern is the victimization of the mentally ill, inclement weather, and the lack of sobering centers and treatment facilities.
As we move forward as a community, the city seeks a balanced approach that respects the needs of the unhoused while minimizing the impact of the homeless community on the larger population. The city supports a consortium of stakeholder organizations with expertise in specific areas of homelessness to provide services and advise the city on the issue. We welcome the public’s input.”
If you would like to submit comments on this topic, please email us at publiccomment@durangogov.org.
Plan Adoption
On February 18, 2020 the Durango City Council adopted the City of Durango and La Plata County Strategic Plan on Homelessness. The adopted plan can be found here: Adopted Homelessness Strategic Plan
Please use the following link for additional information: https://www.co.laplata.co.us/services/homeless_support/index.php
Resources:
- Durango Community Shelter: (970) 259-1255
- Housing Solutions of the Southwest: (970) 259-1086
- Habitat for Humanity: (970) 382-9931
- Southwest Safehouse: (970) 259-5444
- Durango Housing Corporation: (970) 382-2788
City of Durango Support for Unhoused and Housing Insecure Population (2015-2022)
NO COST LAND LEASES
- VOA Homeless Shelter
- Housing Solutions of the Southwest Transitional Housing Facility
- Manna Resource Center
- Espero Transitional Housing
- Hilltop House Residential Community Corrections
- VOA Low Income Senior Housing (Land Transfer)
- Manna/NINA Unhoused Locker Program at Transit Center
ONGOING FUNDING
- Axis Health Systems (Crossroads Facility) (2015 – 2022: $150K annually)
- Detox Center (2015 -- 2022: $210K -- $255k annually)
- La Plata Youth Services (2015 -- 2022: $81K -- $91k annually)
- Co-Responders (CORE) Program (2021: $184k; 2022: $182k)
- Manna Resource Center (with county funding: 2021: $80K; 2022: $170K)
UNITED WAY FUNDING
Human Services Block Grant* (2015 -- 2022: $204K -- $220k annually)
- Axis Health Systems
- Durango Food Bank
- Housing Solutions of the Southwest
- Manna Soup Kitchen (Navigation Center)
- Durango Adult Education
- Southwest Center for Independence
- VOA Shelter
- VOA Safe House
- Women’s Resource Center
- *Program support to organizations vary annually
OTHER
- 2015/2016 Homeless Coalition Initiative (February 2016 Final Report)
- 2020 Homelessness Strategic Plan (participation and cost share with La Plata County)
- Ongoing Participation on Coordinating Council on Homelessness
- City/Axis Co-Response Team/Outreach Coordination
- Low Income Transit Bus Pass Program
- Food and Utility Rebate Program
- Ongoing Efforts to Find Shelter Site
- BID Downtown Ambassador Program
- Low-Income and Workforce Housing Initiatives
It is unlawful to camp or shelter on property owned and/or managed by the City of Durango without posted authorization to do so.
The term “Camp” or “Camping” is defined as temporary use or occupancy of a location for the purposes of a living accommodation – sleeping or with the intent to sleep in a location.
The term “Shelter” or “Sheltering” is defined as the use of property owned or managed by the City as authorized by the written action of the City Manager (or other designated City officials).
This includes:
- The use of any item or cover that is intended to help protect the person from the weather or other elements.
- The presence or use of a campfire, camp stove or other heating source or cooking device.
- The keeping or storing of personal property on, in or near the location.
Any property that is authorized for temporary overnight sleeping arrangements will be based on a period not to exceed the time between one hour before sunset of one day and one hour after sunrise of the next day. This includes with or without the use of covers or other protection from the elements as specified pursuant to the provisions of the City code.
Occupancy of certain motor vehicles in public rights of way:
It shall be unlawful for any person to occupy any boat, camper trailer, camper coach, motor home, trailer coach, recreational vehicle, truck, commercial vehicle, or school bus - terms defined in the Model Traffic Code as adopted by the City. This includes vehicles used primarily as personal transportation for the purpose of camping or sleeping, if located on any street, public rights of way, or City owned and/or managed parking lots within the City limits.
Trespassing:
It shall be unlawful for any person to camp or shelter in or upon any city owned or managed property, including, but not limited to, the following:
- All parks, playgrounds, recreational facilities and parking lots.
- The Animas River Trail and all property along or adjacent to the Animas River Trail.
- All open space and natural surface trails.
- All other city owned or managed trails or hard surface trails and areas adjacent to those areas.
- All areas surrounding or located adjacent to city owned or managed buildings.
- All public streets, sidewalks and any other public right-of-way.
Prohibited activities on Open Space owned by the City of Durango:
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