Longmont staff is to present City Council Tuesday night with an update on community efforts to reach out to the homeless and refer them to available services.
That’s to include a review of city government and nonprofit agencies’ outreach and engagements with individuals who have been living in “sleeper vehicles” — recreational vehicles, camper coaches, camper trailers, trailer coaches and motor homes parked on Longmont’s city streets and other public property.
Since Jan. 1, it has generally been illegal to park sleeper vehicles on Longmont’s city streets, in alleys, in parking lots near trailheads and inside city parks and on other public rights of way, under an ordinance Council approved last November.
City Code Enforcement, Public Safety, and Community Services staffers, along with Homeless Solutions for Boulder County partners, including HOPE — Homeless Outreach Providing Encouragement — and the Boulder Shelter, began planning an educational outreach campaign in early November right after the ordinance passed, and the Boulder Shelter began planning an educational outreach campaign in early November right after the ordinance passed, Longmont staff wrote council in a memo for Tuesday night’s meeting.
That work included creating a bilingual flier to share information about the ordinance taking effect Jan. 1, as well as information for people experiencing homelessness and living in their RVs on public property, including details about how to access the county’s Coordinated Entry System into more permanent and sustainable housing solutions.
Staff reported in last week’s memo for Tuesday night’s meeting that since the effective date of the ordinance banning the parking of sleeper vehicles, police had contacted six RV/sleeper vehicle dwellers.
“Four of the people contacted are well known to police and have repeatedly declined services,” staff wrote.
“One person is struggling with mental health issues and police are engaging with CORE (Crisis, Outreach, Response and Engagement) and and MHP (Mental Heath Partners) to assist; and the final person was from out of state, vehicle was broken down, and police are giving them time to repair the vehicle and continue their journey.”
As of Jan. 6, police had not yet towed any RVs or sleeper vehicles, staff reported in last week’s memo, but added that “that may change by the time of the council meeting as those six previously mentioned could be towed if they do not comply with the ordinance.”
However, police have reported “a significant reduction of RV/sleeper vehicles in well-known ‘hot spots’ since the ordinance was announced and now in effect,” staff wrote. “While a few remain, many people living in RV/sleeper vehicles understand the ordinance and are seeking alternatives elsewhere.”
Staff also reported that the nonprofit agency HOPE’s “SafeLot” program launched last June had served 24 people and has had 57 applicants since its inception. HOPE’s safe lot initiative is available to households temporarily living in passenger vehicles but does not serve or provide parking spaces to RVs or other sleeper vehicles not served through this SafeLot project.
City staff liaison said that through late last November, three of HOPE’s SafeLot participants had achieved housing, 25 were on the wait list or pending approval, and 12 have been exited for non-compliance. The current lot holds nine vehicles, but HOPE plans to add two more churches on Feb.1 to increase the SafeLot capacity to 19 spaces.
Staff wrote said it “wanted to clarify that it has not invested resources in establishing more opportunities for outdoor sheltering. Instead, staff has focused its efforts on increasing bridge housing opportunities to assist people engaged in HSBC {Homeless Solutions for Boulder County) who are actively working toward a more permanent housing solution.”
If you watch
What: Longmont City Council regular meeting
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Council and city staff members will participate from remote locations. Residents can watch the meeting by clicking “play” on the video link within the interactive agenda window. The mayor will announce when people can call in to comment during the portions of the meeting when the public is invited to be heard or to testify on proposed ordinances.
Agenda: tinyurl.com/y2wprwlp
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