Denver considers changing cold weather strategy for unhoused people
As the city of Denver grapples with the deaths of four homeless individuals over the weekend, two city councilmembers are looking to enact a plan to ban on homeless encampment sweeps.
Shontel Lewis and Sarah Parady have proposed a ban on homeless encampment sweeps during severe cold weather, claiming it is necessary to protect unhoused people from the dangers of frostbite, hypothermia, and death.
However, their plan would do more harm than good and could ultimately lead to even more deaths on the streets of Denver.
The proposal, presented on Monday, also includes changing the threshold for when warming shelters open. Instead of the current policy of opening shelters when temperatures drop to 20 degrees or lower, the new plan would require shelters to open at 32 degrees or lower.
The most concerning part of this proposal is the ban on encampment sweeps means that even if the city receives reports of hazardous or unsanitary conditions within encampments, they would be unable to act. Not even if the closing a homeless encampment would protect the health and safety of both homeless individuals and the surrounding community.
This could lead to even more dangerous living conditions for those living in encampments and exacerbate the already dire homeless crisis in Denver.
It is important to note that the current rules for warming centers are based on a written policy from the mayor's office, not city law. This means that the proposal by Lewis and Parady is not backed by any legal authority and could have dangerous consequences if enacted.
The Denver Police Department has already stated that at least two of the four outdoor deaths this past weekend were not related to the cold, making it clear that other factors are at play here.
A recent survey conducted by B-Konnected, an agency that connects landlords with tenants, found that most homeless individuals in Denver do not have access to adequate shelter during freezing temperatures.
READ MORE:
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SHOCKING TREATMENT OF WOMEN AT DENVER HOMELESS SHELTER SPARKS OUTRAGE
THREE STABBED AT DENVER HOMELESS SHELTER EXPOSES INADEQUATE SECURITY AND GROWING DANGER
While this is a concerning issue, homeless advocates say the solution is not to ban encampment sweeps, but rather to work towards finding more permanent and safe housing options for those in need, an expensive solution.
Law enforcement claim homeless encampment sweeps are not only necessary for maintaining the health and safety of the community, but also for connecting unhoused individuals with resources and services that can help them get back on their feet.