Shelter space lacking as city seeks to curb encampments

Denver Metro communities have been grappling with strategies and ordinances to deter and eliminate homeless encampments — with no finish line in sight. Commerce City is not immune to the problem and is brainstorming solutions. But city officials say they are hobbled by a lack of space to house the homeless.

In November of 2022 the City Council agreed on an “Unauthorized Urban Camping Ban” ordinance with the policies and procedures yet to be determined by the city. Once those are established, it will be published on the city’s website.

At a City Council meeting earlier this month, Assistant City Manager Jim Tolbert outlined for council members the obstacles to enforcing the ordinance. The necessary policies and procedures are in a holding pattern, according to Tolbert. 

“We haven’t been in a large hurry to do that” said Tolbert, “because we don’t have shelter space.”

The wording of the ordinance states that to clear out an encampment there must first be an offer of temporary shelter, among other provisions such as services aimed at helping the individual get back on their feet. 

Recent court rulings limit the city’s power to clear out the encampments unless it can offer alternative temporary housing to the campers. 

Tolbert pointed out that it would not be fair to tell residents about an ordinance without the ability to enforce it. The expectations would not meet reality. 

That reality, said Sean Ford, is that “we’re going to harm our constituents one way or another because it’s going to be — property values, crime or a lot of other things.” 

Geography is also a consideration, Ford said, because of blurred border lines between Commerce City and Denver within the homeless community. This creates more need for shelter on the Commerce City side as they migrate away from Denver.

“Our need grows from the Denver side of the street,” said Ford. 

It was noted by city staff that the recent wave of migrants from outside the country has further exacerbated the need for shelter. 

The need, continued Ford, is a statewide problem because “when you bring on 38,000  people, where do you put them?” And it “creates a hardship for residents,” Ford said.

Frustration was apparent among other council members as well. 

“It leaves me speechless because it is such an intractable problem” sighed Council member Susan Noble.

Currently there are approximately 1,133 homeless people in Commerce City, officials say. However, the timing for the roll-out of Ordinance 2431 remains unknown. The issue is awaiting further consideration during a future study session of the City Council.