DENVER — On Tuesday, the City of Denver said it started a sweep of a homeless encampment in the La Alma Lincoln Park area due to public health risks.
The sweep is happening in the area of West Eighth Avenue and Mariposa Street to Sixth Avenue and Lipan Street. The city said the sweep should take about three days.
It's the first time in six months that the administration has posted an encampment closure without providing resolution on housing for the people there, the city said in a statement.
The advocate group Housekeys Action Network said the encampment is made up of about 150 people who gathered there because Mayor Mike Johnston promised to break up large encampments into micro units.
The city confirmed that they will not move people from this encampment into housing. The city will remove all items obstructing public areas during a coordinated multiagency cleanup.
The cleanup area encompasses all public rights of way, including both sides of the streets, all corners of street intersections, sidewalks, tree and lawn areas, adjoining greenways and parking lots, and any unpaved road shoulders and empty lots within and adjacent to the described boundaries, the city said.
"In cases of public health, public safety, right of way, or private property infringement, some camps will need to be cleaned up without direct access to housing," the city said in a statement. "Although we have worked with an intention of resolving this encampment to housing for several weeks, this encampment faces a great deal of challenges related to public health and safety and has imposed a significant burden on the surrounding community."
"This is my home,” Alex Holt said. “A whole bunch of us lived here. I have no idea where I am going."
Holt has been homeless for nine months. Tuesday morning, her world was turned upside down. She knew a sweep was coming, but didn't know it was going to end with her searching for a new place to put her stuff down.
"It affects the whole community when we do this,” Holt said. “So, we're just transferring from community to community, terrorizing the place.”
Holt and others watched in horror as crews were directed to shovel the rest of their stuff into the trash.
"We're literally on the corner and we don't know where to go,” Holt said. “We don't want to terrorize communities; we don't want this. We just want to be able to help ourselves and we can't do that when we don't even know where we're going to spend the night."
Any property removed will be temporarily stored at 1449 Galapago St. for 30 days, the city said. People can claim any property at this location at no charge and without fear of arrest between 6 and 8:30 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and between noon and 6 p.m. Thursdays.
After 30 days, property will be moved to a different location and stored for an additional 30 days. People are asked to call 311 to get additional information and/or to make arrangements to collect property.
All property not claimed within 60 days from the date of removal will be disposed of.
Emergency shelter for individuals is available at the following locations:
- Lawrence Street Community Center (transportation to men’s shelter)
- 2222 Lawrence St. Buses depart nightly, at approximately 6 p.m., to transport men to different shelter sites.
- Delores Project
- Single women and transgender individuals 18+ Call 303-534-5411 for address.
- Samaritan House, Holy Rosary Emergency Shelter(single women and transportation to women’s shelter)
- 2301 Lawrence St. Limited overnight emergency shelter for walk-ups available. Transportation to other available shelter. Women and transgender individuals seeking shelter should arrive between 4:00-4:30 p.m. to access available shelter options.
- Salvation Army Crossroads
- Single men 1901 29th St. | 720-305-4640 Entry between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
- Urban Peak Overnight Shelter
- Youth ages 15-20 303-974-2908
Emergency shelter for families is available at the following locations:
- The Volunteers of America Mission
- 2877 Lawrence St. | 303-295-2165 Monday through Thursday 1-4 p.m. • Staff available at specific hours to meet with families seeking shelter, help check availability and make direct referrals/reservations.
- Lambuth Family Center
- Call the TSA Connection Center for openings: 303.295.3366 (Monday through Friday 9am -4pm). 2741 N. Federal Blvd.
- The Gathering Place
- 1535 N. High St. | 303-321-4198 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 1-4 p.m.
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