DENVER — Something unusual happened at a homeless encampment in Denver this week.
Denver's Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) had planned to clean up an encampment near East 50th Avenue and Dahlia Street on Tuesday because of public health concerns., but then Mayor Mike Johnston stopped that effort after he visited the site a few days before.
Last week a seven-day notice was posted under DOTI's authority to remove obstructions from the public right of way. According to Derek Woodbury, the communications director for the Department of Housing Stability, there are significant public health and safety hazards at this site.
Woodbury said the unhoused people living in this area had been provided access to shelters. They were not offered a hotel room like the 83 people camping near the governor's mansion in late September. Woodbury said that was because the resources are not available right now. There's just no hotel room for them to go to.
When Councilwoman Shontel Lewis heard the city planned to clean the encampment located in her district, she decided to give Mayor Johnston a call. She didn't think the encampment met the criteria the mayor outlined for a cleanup.
"So the mayor has spoken about safety concerns, public health concerns, or if we are moving folks into long term housing, and none of those existed for this encampment," said Lewis.
Lewis said the mayor visited the encampment last week, a few days before the scheduled cleanup, and then decided to call it off.
"He had the opportunity to visit the encampment and get a chance to know the residents and also see how well they had taken care of that encampment and what the needs were for the encampment and it wasn’t for them to be swept," she said.
Denver's Department of Housing Stability said the city plans to address the issues at this encampment in a different way by providing bathrooms and trash services as well as additional outreach and service connections.
"As the city moves forward with the House1000 initiative and other potential encampment cleanups, we know there will be many opportunities to learn and improve," said Katie Wamsley, communications officer for Department of Housing Stability. "We continue to work with council, stakeholders, community and businesses to provide the best solutions and help those who need it most."
Councilwoman Lewis said the mayor talked about long-term solutions, and his ultimate goal is to move people living at the encampment into permanent housing.
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Latest from 9NEWS