In the 2022 Community Survey, residents identified homelessness as a top issue facing the community. The City of Arvada team has been working to develop a comprehensive response to this issue that is realistic, regional and sustainable.
City Council Study Session identified policy direction
In January 2023, the City team conducted a Study Session with City Council to present data about the current state of homelessness in Arvada and Jefferson and Adams counties. The team also presented recommendations for potential actions the City team could take based on Council direction. A recording of the Study Session is available on YouTube. The full slide deck can also be downloaded in PDF format.
The City team’s strategy seeks to find solutions for the following problems:
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Coordinate a regional approach to homelessness
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Address the visible unhoused population in Olde Town
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Relocate homeless services from Olde Town to a more suitable location
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Align resources to address the visible unhoused
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Stop homelessness before it begins
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Support homeless veteran efforts
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Support the homeless children and family population
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Address the homeless living in vehicles
The City team has proposed a wide range of immediate, intermediate and long-term actions to take in order to begin to address this growing challenge. For a full list of actions, please review the full slide deck PDF beginning at page 40.
Immediate actions
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Identify Emergency Sheltering location
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Establish outreach team in coordination with our homeless navigators and co-responders
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Contract with providers for camp, encampment, and debris clean up
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Hire second homeless navigator and homeless coordinator position
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Identify and transition homeless services to appropriate location outside of Olde Town
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Build inter jurisdictional coordination and governance (Arvada, Edgewater, Golden, Lakewood, Westminster, Wheat Ridge, and Jefferson County)
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Formalize data collection
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Contract for homeless study to learn more about each jurisdiction’s homeless population
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Engage in PESTEL analysis (Political, economic, social, technology, environmental, legal) with each jurisdiction in the county as identified above
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Join Adams County MOU
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Perform an internal analysis of policies and other management tools.
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Conduct community engagement to learn more about resident’s concerns and values around homelessness and potential solutions.
Intermediate actions
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Implement recommendations from study & PESTEL analysis
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Establish data collection and analysis strategy for data driven approach
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Establish performance measures
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Align Service providers
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Create Navigation Center development board
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Engage with Built for Zero
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Participate with school district efforts
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Develop effective communication plan
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Develop communications describing resources and how to navigate services
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Build a grant/funding pipeline
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Continue support of Community Table and Safe Parking Program
Long-term actions
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Implement regional navigation center
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Implement regional family navigation center
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Expand housing options
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Evaluate hotel/motel transitional housing model
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Non-profits/NGOs operate all but emergency services
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Develop prevention strategy for individuals and families
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Develop workforce programs
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Create Park Ranger program
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Create transitional and affordable housing options
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Elected officials advocate for legislation and financing to assist with issue
Current programs will continue to assist homeless populations
The City of Arvada offers several programs to assist those experiencing homelessness and in danger of homelessness. To explore those programs, please visit our Homelessness in Arvada webpage.
We will keep you informed.
As the City works through these identified actions, we will keep you informed on City communication channels such as the City website, social media, the Arvada Report and press releases, when appropriate.