HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 4/20/2021 - Memorandum From Brittany Depew Re: Fort Collins Rescue Mission & Blue Spruce Temporary Shelter UpdateSocial Sustainability
222 Laporte Avenue
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6595
MEMORANDUM
DATE: April 14, 2021
TO: Mayor Troxell and City Councilmembers
THRU: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Kyle Stannert, Deputy City Manager
Jacqueline Kozak Thiel, Chief Sustainability Officer
Beth Sowder, Social Sustainability Department Director
FROM: Brittany Depew, Homelessness Lead Specialist
RE:Fort Collins Rescue Mission & Blue Spruce Temporary Shelter Update
Purpose:The purpose of this memo is to provide information to Council about the Rescue Mission’s
transition from their temporary location on Blue Spruce back to their location on Linden Street.
Bottom Line:The Rescue Mission’s Emergency Temporary Shelter at Blue Spruce will end on May 1,
and they will return to their location at Linden & Jefferson. Staff and partners are working to ensure a
smooth transition and address potential service gaps by focusing on the importance of communications,
outreach, and mitigating impacts for people experiencing homelessness, businesses, providers, and
residents.
Blue Spruce Temporary Shelter
The temporary shelter at 1301 Blue Spruce has been sheltering men overnight since November 2020 and
will cease operation on May 1, 2021. To ensure adequate capacity during the coldest winter months, the
City entered into a lease agreement with the Food Bank for this six-month period. Utilizing this larger
space has increased capacity for men’s overnight shelter during the winter season and allowed the
Rescue Mission to follow all safety and distancing requirements outlined by the Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) and the Larimer County Health Department.
Highlights and updates:
This project was funded in part by the City via CARES and CDBG-CV coronavirus-relief
funds. Previous memo outlining funding amounts for shelter programs is attached.
466 unduplicated men have been served since November 1 with a total of 17,611 overnight
stays.
37,251 meals have been served since November 1 -- 11,605 breakfasts, 11,568 lunches, and
14,078 dinners.
Capacity for overnight guests is approximately 150 with an average of 114 overnight guests.
Those staying overnight are served breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Health protocols were followed closely and included temperature checks, regular
handwashing and sanitizing, physical distancing, face coverings, and regular COVID testing
on-site,
Success at this site required close collaboration with partners, including the Food Bank,
Homeward Alliance, Outreach Fort Collins, and the Health District. These partnerships
allowed efficient and organized management of the program while helping connect people
with services and resource navigation.
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Return to Linden Street
On May 1, operations will resume at the Rescue Mission’s Linden Street location with reduced capacity
due to ongoing COVID-19 distancing requirements.
Capacity for overnight guests will be approximately 70, compared to 2019 summer season (May-
October) capacity of approximately 85 guests.
Guests staying overnight will be served breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There is no longer a public
meal option.
The Rescue Mission will serve only overflow men overnight, as was established at Blue Spruce.
Previously, the Rescue Mission served both overflow men and women.
Women and families will continue to be sheltered overnight at Catholic Charities, where capacity
has been sufficient.
Day shelter services will continue to be provided by Homeward Alliance at the Murphy Center,
with limited day shelter opportunities also available at the Rescue Mission.
Transition Team
Weekly tactical meetings with attendees from the Rescue Mission, Outreach Fort Collins,
Downtown Development Authority, and City staff representing Police, Parks, Social Sustainability,
Economic Health, Neighborhood Services, the Communications Office, and the City Attorney’s
Office.
This team will meet from early April to mid-May, with the option to continue as needed, to discuss
management of outdoor space and sidewalks, communication with residents and businesses,
and Rescue Mission staffing and logistics.
A separate team comprised of attendees from Homeward Alliance, the Food Bank, Catholic
Charities, Outreach Fort Collins, City of Fort Collins, and the Rescue Mission is considering
strategies for addressing potential gaps in meal service.
Outdoor Space
Where there were formerly two benches on the property north of the Rescue Mission, bike racks
will be installed the week of April 26. Bike parking has previously been limited on this block.
Photos of mock install included as an attachment.
Communications & Outreach
Letters will be mailed to residents within close proximity to both the Rescue Mission and Library
Park before the May 1 transition date.
Police and Outreach Fort Collins will conduct door-to-door outreach to businesses in the vicinity
of the Rescue Mission before the May 1 transition date.
Staff will attend Downtown Development Authority (DDA) meetings to share details with
businesses, seek feedback, and provide contact information should concerns arise.
Staff and partners will meet with neighboring businesses weekly through mid-May to discuss
transition needs and share updates.
Staff will meet with Library Park stakeholders in late April.
Next Steps
Direct mailing to residents near the Rescue Mission and Library Park the week of April 19.
Bike racks installed the week of April 26.
Door-to-door outreach to businesses near the Rescue Mission the last two weeks of April.
Convene weekly tactical meetings through at least May 16 and extend as needed.
Ongoing coordinated work to plan for upcoming winter season and potential to expand future on-
site capacity at the Rescue Mission until new 24/7 facility is secured.
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ATTACHMENT 1
January 28 Memo re: Homelessness Updates
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o Catholic Charities Expanded Womens Shelter
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and may be found on the Citys website at:
feedback in support of staffs proposed next steps
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committees
Citys
of the Citys Land Use Code to permit temporary use of the property at 1301 Blue
Catholic Charities Expanded Womens Shelter
of the Citys Land Use Code to permit temporary use of the property at 1709 West Elizabeth
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has served a total of 54 of our communitys highest risk people
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o
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ATTACHMENT 2
Mock install of bike racks on Linden Street sidewalk between the Rescue Mission and Mawson Lumber