LOVELAND, Colo. (KDVR) — Loveland residents are expressing strong emotions on Monday after the mayor spent the night inside city hall with people experiencing homelessness.
This comes after the temporary shelter permit expired recently, closing that housing. Video posted by City Council Member Steve Olson captured Loveland Mayor Jacki Marsh inside the city building on Sunday.
“She went into the building, which she has a key to, and invited some homeless, which she does not have the authority to do,” Olson said.
“I had to make a decision when the rain started,” Marsh said. “Do I let people that are not equipped to be in the cold rain or do I bring them in to City Hall? And I made that decision. I did let the city manager know that I was going to do that. I had called several people, so there were four of us supervising. We took masking tape and blocked off the areas that people should not go, and we stayed. I stayed up all night, you know, others did as well. I can tell you, the people were very respectful.”
This situation happened after a temporary shelter for those experiencing homelessness recently closed.
“And then people, because they were able to stay at the South Railroad facility, they didn’t keep their tents and sleeping bags because why would you?” Marsh said. “You would have to carry that around, and you don’t need it.”
“The mayor and everybody else, all the organizations in town, had six months to begin to work together toward a plan, and they didn’t do it,” Olson said. “And I think staff may not have believed us when we said this was temporary, way back in 2022. And now we’re in a situation where the shelters are closed, the tents are down, and we still have homeless in town. So what do we do with them?”
Olson told FOX31 he has been trying to come up with a way to help people experiencing homelessness on a larger scale.
“I have been trying for eight years to get a plan developed to help people get out of homelessness and run into obstacle to obstacle,” Olson said. “I want them out of homelessness. I want to become self-sufficient.”
FOX31 asked Olson and Marsh what the city and council will do next.
“Well, that’s what the city manager and the staff are working on today is what is the short-term solution,” Olson said. “We have short-term and long-term. Maybe the city could have done a better job in keeping the community involved in the short-term solution, starting six months ago. And maybe they could have done a better job in bringing the organizations in to be more prepared. But we’re not there, so we can’t turn back the clock. So staff is working on what do we do in the short term, but also what are we going to do long term? That’s the more important thing. What are we going to do long-term to help people be able to exit homelessness?”
The city shared the following statement with FOX31 on Monday afternoon:
“On Sunday night, October 5, City Hall was opened outside normal hours by the Mayor to allow members of the public inside. The City Manager was informed but did not approve or deny the request. We offered another location – the Loveland Resource Center. Per City code, the City Manager and authorized designees are the only parties with the authority to modify hours of operation for City buildings and approving uses outside of regular hours.
City Hall operates from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and remains open after hours only for scheduled public meetings. It is not zoned, staffed, or equipped to serve as an emergency overnight shelter. The Civic Center plaza remains open daily from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
The City of Loveland has an overnight bad weather plan that uses the Loveland Resource Center when needed.
Beginning tonight, the City Manager has authorized the activation of the Loveland Resource Center for temporary overnight shelter. The indoor space will be prioritized for women and people with physical disabilities and other individuals will be able to stay using their own tents. City staff continue to connect individuals with resources, including the ability to connect with friends and family outside the area for reunification and sheltering.
The LRC is available as overnight shelter to individuals who are 18+.
During tomorrow night’s City Council meeting, City Council will discuss a possible long-term shelter option in executive session. If City Council has interest in moving forward, the topic will be brought to an upcoming public meeting.”
ACLU Colorado wrote a letter to the city of Loveland regarding this topic.
Want more insights? Join Working Title - our career elevating newsletter and get the future of work delivered weekly.
