As tensions rise around homelessness in downtown Greeley, city and county officials may be ready to work together

Evans, CO – Two mats are laid out to show an example of the spaces laid out for social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic at the cold weather shelter in the Housing Navigation Center located at 2930 11th Ave. in Evans Feb. 20, 2021. The cold weather shelter is a service of the center. Photo by Alex McIntyre for the Greeley Tribune.

By Kelly Ragan

A combination of nearly two-dozen downtown residents and business owners afraid for their customers and themselves pleaded with the city to do something about homelessness at a recent Greeley City Council meeting. 

Business owners rehashed complaints they’ve shared before, like having to regularly wash feces and urine off their buildings, but many took to the podium to voice concern over what they believe are increasingly violent encounters with folks experiencing homelessness in the downtown area. Several other downtown residents said they’ve been physically assaulted or had weapons pulled on them. 

“I was here earlier this year to talk about the downtown homeless situation,” said Matt Rivette, a Greeley real estate agent who owns property downtown. “Well, something has changed. A tenant had a knife pulled on them last week.” 

Raquel Jandreau, owner of Sassy Bagz, said customers who don’t feel safe, especially late at night. And she doesn’t either. 

“If I don’t feel safe late at night downtown,” she said. “I can’t tell (my customers) they are safe.” 

Other business owners, such as Achilles Bardos who recently took over Roasty’s, said after a recent violent murder in town, employees have been scared to open or close the restaurant by themselves. 

One downtown resident acknowledged the difficulties of the homeless issue, from civil rights to mental health.  But that’s not what’s happening at Lincoln Park, he said. That is about crime and access to drugs, something that makes him feel uncomfortable walking around even in the daytime. 

Ryan Gentry, owner of a smattering of downtown taverns, including The Box, The Jager, Gentry’s, and the Bears Country Saloon, said he was worried what Greeley built in the last 13 years was changing. New businesses and events such as Friday Fest, he said, made downtown Greeley a family friendly destination, a place where people from the west side of town (read: the wealthier, bougier part) came. 

“I am not exaggerating when I say well over a dozen times this summer, me and my wife were woken up by vagrants screaming in the middle of the night. This weekend, I saw one of our brave park employees stand his ground when surrounded by three vagrants threatening him,” Gentry said. “It’s not what we as Greeley community members want to represent us. It’s not a direction we can afford to go. Let’s not forget what we’ve done in the last 15 years.”

City and county cooperation

In an interview with the Optimist, Mayor John Gates said there is a lot going on behind the scenes around working to address homelessness. Earlier this year, the City of Greeley hired a Denver-based consulting company, Urbanity Advisors, to help it look for possible solutions. 

Terrell Curtis, who conducted interviews for Urbanity, previously said that Weld County viewed homelessness as Greeley’s problem to solve. City officials said that assessment rang true. Up until recently, officials said, the county was not at the table or willing to be part of the solution. 

Scott James

There are signs that’s changing. 

Weld County Commissioner Scott James has been in communication with the city about homelessness. 

“I believe homelessness is a shared problem, one we need to address together,” James said. “Not all my fellow county commissioners believe this way.”

Why does that matter? County-level support could come with additional funding and resources – two things that could help the city tackle a complex issue. 

“I believe it is an all of us problem. “I believe strongly not just one entity can address it.”

James said he thinks the best way to approach homelessness is a joint endeavor in which various organizations, including the county, cities, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations can rally around a stand-alone nonprofit that specifically focuses on homelessness. 

James said he sees the Springs Rescue Mission, a nonprofit based in Colorado Springs, as a model worth exploring. James said he and some Greeley city councilmembers have plans in the works to take a field trip to the Springs. 

There are two things, he said, that will be important and helpful when it comes to getting other commissioners on board. The first is putting together a committee of people who can dedicate time to the issue, he said. The second is figuring out the cost. 

“We all know if we’re going to work this problem out, it’s going to cost money,” James said. “The question is how much and who will bear the burden.”

James said it’s also worth noting that while the City of Greeley is thinking about Greeley, there are 32 municipalities in Weld, and homelessness is growing in many of those municipalities, too. 

Long-term solutions

Gates said the city has moved to hire folks with experience leading homelessness and housing initiatives. 

One of those new hires includes Juliana Kitten, a new assistant city manager. She is set to begin the job Monday, according to a news release. 

Juliana Kitten

She has 20 years of experience, much of that including leadership in community development, homelessness, mental health issues, and medical center operations, according to the release. 

In the realm of homelessness, some of her accomplishments include piloting a program in the City of Amarillo, Texas, where chronic homelessness decreased 7% in 18 months, according to the release. 

"I’m excited and grateful to join the efforts aimed at making homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring in Greeley while also working to establish a continuum of housing to meet the needs of those who want to live in Greeley,” Kitten said in the release. 

Gates said he’s met with Kitten and that she’s already working to form a homelessness and housing committee as part of an effort to systemically address homelessness. 

That’s part of the long-term solution, Gates said, which is important – but he did acknowledge the community’s desire for short-term solutions as well. Gates said he encourages folks to continue reaching out if they see criminal activity going on. 

“We can’t arrest our way out of this,” he said. “But those causing problems can’t get a free pass either.”