Homelessness Day Services Center

In 2017, the City of Boulder approved a comprehensive Homelessness Strategy built around the belief that all Boulder community members should have the opportunity for a safe and stable place to live. The strategy expands pathways to permanent housing and increases access to programs and services for our unsheltered community. The planning and implementation of the Homelessness Day Services Center was identified as a priority by City Council in 2022.

The Homelessness Day Services Center will be operated by Boulder Shelter for the Homeless (BSH) and will be located at 4869 Broadway St., the Shelter’s north Boulder facility.

Previously, the city announced that the center would be located at 1844 Folsom Street. However, in July 2023, the owner and developer of that location withdrew from the process.

Presented with this challenge, the city looked at several new potential locations for the Homelessness Day Services Center. Recognizing that BSH is well placed to integrate services, shelter and housing, the city and BSH began discussions of expanding the Shelter’s role to host day services at their facility. Both organizations agreed that this solution would benefit the unhoused community the most.

BSH submitted an initial application in December 2023 to expand operating hours and increase the total number of available beds from 160 to 180. Staff issued initial review comments to confirm compliance with the code criteria and BSH conducted a Good Neighbor Meeting to hear community feedback. In addition to the neighbor-focused engagement, the city and BSH also collected feedback through a Be Heard Boulder questionnaire.

In March 2024, the BSH Conditional Use Review application was approved.

During outreach conducted in August 2022, community members, service providers and individuals with lived homelessness experience provided feedback about what characteristics would be important for a day center location. Engagement feedback was summarized in the Community Outreach Report, released in October 2022. Top considerations included:

• Easy access to transportation networks
• Building accessibility for people with disabilities
• Near social and medical services
• Near housing options so newly housed individuals can continue to access support services
• Centrally located and connected to the community

Additionally, to help prioritize potential properties, city staff created evaluation criteria to identify key property characteristics for a successful and effective day shelter. This included size, Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility, distance from public transportation and schools/day care, zoning, affordability and whether the property would be purchased or leased. Full evaluation criteria, including a list of all properties explored, is available online.

While the BSH facility was not originally listed as a potential location for the center, this location meets key evaluation criteria of size, Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility, distance from public transportation and schools/day care, zoning and affordability. The Shelter also has existing infrastructure for meal provision, laundry, and showers.

The city’s land use code defines where uses are permitted within the city.

Day shelter uses are a ‘conditional use’ at this location, a Business - Regional 1 (BR-1) zone district. Conditional uses require an administrative review by city staff to evaluate compliance with specific use standards. In this case, the Homelessness Day Services Center must meet the standards of Section 9-6-4(e) of the land use code. If the center operator demonstrates compliance with these criteria, city staff is obligated to approve the use. As part of the administrative review process, the operator is required to prepare a management plan and hold a good neighbor meeting.

A good neighbor meeting is required to ensure that the operator is informed of the effects of their use upon neighboring properties and educated about ways to mitigate, reduce, or eliminate potential impacts upon neighboring properties. The purpose of the meeting is to give neighbors of the center an opportunity to share their concerns with the operator and to provide comments on the management plan.

Planning and Development Services staff will review the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless Management Plan.

The proposal to expand the Shelter services is reviewed under a Conditional Use Review application and subject to the criteria in Section 9-6-4(e), B.R.C. 1981. The purpose of a Conditional Use Review is to evaluate if a use is appropriate in a given zoning district and that the applicable specific use standards have been satisfied. An initial application was submitted in December 2023, where staff issued initial review comments to confirm compliance with the code criteria.

Per the code, the applicant is required to conduct a Good Neighbor Meeting prior to approval of a Conditional Use Review. Neighbors within a 2,000 ft. radius of the site (4869 Broadway St) were invited to attend a Good Neighbor Meeting to share their input on proposed changes to the BSH Management Plan. Proposed changes include expanding operating hours and increasing the total number of available beds from 160 to 180. In addition to the neighbor-focused engagement, the city and BSH also collected feedback through a Be Heard Boulder questionnaire.

In March 2024, the BSH Conditional Use Review application was approved.

The city has requested that Boulder Shelter for the Homeless (BSH)submit a conditional use application and management plan in order to accommodate the addition of day services and other minor modifications to the shelter use. A Good Neighbor Meeting is required as part of the administrative review process with the Planning and Development Services Department (P&DS).

In early 2024, P&DS mailed information about the Good Neighbor Meeting to property owners within a 2,000 ft. radius of the site (4869 Broadway St). At this meeting, neighbors shared their thoughts and suggestions on changes to the BSH management plan. The administrative review application (ADR) materials and plans are available on the city’s Development Review Map.

In addition to the neighbor-focused engagement, the city opened a Be Heard Boulder questionnaire to gather community feedback on the Homelessness Day Services Center. Feedback collected through Be Heard Boulder was shared at the good neighbor meeting. The Be Heard Boulder questionnaire closed at 8 a.m. on Monday, January 29, 2024.

Initial outreach was conducted in 2022 by Trestle Strategy Group to determine what characteristics would be important for a day center location. Engagement feedback was summarized in the Community Outreach Report, released in October 2022.

The engagement process for this project began in 2022 after day services were identified as a priority at the 2022 City Council retreat and funding was subsequently authorized by council.

Initial outreach was conducted by Trestle Strategy Group to determine what characteristics would be important for a day center location. Engagement feedback was collected from individuals with lived experience, service providers and the community at large and was summarized in the Community Outreach Report, released in October 2022.

In early 2024, neighbors were mailed an invitation to attend a Good Neighbor Meeting to share their thoughts and suggestions on changes to the BSH management plan. In addition to the neighbor-focused engagement, the city opened a Be Heard Boulder questionnaire to gather community feedback on the Homelessness Day Services Center. Feedback collected through Be Heard Boulder was shared at the good neighbor meeting. The Be Heard Boulder questionnaire closed at 8 a.m. on Monday, January 29, 2024.

The recording of the Good Neighbor Meeting is available online. Use passcode "5YSq9!+6” to access the recording.

Boulder Shelter for the Homeless will be reactivating the Neighbor Shelter Action Group (NSAG) to encourage dialog, collaboration and solutions around the impacts that Shelter programing has on the neighborhood surrounding the Shelter. Due to concerns expressed during the meeting, the Shelter has asked the Boulder PD to have a police representative join the NSAG group. Please email Andy Schultheiss at andy@bouldershelter.org if you are interested in participating in this working group.

The Shelter is open to receiving community members for a face-to-face tour and discussions about services and homelessness in general. Additionally, immediate concerns and impacts can be related directly to the Shelter by community members who are not serving on NSAG. To schedule a tour or provide feedback please email Andy at andy@bouldershelter.org.

Safety is a top priority for both the city and Boulder Shelter for the Homeless (BSH). Boulder PD currently has an officer from Watch 2 (working 2pm – 12am) assigned as a liaison to the BSH. An additional liaison officer, from Watch 1 (working 6am – 4pm) will be assigned to BSH. These liaison officers will be responsible for identifying on-going safety issues related to BSH and coordinating police resources.

Along with the additional police liaison, Boulder PD will have officers assigned to the district conduct high-visibility patrols. Boulder PD command personnel will closely monitor data related to calls for service in order to address any increases due to the opening of the Homelessness Day Services Center.

BSH believes in accountability for criminal behavior.

• BSH does not tolerate threats, aggressive behavior or violence in their facility or on their property.
• BSH does not allow weapons, drugs or alcohol in their facility.
• The use of drugs or alcohol on BSH property is prohibited.

BSH staff are trained to deal with the unique challenges of providing services to this population and routinely are trained on de-escalation and best practices in ensuring the safety of its clients.

If, at any time, a community member believes there is an immediate threat to his/her/their safety or the safety of another person, we ask they call 9-1-1. A police officer will respond and take appropriate action. If a community member sees something that is concerning but not necessarily threatening, we encourage use of the 303-441-3333 police line, which is a non-emergency phone number. In most instances, a police officer will respond in a timely manner, but please understand that there may be non-emergency situations where response is delayed because available officers may be needed more at another location.

We understand that loitering can be concerning; however, it is not a crime.

We also recognize there are circumstances that necessitate police involvement. If, at any time, a community member believes there is an immediate threat to his/her/their safety or the safety of another person, we ask they call 9-1-1. A police officer will respond and take appropriate action. If a community member sees something that is concerning but not necessarily threatening, we encourage use of the 303-441-3333 police line, which is a non-emergency phone number. In most instances, a police officer will respond in a timely manner, but please understand that there may be non-emergency situations where response is delayed because available officers may be needed more at another location.

Shelter staff frequently engage with individuals who are loitering and are usually successful at encouraging them not to. We expect the addition of day services to reduce loitering because client-facing staff will be available during the daytime and the center will be open and offering resources during the day.

The City of Boulder leverages a multi-department team, the Safe and Managed Public Spaces (SAMPS) team, that focuses on mitigating the impacts of camping in public spaces. The SAMPS team uses a formula for prioritizing which areas get cleaned up and follows strict notification protocols and procedures. Directed patrols are conducted as staffing allows in an effort to keep spaces open and safe for public use. This work is supported by outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness to engage them with services, shelter and housing.

The Boulder Police Department will add a second liaison officer assigned to BSH and will have officers assigned to the district conduct high-visibility patrols.

Community members can report unsanctioned camping through Inquire Bolder.

Learn more about the SAMPS team and reporting unsanctioned camping on the city’s website.

City Council, supported by input from community members, stakeholders, and service providers, directed staff to create a space that is low-barrier, welcoming and trauma informed. The center will allow entry without limits, except when entry or center use violates rules and policies necessary for the safety of other facility users and staff. This includes prohibiting possession or use of substances, violent or disruptive behavior and weapons. The focus is on prohibiting behavior that is disruptive or threatening, not on individuals themselves.

The feedback we received from the community played a crucial role in shaping the Homelessness Day Services Center. The center is designed to offer a comprehensive range of services to address needs in a holistic manner and with an ultimate goal of exiting people from homelessness.

The key services identified through community feedback, such as bathroom and shower facilities, laundry, safe storage, and meal services have been incorporated into the core offerings of the Homelessness Day Services Center. While the Shelter already provides these essential services in some capacity, our intention is to expand their availability in terms of hours and inclusivity and to provide these services in an effort to engage unhoused people in efforts to exit them from homelessness.

In addition to these basic services, the day center will offer a range of programs to enhance the support provided to individuals experiencing homelessness including:

• Peer Support Services: Creating a community that understands and supports one another.
• System Navigation: Assisting individuals in navigating systems to access the housing and services they need.
• Case Management: Providing personalized support to address individual needs and goals and to provide assistance to people who have been housed through center resources.
• Treatment - Behavioral Health/Physical/Substance Use: Offering critical assistance for mental health, physical, and substance use disorder.
• Coordinated Entry: Streamlining access to various resources and services.
• Community Court: Fostering a sense of community responsibility and accountability.
• Reunification and Diversion Services: Working proactively to prevent long term homelessness by diverting individuals from entering the system and safely reuniting them with support systems.
• Transportation: Ensuring access by eliminating transportation barriers through additional free buses during the middle of the day between the Shelter and downtown and providing bus passes at the day center and through other community providers and outreach teams.
• Tenant supportive services: Support for individuals transitioning into housing.
• Respite: Dedicated beds for individuals transitioning from the hospital or those with medical conditions to recover from their illness.

In addition, through funding from the Department of Local Affairs, we have secured 30 state housing vouchers and tenant supportive services attached to this project.

Through the expansion of services and addition of new services, the Homelessness Day Service Center will create a space to foster a positive environment for seamless collaboration and coordination among existing service providers.

We have initiated conversations with members of the faith community to explore opportunities to support these services, ensuring that the center meets individuals where they are.

Because this type of comprehensive programming has never been provided in Boulder, expected daily usage is currently an estimate. Staff estimate that between 50-100 individuals will access the center intermittently throughout the day. Many of the individuals who utilize the Shelter overnight are anticipated to utilize the center during the day.

This city is committed to the success of the center and truly believes it will be yet another important asset that contributes to our collective goal of providing much needed services to our unhoused community.

Specifically, we have shared with the Shelter and publicly that we commit to the following:

• Increased vigilance from our Safe and Managed Places cross-departmental team led by our Utilities department, and continued reporting out on our public facing dashboards so the community can see the status of our clean-up efforts.

• The city has installed lighting at the Rosewood underpass and has a camera already installed there. We will commit to maintaining that lighting and look to place a portable camera in that location as well.

• Code compliance (from Planning and Development Services) and Code Enforcement (from Boulder Police Department (BPD)) will review code violations to monitor trends and work with BSH to address violations. 

• BPD currently has a liaison officer dedicated to BSH on second shift from 2pm to midnight. With expanded operations, the city commits to adding another liaison to cover from 6 am to 4 pm for additional coverage.

• BPD currently has a dedicated patrol deployed throughout the district and will endeavor to provide increased patrols as able to increase visibility throughout the area.

• Beyond the Shelter’s Action Group, BPD has also offered to meet with community and neighborhood organizations in existing monthly neighborhood meetings if desired or as requested to make sure they are hearing any concerns and will be monitoring the data to ensure we are capturing calls for service appropriately so as to adjust any strategies if needed.

• HHS will continue to meet regularly the various partners at the center to monitor progress and evaluate program needs.

• The city will provide periodic updates to city council about progress and successful outcomes as well as addressing any concerns that could arise. 

The DSC by itself will not address all our needs across the city nor can it be a single solution for all those needing our help, but we truly believe it will be a powerful addition to the current suite of tools that lead to real and proven outcomes to some of the most vulnerable members of our community.