Homeless daytime shelter to locate in north Fort Collins

By Dan MacArthur
Correspondent

A coalition of social service agencies is working to make a daytime homeless shelter a reality in north Fort Collins as early as the fall of 2005.

In the interim, Larimer County Health and Human Services Director Kathy Snell said the Salvation Army will operate a daytime shelter starting in October. She said the agency plans to transport the homeless to its South Mason Street quarters.

The search for a permanent shelter took on increased urgency when the Fort Collins Mennonite Fellowship in downtown Fort Collins closed the daytime center it had temporarily hosted, according to Snell.

"They're not going to do it again because we trashed their church," she explained.

After an extensive search, Snell said supporters found what they considered to be the perfect shelter site. Located on the corner of Blue Spruce Drive and Conifer Street, it is within walking distance of The Mission homeless shelter and other human service agencies. The city of Loveland directed $87,500 of its federal Community Development Block Grants toward purchasing the property.

But Snell said when the Salvation Army a few months ago expressed interest in collaborating with the county, it became clear the Conifer Street site was too small to accommodate the 70 to 100 people expected to make use of the shelter.

Snell said she then saw an overlooked solution while staring out the window of her office at 1525 Blue Spruce. A county-owned lot just to the north appeared to be the right fit. She said a long-term lease is being drafted for consideration by the county commissioners. Proceeds from the sale of the previously purchased property will be applied toward the cost of constructing the facility.

Although details remain to be resolved, Gordon Thibedeau, director of the United Way of Larimer County, said that his agency would likely be the leaseholder and the Salvation Army would own and operate the center.

"We're interested in this as a community project," he said. "It will be operated by people who have some level of expertise."

In the meantime, the coalition has set to the substantial task of raising money for the shelter, which could cost between $1.5 million and $2 million. Snell said the United Way will take the lead with the support of the coalition.

The coalition represents Larimer County, the Salvation Army, United Way, Urban Pastors, Fort Collins Police Services and the cities of Loveland and Fort Collins. Snell said the group has been working for three years to establish a professionally operated daytime homeless shelter.

"We want to make sure this isn't just a place to hang out," Snell said, adding that the facility would support the homeless with health, mental health and substance abuse treatment, as well as other services available on site or in the surrounding area.

Thibedeau said that October 2005 is the targeted date for completion, and he was optimistic about meeting the goal. Snell noted the need is great to assist what she characterized as an invisible segment of society.

"It's like they don't exist," she said. "When I grew up I learned if you work hard you don't become a bum, but it doesn't happen that way."

The new shelter would fill a void created by the closing of New Bridges daytime shelter several years ago. The privately operated Open Door Mission also offers daytime shelter in downtown Fort Collins.