December 12, 2024
I have been a resident in Arvada for over 10 years. As a mother, an educational leader for over 20 years and one who has served homeless families and have had family members and friends who have experienced being unhoused, I am deeply saddened by the stereotypes, misinformation, and at times, disinformation provided at the recent City Council Meeting on Oct. 7 and beyond as well as disinformation flyers being distributed in the Candelas & Arlington Meadows neighborhoods. On Oct. 7, as the room was brimming with dark green shirts worn by members of the Arlington Meadows community in protest to the Navigation Center proposed for the Arvada Early College building on 60th; I was inspired by the turnout and zeal to address real concerns about being a neglected community, yet disheartened by the fear, stereotypes and mis/dis information.
First, just like many of the community members who spoke at City Council, I have a deep concern about the rise in the homeless population. However, the inhumane treatment we’ve witnessed in Denver proper with turning grassy areas into boulders, closing parks, and fencing off green space areas has not worked. The homeless population continues to rise and encampments have proliferated, albeit in more of a nomadic way as law enforcement are mandated to disband encampments. The real questions are:
What are we doing to support the unhoused with rehabilitation, social services, meals, job training, and temporary/permanent housing? How are we helping the unhoused to get back on their feet?
In spring of 2022, I approached then-Council member Lauren Simpson regarding the homeless crisis. I was comforted when she said that the council had already voted to open a navigation center in Arvada and had convened a group who was working with Jefferson County on getting two navigation centers in Jefferson County (one in Lakewood, one in Arvada). Please see the 2021-2023 Homelessness Action Plan that called for two Navigation Centers.
However, John Marriott suggested on Oct. 7 that the City needed to complete a “Market Study” before moving forward with a navigation center in Arvada, as if this had not been discussed previously. Heading Home Jeffco along with members from the City of Arvada have conducted studies, gathered data, and completed what Marriott referred to as “Market Research,” to examine what works and what doesn’t to solve the issue of homelessness in Jefferson County. The City of Arvada, in particular, has done their due diligence in determining how to honor their commitment for a Navigation Center in Arvada by (1) looking at existing shelter and navigation models across the metro Denver area and (2) evaluating various available properties across Arvada for a potential site, focusing on the necessary aspects of being near reliable public transit, the zoning issues, and economic viability. They have also consulted with and hired experts from many organizations, ranging from Family Tree to the Denver Rescue Mission. So when some council members and community members suggest we need to slow down, we need to do the research; I am here to say that that has actually been done. We can’t afford to kick the can on this.
I think we can all agree that more forums with the community surrounding the Arvada Early College are warranted. In fact, multiple council members acknowledged this need and proposed plans to include the community through small and large group forums. It is incumbent upon us to move forward expeditiously with a plan for a navigation center. Winter is coming and with the rise in extreme weather patterns, it is critical we set in motion a plan for an Inclement Weather Shelter as well as a hub with services to get folks back on their feet. As Bob Fifer reminded the Council at the end of the meeting on Monday; approval for an Arvada navigation center was already voted on under the previous mayor in 2021. Now it’s a matter of where in Arvada.
As I listened to the well-intended, concerned citizens of Arlington Meadows, I couldn’t help but feel that we had two distinct issues coming up. First, Arlington Meadows – being the only community of Arvada situated in Adams County – has been a neglected community for public and social services ranging from child care and schools to road and utility maintenance. Second, the resistance to a navigation center in their community is because they felt left out of the process. The frustration from Arlington Meadows was colored with fear, stereotypes, and at times unfounded claims about navigation centers often conflating them with homeless shelters.
Friends, we are in a national crisis and homelessness is not just an Arvada issue — it’s not just a Denver Metro issue — it’s a national epidemic!!
According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, more people than ever are experiencing homelessness for the first time. From 2019-2023, the number of people who entered emergency shelters for the first time increased by more than 23%.
What does this all mean? This issue is not going away on its own and in fact it is projected to get worse due to the rising cost of housing, medical care, and inflation. We must come together as a community with our local government to solve this issue. “Not in my backyard” is not an option, my fellow community members.
What we know from what has happened in Downtown Denver. Making homelessness inhospitable by closing areas for encampments is not the solution, and pushing unhoused out to the fringes of the city or deterring them from much-needed services is not a solution. We have all been affected and must come together to resolve this issue and work together to create humane options that have been proven to be effective. The proposed Navigation Center at 60th & Sheridan is one such option, on the edge of commercial and residential properties as well as close to light rail and bus routes with being already zoned for its use makes it an ideal location.
Barbara J. Dray is an APA Member and has been a resident of Arvada for over 10 years. An activist at heart she received her Ph.D. in Bilingual Special Education studying Anti-Racist, Abolitionist ways of knowing and supporting schools & districts to reduce disproportionately in Special Education. Her 30 year career in education centered equitable practices in multilingual and high poverty schools.