I was disappointed that the plan to purchase the Adventure Inn in Durango fell through, as reported in The Durango Herald on March 30. Bridge housing, as the name suggests, is an essential part of the continuum of care for housing vulnerable populations and focuses primarily on families and seniors who need a place to land while seriously trying to alleviate the circumstances that led them to lose their home.
Bridge housing is not intended for the chronically homeless population. This is not a “managed camp” and it is not an emergency shelter. As the county has made clear, bridge housing aims to make homelessness rare, brief and one-time.
Homelessness is not a universal description for those who find themselves without housing. We must understand and address the multifaceted nature of homelessness and the multifaceted solutions. Housing is, of course, basic housing and transitional housing is part of the continuum of care.
According to the article about the Adventure Inn, there was uncertainty about the compatibility of the zoning and this uncertainty may have played a role in the ultimate failure of the construction of this bridge. Although the planning department ultimately provided a limited zoning verification letter, it appears that the applicant had to take unusual steps for this application.
This is not a standard procedure and I am concerned that our current requirements are not flexible enough to allow for the creation of the necessary continuum of care.
To address the ongoing issues of homelessness, we must develop a viable continuum of care. Bridge housing constitutes a crucial step in this continuum. The failure of the Adventure Inn process highlighted a potential obstacle to the process. The City Council must review existing policies to ensure that future attempts to develop a strong, multidimensional and robust continuum of care are supported.
Issues related to homelessness are not new to our region. After a year-long collaborative process involving most aspects of homelessness, the 2020 Homelessness Strategic Plan was adopted by La Plata County and the City of Durango. A previous council shelved the report and current councilors did not see fit to revisit it.
However, the adopted strategic plan for Durango 2022 addresses the Council's need to:
1) Continue to work with La Plata County to identify and implement strategies to support individuals experiencing homelessness and mitigate the negative impacts of homelessness on the community.
2) Provide funding and resources to support community partners in their efforts to serve individuals and families trying to exit homelessness, so they can succeed. The actions of the Council do not appear to be aligned with the commitments made in the 2020 Strategic Plan.
We are a caring community and the housing challenges of our neighbors and friends must be improved. The Board and staff are good people with tough jobs – let’s all work together to improve our home.
A resident of Durango since 1983, retired Julie Cooley is involved in and advocating for the homeless and affordable housing.
