FAQs
Rising housing costs: Home prices in Greeley have gone up by 29% since 2019, making it harder for some families to afford housing.
Wages vs. rent costs: Many people don’t earn enough to afford rent without struggling financially. A household would need about $126,000 per year to avoid being rent-burdened.
Limited affordable housing: Many residents spend a large part of their income on rent. A single financial setback—like a medical bill or emergency expense—can put them at risk of losing their home.
Citywide camping restrictions: This approach would restrict camping in all public spaces.
- Restrictions on camping in areas where there are safety concerns.
- No Change to current process.
- All cities enforce camping restrictions and issue citation, many have chosen to restrict selectively, focusing on areas with safety or environmental risks.
- All cities provide outreach services and shelter options before issuing citations.
- All cities provide notice before issuing citations.
- Some cities have introduced community court programs that connect individuals with services and reduce penalties.
Improving safety: Reducing camping in public spaces could lower risks like fires and other hazards.
- Cleaner public spaces: Restrictions can help keep areas streams, water sources, parks, infrastructure, and other public spaces clean for use by the public.
Encouraging people to seek services: Connecting people to shelter and support can help them move toward stability.
Staff support: A resource for city staff to use when people refuse services or keep returning to the same camp sites immediately after they have been cleaned up.
- Lack of shelter beds: Recent Supreme Court rulings allow camping restrictions even without enough shelter space, but this can leave people experiencing homelessness with no legal place to go, making it hard for them to avoid fines or citations. Greeley does not currently have enough shelter beds to accommodate our homeless population, and the city does not have a year-round overnight shelter.
- Impact on vulnerable individuals: Some individuals may have valid reasons for avoiding shelters, such as past trauma or mental health issues.
- Lack of housing resources: There are currently hundreds of people in Greeley who are waiting to be matched to a housing resource.
A community meeting where officials will share information and answer questions.
A community survey to gather feedback on different options.
A presentation to City Council to review community input and decide if more research is needed before making a final decision.
- Shelter services: Both overnight and day shelters are available, though capacity is often limited.
- Outreach programs: These programs help people get IDs, healthcare, food, and clothing.
- Partnerships: The city manages cleanups of homeless camps through outreach and voluntary movement. Nonprofits, City Police, and City Public Works collaborate to help people move out of homelessness.
- Housing: These programs help individuals who just entered homelessness stabilize quickly and enter the workforce again, as well as help individuals with disabilities obtain housing and maintain housing.
Attend the community meeting on February 19 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at the LINC Library (501 8th Avenue) to share thoughts.
Complete the community survey to provide feedback.
Follow updates at speakupgreeley.com.
- Contact City Council representatives to share opinions or ask questions.
Why are people in Greeley experiencing homelessness?
There are many reasons why people in Greeley may be facing homelessness. Some of those factors include:
What are camping restrictions and how would they work?
Camping is defined as use of a public area for living – occupying shelter out of doors – tent, shack, sleeping bag, or other structure or material; sleeping or preparing to sleep; presence or use of stove or campfire; keeping or storing of personal property.
If Greeley adopts camping restrictions, they could apply to the entire city or specific areas where there are safety concerns (such as bridges and waterways). Enforcement typically starts with outreach and connecting people to services before issuing citations.
What options is the City of Greeley considering to address public camping?
The city is evaluating several options, including:
Community input will help the city decide which option to move forward with.
What have other cities done to address camping on public property?
Cities like Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Loveland, and Fort Collins have put camping restrictions in place. Here’s what we’ve learned from their approaches:
These approaches aim to balance enforcement with support for people experiencing homelessness.
What are the potential benefits of camping restrictions?
Camping restrictions could help by:
What are the potential challenges of camping restrictions?
Some challenges include:
How many people in Greeley are homeless, and how many shelter beds are available?
The city does not have enough shelter beds to meet the needs of its homeless population. As of December 2024, there were over 500 unhoused individuals in Greeley using services and only 60 shelter beds available for single adults that are turned over each night. Additionally, the city does not operate a year-round overnight shelter, which limits options for those needing immediate housing assistance.
If there aren’t enough shelter beds, how can Greeley enforce camping restrictions?
A Supreme Court ruling in 2024, called Grants Pass, allows municipalities to enforce camping restrictions regardless of adequate shelter bed availability.
The Supreme Court ruling does not make it illegal to enforce camping restrictions without adequate shelter space, however we acknowledge this still presents a challenge to our community members. Without adequate shelter space, people experiencing homelessness may have no legal place to go, which can make it difficult for them to avoid fines or citations. The city aims to strengthen outreach efforts to connect individuals with available services before taking enforcement actions.
How will Greeley ensure community input in this process?
The City wants to hear from residents before making a decision. The process includes:
What services do local organizations provide in Greeley to help people experiencing homelessness?
The city’s Homeless Solutions Department partners with local organizations to offer:
How can residents stay informed and get involved?
Residents can: