We share your compassion for all of those in need in our community.

We believe that the only way we will address community wide issues is with community wide solutions. This means that collaboration between the various partners is critical. The City has a Memorandum of Understanding with Homeward 2020 because we recognize that no single entity in our community can solve these issues alone. We are committed to supporting continued collaboration through Homeward 2020 and deeply appreciate the hard work of all partners trying to meet the needs of those experiencing homelessness in Fort Collins.

Here is some additional information for the points of clarification and suggestions raised:

· We are grateful to the Mennonite Church and Fort Collins Homeless Coalition for providing transportation on March 23 from Catholic Charities to motels. Police Services were on site to help and were prepared to provide rides as needed. In addition to providing the funding, Police Services worked on all of the logistics to make arrangements with different motels. As noted previously, this was an emergency response to a unique set of circumstances and is not a feasible approach for a standard overflow process.

· The Work Session is scheduled for July 12 and will focus on new homeless-related initiatives, such as Outreach Fort Collins and the Nashville model. Councilmembers may also discuss or ask questions related to camping during the Work Session.

· We recognize that there is a need to expand shelter space. We are pursuing the Nashville model as an attempt to provide more beds and shelter opportunities, as well as activate additional community support for emergency response. The intent of the Nashville model is to avoid overburdening one person or organization through a shared community approach.

· We are exploring the feasibility of continuing current overflow numbers with our existing shelters. In the meantime, we are encouraged that both have extended until May 1.

· We are grateful to the shelters for the services they provide to our community and do not have authority over their policies and procedures.

· Thank you for your support of Outreach Fort Collins. We are excited about its launch this May and to share more about the program with Council and the Community at the July 12 Work Session.

· We also wanted to note that program residents are able take showers at the shelters, but overflow guests are not able to utilize the showers at shelters. However, Homeless Gear provides hygiene products, the Murphy Center offers showers and laundry to as many people as they can, and the Murphy Center is provided with shower vouchers to provide to guests for use at Northside Atzlan Center.

We are thankful to our committed partners and a caring community. We will continue to work with everyone interested in collaboratively developing solutions to make homelessness rare, short-lived and non-recurring.