Moved In
Church, Temple, Neighbors Welcome Safe Outdoor Space In Park Hill
Hosts of Park Hill’s Safe Outdoor Space hosted an open house on June 18, where neighbors and congregants learned more about the program and left personalized messages of welcome.
Five days later, residents moved into their new homes for the next six months — heavy-duty tents set up in the fenced-in parking lot of Park Hill United Methodist Church/Temple Micah. The Safe Outdoor Space site, which is providing shelter to 40 unhoused people — has been the source of some controversy, including an unsuccessful lawsuit, since it was first announced in April. Many others in Park Hill have been welcoming to the new neighbors.
The tents are equipped with electricity. Other amenities include toilets, garbage service, showers and laundry. The site is managed by the Colorado Village Collaborative, and residents have access to health and other services. People who are interested in sharing meals or volunteering can sign up at coloradovillagecollaborative.org/safe-outdoor-space-park-hill.
“Today, Park Hill United Methodist Church, Temple Micah and many Park Hill neighbors have provided our city with a living example that demonstrates the reality that unsheltered homelessness could be a thing of the past,” said Cole Chandler, executive director of the Colorado Village Collaborative, the day the site opened.
“By working together, we can advance life changing solutions to the housing and homelessness crisis that deliver safety, dignity, and hope for the most vulnerable among us.”
— Cara DeGette