(COLORADO SPRINGS) — In the wake of the extreme cold that gripped Colorado Springs earlier this month, Mayor Yemi Mobolade discussed the city’s response, in his first monthly press briefing of the year. He highlighted both the successes and shortcomings of the city’s efforts in sheltering the homeless population during the frigid weather.
Over 900 people were sheltered during the weekend of Jan. 12- 15 when temperatures plummeted below zero. The Mayor praised efforts from the city, shelters, and non-profits for saving “lives and limbs.”
The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) and the El Paso Coroner’s Office reported one fatality during the freezing weekend, an individual believed to be part of the homeless community.
Local shelters including Springs Rescue Mission and Salvation Army took in 505 individuals. Several local churches, including Sanctuary Church, First United Methodist Church, and Vista Grande Baptist Church, collaborated with Hope COS, to open their doors, welcoming 403 individuals.
Some church locations reached capacity, leading to the unfortunate necessity of turning people away.
Mobolade reported that Springs Rescue Mission was at 93% capacity and could have accommodated the overflow, however many people thought it wasn’t an option because the shelter banned them. Yet, he attributed the shortcomings to miscommunication emphasizing that during emergency shelter declarations, the Springs Rescue Mission takes in everyone, regardless of whether they are banned or not.
“Because of that confusion, Hope COS was bearing the burden of a lot more residents that needed help than they could actually carry, hence they had to turn some people away,” said Mobolade.
He said plans are underway to provide clearer communication in the future to prevent such misunderstandings.
“We’ve acknowledged that there’s room for improvement, and so I have asked for a briefing and a corrective action plan so that we are learning from our previous experience what worked and what we can do better,” said Mobolade.
Looking ahead, Mayor Mobolade said the cold snap highlighted the need for additional behavioral health services for the vulnerable homeless population. He said the 2024 budget has been augmented to include funding for fire departments and community and public health programs, ensuring support for homeless residents to expand opportunities for those in need.
While Colorado Springs is not a direct provider of homeless services, Mayor Mobolade revealed that the city spent approximately $27,000 in emergency response during the extreme weather. He commended the collaborative effort involving the fire department’s homeless outreach program, the police department outreach team, the Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management, and Mountain Metro Bus Drivers.
Acknowledging the support from various city entities, Mayor Mobolade expressed gratitude to the Public Works Department for maintaining safe roads and Colorado Springs Utilities for restoring power to more than 3,200 affected customers and assisting those with burst water pipes.
Mayor Mobolade underscored the effectiveness of pre-planning, emphasizing the significant impact of a plan crafted last year and implemented this year by the Colorado Springs Fire Department, which he said played a crucial role in saving lives.
“The key is to ensure that we’re prepared… The key and that we are coordinated alongside agencies,” said Mobolade.
