Loveland Plans Second Community Conversation on Homelessness for November 5

Loveland will hold its second community conversation on homelessness November 5 at 6 p.m. in the Chilson Senior Center's Cherry Room, continuing a structured dialogue series designed to gather resident perspectives on one of the city's most contentious policy challenges.

The city opened registration October 23 for the session at 700 East 4th Street. Space is limited, and registration closes at 5 p.m. October 30.

The conversations use the Harwood model for community engagement, a facilitated discussion approach that asks residents about their aspirations and concerns rather than seeking immediate solutions. Loveland explicitly stated the sessions are not designed to address the urgent question of winter shelter capacity.

Registration Process Uses Random Selection

After the October 30 registration deadline, participants will be selected through an automated random number generator. Selected individuals will receive email or phone confirmation requests for attendance.

If selected participants cannot attend, additional registrants will be chosen using the same random process.

The city will consider scheduling future meetings based on community interest levels following the November 5 session.

Harwood Model Structures Small Group Discussions

The Harwood approach, developed by The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation over 35 years, has been used in all 50 states and more than 40 countries. The model focuses on what its creators call "Turning Outward"—using the community rather than institutional perspectives as the reference point for creating change.

Harwood conversations typically involve 8 to 15 participants in 90-minute to two-hour sessions. According to the institute, the discussions ask open-ended questions like "What kind of neighborhood do you want to live in?" rather than "What can the city do to help you?"

Denver Public Library has extensively used the Harwood approach for community engagement, sending staff at all organizational levels to training. The library holds conversations asking residents about their aspirations for neighborhoods, then gathers and shares findings.

The model emphasizes small group discussions to ensure all participants can actively engage and be heard, rather than larger town hall formats where a few voices may dominate.

City Faces Homelessness Policy Crossroads

Loveland counted 180 homeless individuals in the January 2025 Point in Time Count, with 43 percent living on the streets. The city's population of approximately 81,000 faces a relatively modest homelessness challenge compared to larger Colorado cities, but the issue has become increasingly visible and politically divisive.

The city closed its South Railroad Facility at the end of September, eliminating 70 overnight shelter beds just as fall and winter approached. The temporary shelter opened in April 2023 at 300 South Railroad Avenue in response to visible encampments that appeared during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Loveland spent more than $4.1 million in 2022 and 2023 setting up the South Railroad shelter and paying for motel space. In 2024, the city spent over $2.2 million operating the Loveland Resource Center and South Railroad facility.

Financial pressures intensified after Loveland voters eliminated a 3 percent city sales tax in November 2023, forcing City Council to consider budget cuts across multiple services.

The city currently maintains the Loveland Resource Center at 137 South Railroad Avenue as a day shelter with capacity for 22 people overnight. The Matthews House operates The Landing at 814 East 16th Street, providing 24-hour shelter specifically for youth and young adults ages 15 to 21.

In February, City Council voted 5-4 to indefinitely postpone a rezoning request from First Christian Church that would have allowed the church to host a resource center and shelter for 500 people without requiring city funds. The church withdrew its application after the council vote.

In August, City Council voted to maintain the city's encampment ban but continued prohibiting sweeps unless empty shelter space is available for displaced individuals. Between 2022 and 2024, Loveland conducted nearly 1,000 encampment sweeps.

Future Conversations Depend on Response

The city disbanded its Loveland Homelessness Task Force, which was created in July 2023 to guide decision-making on homelessness issues. The current community conversation series represents a different approach to public engagement on the topic.

Additional information about homelessness in Loveland is available at lovgov.org/homelessness. Residents interested in participating in the November 5 conversation can complete a registration form available through the city.