City-Operated Shelter
Staying with the course set in February and first announced in July, several changes are coming to City-operated shelters by Sept. 30. These include:
- The South Railroad Facility (SRF) shelter for individuals 18 and older will close no later than Sept. 30. The SRF opened in 2023 as a temporary overnight shelter funded with one-time dollars that are now exhausted. The SRF’s temporary use permit for the shelter expires on Sept. 30 and cannot be extended under City code.
- Starting Sept. 30, the Loveland Resource Center (137 S. Lincoln Ave.) will continue offering daytime services, with new operating hours of 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday–Friday.
- Support services:
- LRC staff and nonprofit partners will continue connecting individuals to resources, including shelter options in northern Colorado.
- The Loveland Street Outreach Team, launched in 2024 with SummitStone Health Partners, continues connecting individuals to services, Contact: 970-494-9956 or [email protected].
- Inclement weather: The LRC will operate as an emergency overnight shelter during severe weather.
Encampment Ban, Removal and Enforcement Options
More than three years after passing an Emergency Encampment Ban and opening a temporary shelter, the City has continued to review its approach. On Aug. 5, City Council considered a proposal to update the ordinance after a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling but voted to keep it unchanged. The decision follows the 2018 Martin v. Boise case, which limits how cities can clear homeless encampments.
Under this ordinance:
- Overnight camping on public property remains prohibited.
- Before clearing a camp, the City must offer available shelter space and storage for personal belongings.
- If no shelter space is available, the ordinance cannot be enforced.
- Beginning October 1, 2025, enforcement by the Loveland Police Department will be limited without a local shelter.
- If shelter is offered and declined, camps may be removed.
The City’s trespassing ordinance is another tool that can be used in more limited circumstances to address camping and impacts to City property on a case-by-case basis. While it is not designed to fully address the broader challenges of encampments, this ordinance prohibits use of public parks and facilities, public grounds, and trails:
- When they are closed.
- If they are being used for purposes other than what the public space is intended for.
It also prohibits camping on private property. We have successfully and selectively cited camping using the trespassing ordinance in the past, and it remains a practical tool that can support broader enforcement efforts on City property.
Other Considerations
- On Sept. 2, 2025, City Council also discussed a proposal to add a sales-tax ballot measure to fund homeless services. The proposal did not move forward.
The focus now is bringing the community together to talk about what solutions could be possible in the short and long term. Short-term solutions have not been identified yet, but several discussions are taking place.
Addressing homelessness requires collaboration and resources. While the City can no longer lead this effort, we remain committed to being a community partner. With that in mind, the City is engaging various groups including nonprofits, faith groups, businesses, and residents to explore long-term, community-driven solutions…