3 minute read
RAIN
native plants, which means that there is more food for animals, shelter, soil stabilization and beauty.
“When you take away the vegeta- a rotating basis. In 2022, the network sheltered ve households, according to Laydon. But the ordinance can be enforced based on shelter outside of Douglas County, Garcia said.
Asked whether the county must speci cally o er to transport a person to a shelter, Garcia said: “ e ordinance is silent regarding transportation to a shelter. However, (as) a matter of procedure, the HEART team does o er rides to shelters.” at’s a reference to Douglas County’s Homeless Engagement, Assistance and Resource Team of “navigators” who respond to homelessness, working with law enforcement when safety is a concern. e new law also targets encampments in general, stating: “No person shall erect or use any tent, net, or other temporary structure for the purpose of shelter or storage of property on county property without rst having obtained the written tion, then you also take away the ability for this soil to stay stable,” said Sandy Holcomb, Highlands Ranch Metro District park ranger.
“So not only does it provide shelter for animals, we got pollinators and this is also a stabilization for soil.”
Native plants grow each year but the rain has increased the frequency permission of the authorized o cer e term “temporary structure” includes “any structure used to shelter a person or property after sundown nance “shall be punished by a ne of not more than $1,000,” the law says. e ordinance is set to take e ect e new law’s focus on land owned by the county leaves a less-clear picture of what enforcement could look
• Creeks, rivers, other bodies of water, or storm drainage areas that are not owned by the county;
• Parks, open space or other recreation areas that are not owned by the county, such as those owned by local governments called metropolitan districts or other entities;
• And areas in the right-of-way, such as sidewalks or other areas along the road, along state or federal roads or highways, such as those owned by the Colorado Department of Transportation or U.S. Department of Transportation.
“ e county does not have laws prohibiting camping on these types of property,” Garcia said. “However, other state laws may prohibit unauthorized camping in these areas.”
Camping bans vary around metro area
Laws that may ban camping by the unhoused vary widely across the Denver metro area, and some local governments in Douglas County already had their own bans.
Parker approved a camping ban in June 2018. Overnight camping on public property is not allowed in the of the plants.
Larkspur have been more prominent, cottonwoods are growing seed and one plant that has thrived is yucca.
“ e water has been so good to them this year that they’re blooming like mad,” said Holcomb. “Usually you don’t see quite as many.” e Highlands Ranch Metro District is a type of government body called a special district — not a municipality — and is located in unincorporated Douglas County. A rule related to parks and open space says camping is prohibited without a permit. at rule was added in 2018, according to Sherry Eppers, metro district spokesperson. e rule applies to all Highlands Ranch Metro District-owned property — that includes parks, open space, parking lots, parkways and property surrounding o ce buildings, Eppers has said.
City of Lone Tree, according to the city’s website.
Complicated picture e Colorado Coalition for the Homeless has argued that camping bans don’t solve homelessness but, rather, only may eliminate the visibility of homelessness for a period of time. e diversity of the plants include butter y milkweed, prickly poppies, spiderwort, blue ax, chokecherries, three leaf sumac and purple prairie clover.
People who have experienced homelessness told CCM in recent years they’ve had concerns that led them to avoid shelters, including worries about safety or being separated from a companion. e advocacy group Denver Homeless Out Loud has also expressed those concerns.
Cathy Alderman, a spokesperson for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, in March 2022 pointed to what she called “the unproductiveness of having competing camping bans between cities,” arguing that camping bans will push people back and forth across city and county lines.
Denver in 2012 banned staying in an outdoor place with a tent, sleeping bag or other shelter, a policy that advocates for the homeless have said may be pushing more homeless individuals into the suburbs.
While this spring brought a di erent kind of weather pattern to the metro area, there is so much beauty that has resulted from it.
