The location of the city’s and county’s managed homeless camp will not be successful until two criteria are met: one, it has to be near Durango’s core, where support services are located, socializing and jobs are possible; and two, security – when necessary – can be maintained.
Manna has been providing many of the services, and providing them well. It is much, much more than a source for hot lunches. Its management and leadership have been excellent. Manna is west of the downtown and above the river. It is accessible and well-established, and it makes little sense to think of moving it.
Manna meets the near-the-core and its proximity-to-security criteria.
A managed homeless center must be nearby. If not, transportation becomes an impossible challenge.
That is why we think the county is looking in the right location for the managed camp, on the slightly hilly Mancos Shale ground farther to the west, north of the Tech Center. It might require moving some dirt, but the right-sized camp – emphasis on right-sized – could have a home there.
That location would be a longer walk into Durango, yes, but it would have good road access.
Security: Homeowners to the east and north of Manna, mostly the south end of Crestview, deserve to feel secure. Homelessness usually comes with issues, and unusual appearance and behavior, perhaps unpredictable, that can be upsetting. In a very, very few cases there could be threatening actions, or appear to be. There are degrees.
For nearby residents’ sake, there will have to be adequate oversight of the camp. That means professionals in health and mental health, and law enforcement. The degree of oversight will have to be determined, and will change with experience. The camp in Las Cruces, in southern New Mexico, apparently is a good model for camp management, including security.
We advocate opening the camp with plenty of security, on the extra side, so that nearby homeowners can see that security is a priority.
Let’s have more conversations about what looks to be the right site, including about the camp’s size. If there will be room to expand, quantify that as best possible.
We would like to think that La Plata County, which includes Durango, may be on its way to providing the camp that will meet the needs of the homeless and be a good neighbor.
