DENVER (KDVR) — The city of Denver is considering adding millions of dollars to the spending limits of its security contracts, which cover protecting locations such as homeless housing and migrant shelters.
Three proposals to increase spending limits involve three different security companies the city currently contracts with. The proposal seeks to increase two of the contracts from the current $400,000 to a cap of $3.4 million each. The third seeks to add $18 million to a contract with a $43 million cap hit. These three contracts involve providing security services at more than 30 facilities in Denver.
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“So if Red Rocks needs extra security for a large concert, or if another Arts and Venue event needs that security, we can provide it,” said Jon Ewing with the City of Denver, adding, “If a All In Mile High venue a venue needs safety, they can get it.”
During a presentation before the city’s Finance Committee on Tuesday, officials scrapped an increase in security at three All In Mile High locations for the homeless. Since March and April, officials have said the three locations have 11 security guards per shift, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. City staff said they expect the city to spend $3.2 million through the end of the year to provide this 24/7 security at the three locations.
Residents near one of the locations told FOX31 the extra security is making a difference.
“I would never take that away again because there are budget cuts,” said resident Rosemary Guilmette, adding, “The ambulances were there and were called regularly, as were the police. So if you remove that, it’s not a good thing. And so they have to give them more money to continue doing this.”
Homeless advocate Ana-Lilith Miller of Housekeys Action Network Denver told FOX31 that more attention and money should be focused on obtaining permanent housing rather than security.
“I feel like we need to pull this money back and actually spend the money that they want to give on the safety measures, on things like case management, to make sure that they get the right, good mental health, to deal with these things to go instead of just making them feel like they’re in jail because this is what it is,” Miller said.
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Ewing said the goal is to get people out of shelters and into permanent housing, but updated proposed security contracts are intended to prepare for the unexpected while these efforts are underway. He emphasizes that the new figures are only a limit, and not a guaranteed amount that these security companies will receive.
“It would be foolish of us not to prepare for all contingencies,” Ewing said, adding: “From everything we’ve done, we’ve learned, we’re a little smarter, a little better, a little bit better prepared and better prepared. so we have to be prepared for that. That doesn’t mean you’re writing a blank check. We’re not going to do that. But what we are going to do is make sure that the funds are available when we need them.”
A city council committee approved the proposals on Tuesday. The measures will now go to the full city council for a vote.
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