Durango law enforcement has long been working with homeless residents, but as the problem has become more visible, local agencies are looking to partner with the community to work on solutions.

While it is difficult to officially track the homeless population, Steven Barkley, a city code-enforcement officer, told the Collaboration of Caring Communities on Thursday that over the last two years the population has swelled.

“Retail marijuana is a definite draw,” Barkley said.

Others have told him the ease of camping near the city also made Durango attractive.

Durango police stopped enforcing the city’s law against all loitering for purposes of begging in the fall after receiving a letter from the American Civil Liberties Union about how the law violated the constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech. This made panhandling along Main Avenue and in major medians more visible, and it has brought the issue of homelessness to the forefront. Recent bear attacks on homeless campers also have raised the issue.

The Collaboration of Caring Communities, a group of government workers, nonprofit leaders and church representatives, held the panel discussion with law-enforcement leaders and a mental-health expert about how to offer long-term help to homeless residents.

Short-term help

Balancing handouts against what is in the best long-term interest of the individual was central to the discussion.

If the community as a whole stopped giving to panhandlers, who may or may not be homeless, it could limit their presence, said Police Chief Jim Spratlen. But he sees that as highly unlikely.

“It makes people feel good to give to somebody that doesn’t have what you have,” he said.

Sometimes, people need rescuing, but they also need skills to manage their own lives better, said Stephanie Allred, senior clinical director at Axis Health System.

“I think it’s OK to say I’m not going to give you this handout,” she said.

More effective resources

Many of those who are chronically homeless need help with substance abuse or mental-health issues. Axis does offer intensive outpatient treatment, and the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act has helped Axis help more people, she said.

But some with more serious issues need inpatient treatment offered in Durango. However, it might be difficult to support that kind of facility because of the expense, she said.

The stakeholders also identified the need for a shelter that would accept those who are not sober.

But finding an appropriate place for that shelter in the community, where it could be accepted by the neighbors would be difficult, said La Plata County Sheriff Sean Smith.

Another problem with segregating this population is the humiliation those individuals can feel, said Gerry Geraghty, who hosts people who are recovering from drug problems in his home.

“What causes them to relapse?” he asked. “Shame.”

Having the opportunity to live with those who don’t have substance problems can help them heal.

Nonprofit and church representatives also discussed the need for greater coordination to prevent duplication of services.

In some cases, when a church gives a homeless person who is staying at the Durango Community Shelter a voucher for a motel, it can disqualify them from returning to the shelter that year.

Parallel efforts

A group of public-land managers, law enforcement, Trails 2000, Bear Smart and other groups organized by Lt. Ed Aber with La Plata County Sheriff’s Office have also been working on cleaning up abandoned campsites behind the Tech Center and in other areas.

As part of this effort, deputies are encouraging homeless campers to keep their sites clean. The city of Durango is also heading a coalition to help identify service needs and gaps, but it is still in their preliminary phases, said Ariel Wishkovsky, who is helping to organize the group.

Creating a comprehensive strategy may take some time.

“There is not a simple one-step solution,” Smith said.

mshinn@durangoherald.com