Longmont council directs staff to develop QR-code donation system for unhoused support

Longmont — The Longmont City Council voted 4-2 on July 22 to direct the city manager to develop a resolution that would create an alternative, city-run way for residents to donate to local homelessness service providers without handing cash on the street.

Councilor McCoy introduced the measure, proposing signage with a QR code, short URL or text-to-donate option at common panhandling locations. “The goal is to encourage compassionate giving while ensuring funds are used for constructive, accountable purposes,” Councilor McCoy said when she described the idea.

The proposal would place funds collected into a dedicated city account and direct annual distributions through the Housing and Human Services Advisory Board to local nonprofits such as the Our Center and Longmont HOPE, specifically for food, shelter, clothing and support services. Council debate focused on whether a resolution or ordinance was the correct legal vehicle and on staff capacity to design and manage the system.

Councilor Popkin asked whether staff had consulted service providers and whether the city should lead the effort at all. Popkin said he wanted to know if providers had been consulted and whether the model had been used successfully elsewhere. Councilor McCoy replied she had not recently spoken directly with the providers but believed prior conversations and community feedback showed a desire to give in other ways than street cash.

Mayor Pro Tem Hidalgo Faring said staff could evaluate whether a resolution, rather than an ordinance, would be sufficient and noted the city already administers Health and Human Services funding. “I think there’s flexibility to evaluate what tool to use,” Hidalgo Faring said, describing potential avenues including moving funds into the Health and Human Services Fund and routing allocations through existing processes.

Councilors debated implementation details, including whether the city would permit food distributions (McCoy said the measure covered monetary transactions only) and where signage would be placed. Some members questioned whether QR codes at intersections would be effective and suggested placing a code on a central city webpage and at other high-visibility locations where a passenger could complete a donation.

An amendment was offered so staff would return with a resolution (or ordinance if staff recommends one) and the flexibility to determine the appropriate mechanism. That amendment was accepted, and the final motion to direct staff carried 4-2, with Mayor Mary Peck, Councilor McCoy, Mayor Pro Tem Hidalgo Faring and Councilor Christ voting yes; Councilor Popkin and Councilor Rodriguez voting no; Councilor Yarbrough absent.

The council did not adopt a final ordinance or resolution text on July 22; staff were instructed to research options, consult communications and the Housing and Human Services Advisory Board, and return with recommended language and an implementation approach.

What’s next: Staff said they would consult communications staff and Housing and Human Services administration to determine whether the city should use a resolution or ordinance, how funds would be pooled and administered, and what outreach to partner providers should look like. A formal proposal will return to council at a later meeting.