Scores of Arvada residents, school officials, faith leaders and nonprofit representatives urged the Arvada City Council on Feb. 10 to speed up plans for a navigation center and a 24/7 shelter for people experiencing homelessness.

The appeals, made during the meeting’s public-comment period, asked the council to use existing funds and regional partnerships — and to finalize the city’s draft homelessness action strategy rather than delay site selection and implementation. "We can do better," said John Cooper, a longtime Arvada resident, summarizing many speakers’ requests.

Why it matters: Speakers said the lack of a navigation center and an overnight shelter is producing visible impacts in Old Town and near local schools — from open drug use and discarded needles to alleged harassment of children. Several speakers also told council members that regional funding is available for a North Jeffco navigation center and asked Arvada to coordinate with Jefferson County and nonprofit partners to move from planning into action.

What speakers said: Mindy Moore, a resident who described the city’s draft homelessness strategy and current programs, urged the council to “consider an expedited parallel track of action” and to form a site‑selection team to evaluate the Marshall Street parcel and other candidate properties. Moore noted that Jefferson County has reserved $3 million in prior ARPA funds for a North Jeffco navigation center and said local navigators and temporary housing programs are already operating.

Several speakers described direct safety concerns. Dana Ellis, principal at Shrine St. Anne School, told the council that her school is roughly 1,000 feet from a homeless services center and described repeated incidents of people attempting to hand items to children through a school fence: "I have parents who are long-time, multigenerational families, who don't feel safe with their kids at a Catholic school because of what's going on around us," Ellis said.

Dan Rykert, a volunteer at a local school program, described open drug use and at least one incident where police responded to a shooting near a school dismissal; he said his family now limits visits to Old Town. "The time for action is now," Rykert said, asking the council to stop allowing services to operate in Old Town that do not offer 24/7 care and storage for clients’ belongings.

Faith leaders and service providers also spoke. Memory Wollenweber, representing a coalition of local houses of worship, said more than 35 congregations back a navigation center, adding: "Do not give up. Keep working with neighboring counties, cities, and faith communities." Several speakers cited Mission Arvada and other nonprofits' efforts but said volunteer-run operations cannot substitute for a county‑level navigation center and a year-round shelter.

People with lived experience and advocates stressed that navigation programs are proven to help residents re-enter housing and services. Ricky Johnson, who said he had experienced homelessness, told the council that a 24/7 navigation center “would have made a significant difference in my life.” Lila Baumann relayed detailed accounts from two unhoused neighbors, one she said was a former Arvada engineer and another a young mother forced to leave with her children after a housing subsidy fraud dispute; Baumann said a navigation center would have helped both.

Council response and context: Council member comments in the meeting acknowledged the public pressure and noted a prior council decision to sell the Early College of Arvada property rather than locate a navigation center there. Several speakers urged the council to reconvene site-selection conversations, finalize the draft homelessness strategy and use resident-education sessions to build local support.

Funding and next steps: Speakers urged the council to coordinate with Jefferson County and Heading Home (a regional coalition referenced by witnesses), pursue the Marshall Street parcel or other North Jeffco sites, and aim to have a navigation center and shelter operational before next winter. Council did not take a formal vote on any homeless‑service locations during the meeting; the comments were directed to staff and the council as part of the public‑comment record.

Ending: The council closed the public-comment segment without immediate action; several speakers signaled they will continue outreach and follow-up with staff on the homelessness action strategy and promised to monitor any forthcoming site-selection decisions.