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Lift Up scales back operations at Schultz Health & Human Services building; county to issue RFP for new food‑pantry tenant
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Summary
After Lift Up asked to reduce on‑site hours at the Schultz Health & Human Services building, county staff said they will issue an informal RFP to find a new food pantry operator for weekday hours; commissioners and staff flagged parking and building‑use pressures.
Pitkin County staff briefed commissioners on tenant changes and infrastructure work at the Schultz Health & Human Services (HHS) building, saying community nonprofit Lift Up is ending its full‑time on‑site food‑pantry operations and the county will issue an informal request for proposals (RFP) on March 1 to find a replacement operator for weekday hours.
Human Services Director Lindsey Maesch said Response (a behavioral health partner) has vacated an office at the Schultz building, opening space that staff hope to reconfigure to support other services. Lift Up told the county its business model could not sustain five‑day volunteer staffing at the building and indicated it would focus on alternative approaches including mobile pantries and limited on‑site distribution. Maesch said Lift Up tried to maintain daily open hours but leadership changes and operational strain led to the new plan.
The county also described recurring building infrastructure issues — leaks and ceiling failures — and planned work this summer that includes boilers and other systems upgrades; staff noted a separate electrification project is also occurring. Maesch said the county will not make large location changes to services such as detox and behavioral health until a separate strategic plan is complete.
Commissioners discussed parking and operational impacts. Lift Up’s prior weekday schedule, staff said, often produced double‑parked vehicles and heavy short‑term parking demand. The county plans to incorporate pickup‑style mobile pantry options and examine other locations such as riverfront parking and River Park Center to reduce congestion.
An informal RFP to place a weekday food pantry in the building will be issued March 1; staff said they will report back to the board on responses and tenant selection at a future meeting.
