Concerns about safety and ongoing incidents between residents of the shelter have been raised by residents at the Comfort Inn & Suites, which operates as the northeast Denver Family City Shelter. Following a stabbing incident on Tuesday night, residents have been prompted to express their concerns.
Many residents, including Mariah, who identifies herself as one of the victim’s girlfriends, disclosed that similar incidents occur frequently.
“Feeling safe while walking the hallways is impossible; one must always have a companion due to the presence of intimidating individuals,” Mariah expressed.
These incidents and irregularities have caused the residents at the shelter to create an Instagram page highlighting conditions at the shelter.
The stabbing incident that took place on Tuesday night, involving a man and two teenage boys, has prompted residents like Dominque Hill to voice their concerns about the ongoing violence. They express their frustration, pointing out the lack of security measures and essential services.
Hill expressed their frustration, stating that someone is constantly involved in conflicts.
Hill persists in tackling the difficulties confronted by individuals residing at the shelter.
According to Hill, the lack of resources such as food, mental health services, and a support system contributes to the current situation. She believes that these factors play a significant role in the many challenges faced by the community.
According to the Department of Housing Stability (HOST) in the city, the Comfort Inn is responsible for overseeing the facility using both their staff and security cameras, as they are contracted to provide security services. The Salvation Army, on the other hand, offers meals, case management, and supportive services during business hours. Nevertheless, residents like Hill contend that the assistance provided by case managers is inadequate.
Hill remarked, “A significant portion of them either don’t show up at all or come in and leave early, leaving us to handle the mess.”
According to a city spokesperson, the Denver Police Department has not received any incident reports in the past month. However, despite this claim, residents hold a contrary view and are pushing for enhanced security measures to protect them and reduce violence within the shelter.
Hill has spent approximately six months at the shelter, where she managed to seek assistance in finding the right direction. However, the living conditions at the shelter have become hazardous, creating a frightening environment for Hill and her children.
There are currently 138 families residing in this shelter.
The Comfort Inn is leased by HOST for $5,840,700. The lease agreement covers the family shelter until Jan. 31, 2024, and includes four (4) opportunities to renew the lease for an additional one year each time.
Since February 1st, the city has been using rooms at the Comfort Inn as a shelter for families.
A statement has been released by Denver officials addressing the incident at the shelter and outlining the actions being taken to resolve the matter.
The Denver Department of Housing Stability (HOST) is deeply saddened and stands ready to support our partners at The Comfort Inn, The Salvation Army and guests after the tragic stabbing last night of three guests at 4600 Quebec St.
HOST contracts with the Comfort Inn to lease rooms at this location for family shelter, and with The Salvation Army to provide meals, case management and supportive services during business hours. The Comfort Inn operates the facility with 24/7 staffing, security cameras and monitoring.
The Denver Police Department has indicated that, based on preliminary information, this was an isolated incident stemming from a disagreement between two families. Two teenage males and an adult male were transported to the hospital with injuries (one in critical condition) and all three victims are expected to survive their injuries. The police believe they have accounted for all the involved parties and are continuing to investigate the circumstances, but no formal arrests have been made. DPD reports there have been no other incident reports at this location in the past month. HOST is working closely with The Salvation Army to assess any additional security needs at this site. The Salvation Army routinely follows up on any guest safety concerns.
