Crowds in Northern Colorado protest closing of Loveland's only overnight homeless shelter

A group of people in the southern part of Loveland on Tuesday protested the city's decision to dismantle an overnight shelter.

Protesters gathered outside the South Railroad facility in the morning holding signs like "Keep this Shelter Open," "Help the Homeless," and "You Deserve A Safe Place to Live."

Gail Randall was among the concerned residents.

"We pay the bills around here. So, we want to be heard," Randall said.    

Randall says she feels the city didn't take into consideration both the lives of the impacted unhoused individuals as well as the wishes of many people in the community.

"This is when winter comes on. We can't just throw people out in the snow, cut them off at the knees," Randall said. "Loveland has tried for many years to create a plan for the homeless. Year after year the city council failed to get anything done."      

The city declined to provide an interview for this story. However, via statement, a spokesperson said the city never intended the tent camp to be a long term service, noting it was built in 2023 with the intent of being a short term resolution. A few hours after the demonstration, Loveland city employees began working to tear down the series of tents.

Randall said she felt there was plenty of time for the city's leadership to communicate with the community and find a new way to house those in need before shutting down the camp.

"Have the city come back with a plan, talk about it, vote on it. Let the public weigh in. (Those steps) never happened," Randall said.

CBS News Colorado has learned Mayor Jackie Marsh called an emergency meeting scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 2 in the Loveland council chambers.

Randall said the city must do something for the unhoused.

"We don't have the most ginormous homeless community. But this was helping," Randall said.