Denver considers $2.1M homeless hotel contract for Radisson on Bannock

The Radisson at 4849 Bannock St. in Denver is now a homeless shelter.Photo byGoogle Street View

A Denver City Council Committee will consider Wednesday awarding a $2.1 million contract to Bayaud Enterprises to operate the 200-room Radisson at 4849 Bannock as a homeless hotel.

According to the contract with Bayaud, the non-profit would be required to:

· Serve approximately 250 unique households annually.

· Provide housing-focused case management, housing navigation, benefits enrollment, “and any other services that promote long-term stability and well-being.”

· Ensure households served throughout the contract term successfully exit to stable or permanent housing.

· Ensure households are consistently engaged in rehousing service and attain some form of financial assistance and/or benefit.

· Provide direct services, referrals and/or coordinate with other providers for mental health support, substance use and harm-reduction services, physical health care services, and medical, dental, and vision services.

· Offer help obtaining vital documents.

· Provide transportation assistance.

· Provide employment/workforce development services and/or education, life skills development training and/or education.

· Provide any other programmatic services, as deemed necessary, to help drive housing focused outcomes.

· Provide ongoing reporting and documentation to maintain accurate and up-to-date records in the Homeless Management Information System for client data, services provided, and exits from the program.

· Provide three meals a day for guests.

Must be hospitable to Limited-English Proficient guests

Additional requirements include Bayaud will work with on site shelter operations staff to facilitate environments that are safe, hygienic, and accessible, including for those that are Limited-English Proficient. Staff must be “equitable, inclusive, and hospitable to all,” according to the contract.

“When applicable, or as negotiated with the city, Bayaud will oversee the set up and management of site services such as water, energy, trash, Wi-Fi, internet and telephone services, and Cable TV,” according to a memo from city staff to the committee.

Bayaud also must provide security services onsite. That includes personnel as well as patrol cars and cameras. According to the memo, Bayaud must collaborate with city representatives to notify and address any critical incidents on site,

Neighbors oppose use

Last December, neighbors of the Radisson sounded off at a town hall meeting. They said they did not want to see the hotel operate as a homeless shelter. It previously had been used as a shelter for migrants and neighbors opposed that, too.

One man wanted to know how the city would prevent problems from the Radisson such as crime and trash from spilling over into the rest of the neighborhood. Mayor Mike Johnston told him guests will only be allowed one visitor at a time. Visitors must present their identification at the front desk, he said. A representative of Bayaud Enterprises said the staff to client ratio will be 1 to 20.

Even if the committee approves the contract, the full City Council will have to sign off on it, too.