Loveland Abandons Homeless Shelter Plan as Resource Center Faces Closure

City says it can no longer lead homeless services, calls for regional approach and potential ballot measure

Jan. 27, 2026 at 5:07pm

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The city of Loveland, Colorado has announced it is abandoning plans to purchase a building for a permanent homeless shelter after the nonprofit selected to operate it withdrew its application. Loveland will also end overnight shelter services at the Loveland Resource Center on March 15 and permanently close the facility on April 30, ending the city's direct role in providing shelter and services to people experiencing homelessness.

Why it matters

Loveland has been one of the few cities in Colorado that directly owns and manages a homeless shelter and resource center. The city's decision to withdraw from this role highlights the challenges municipalities face in addressing homelessness, which many argue should be a regional or state-level responsibility. The closure of the Loveland Resource Center also leaves those experiencing homelessness in the city with fewer immediate options for shelter and services.

The details

The city had been pursuing the purchase of a building on West 71st Street for a permanent shelter since October 2025, after closing a 50-bed overnight tent shelter on Railroad Avenue. Two nonprofits responded to the city's request for proposals to operate the new shelter, but only Bridge House's proposal was deemed responsive. However, Bridge House withdrew its application, citing capacity constraints. The city said it will not modify or reissue the RFP and is no longer in a position to lead efforts to establish a permanent shelter.

  • On January 6, 2026, the Loveland City Council voted to authorize the purchase of the West 71st Street building, contingent on securing a qualified third-party operator.
  • On March 15, 2026, the city will end overnight shelter services at the Loveland Resource Center.
  • On April 30, 2026, the Loveland Resource Center will permanently close.

The players

Loveland

The city of Loveland, Colorado, which has directly owned and managed a homeless shelter and resource center, but is now withdrawing from this role.

Bridge House

A nonprofit organization that operates homeless services in the Denver metro area, but withdrew its application to operate a new shelter in Loveland.

Krucial Rapid Response

A nonprofit organization that responded to Loveland's request for proposals to operate a new shelter, but was not deemed responsive.

Pat McFall

The mayor of Loveland, who echoed the city's position that Loveland cannot continue addressing homelessness on its own and called for a regional approach or potential ballot measure to fund a shelter.

Sarah Rothberg

A Loveland City Councilor who represents Ward 2 and expressed sadness over the decision to abandon the West 71st Street shelter proposal, but remains optimistic that solutions will continue to be sought.

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What they’re saying

“The unfortunate aspect of this is that cities are not designed to do this type of work. The ability to provide a full-time sheltering option just is not there.”

— Pat McFall, Mayor of Loveland

“If the folks in the city really do want a shelter, the best bet is a ballot initiative that says we want this — and we're willing to fund it.”

— Pat McFall, Mayor of Loveland

“We have people in Loveland who have lost housing, and I really want to live in a community where we take care of our neighbors and help them out of situations like that. So I'm pretty devastated, but I don't think this is the end of the discussion.”

— Sarah Rothberg, Loveland City Councilor

“What this does is it takes the city completely off the hook. The city can wash its hands and say we have no obligation to help the poorest among us.”

— Chuck Hubbard, Retired pastor and longtime advocate for unhoused residents

“I think Loveland has to take responsibility to some degree, for its own population, and, like other cities, enable the development of a facility that moves people toward being housed.”

— Chuck Hubbard, Retired pastor and longtime advocate for unhoused residents

What’s next

The city of Loveland said it remains open to partnering with outside organizations if a viable proposal emerges for a permanent homeless shelter, but it is no longer in a position to lead those efforts directly.

The takeaway

Loveland's decision to withdraw from directly providing homeless shelter and services highlights the challenges municipalities face in addressing homelessness, which many argue should be a regional or state-level responsibility. The closure of the Loveland Resource Center leaves those experiencing homelessness in the city with fewer immediate options, underscoring the need for a more coordinated and sustainable approach to supporting the unhoused population.