Denver, Colorado – The Salvation Army has broken its silence on a series of deaths at a former hotel being used as a shelter for the homeless in the city. According to the organization, the deaths are a reflection of pre-existing issues in encampments across Denver, now concentrated in one location.
Over the past four months, the Salvation Army’s DoubleTree hotel shelter has seen nearly 500 calls to the police, culminating in a tragic double murder incident. Nesan Kistan, a divisional commander with the Salvation Army, acknowledged that some deaths have occurred due to overdoses and other reasons, with a total of seven fatalities reported at the shelter since the beginning of the year.
The situation reached a boiling point on March 16, when two individuals were found shot to death inside the shelter. Following this incident, the city of Denver took over security at the former DoubleTree hotel, implementing stricter measures such as posting security officers at each shelter entrance and installing a badging system with photo ID cards for residents and staff.
Kistan clarified that it was their decision to hand over security responsibilities to the city, citing the need for more robust safety protocols. The Salvation Army’s contract with the city includes funding for security measures, although only a small portion of the allocated funds has been utilized so far.
Despite the increased security measures, Kistan emphasized that the facilities are not meant to resemble prisons, allowing residents the freedom to come and go. The organization’s primary goal continues to be transforming lives and providing support to those in need.
Moving forward, the city of Denver plans to enhance security further by adding 24/7 police presence at the hotel shelters. These new measures aim to ensure the safety and well-being of both residents and staff as they work towards addressing the challenges faced by individuals experiencing homelessness in the community.