Humane Solutions for Montrose's Unhoused:

Compassion Without Taxpayer Burden

Last year City Council approved a no-camping ordinance just before winter hit. No shelters opened. No services expanded. No alternatives offered. The decision proved heartless and poorly timed, leaving vulnerable residents with nowhere safe to go and forcing police into the role of displacers rather than helpers.

A Practical and Compassionate Plan: If elected, I will immediately propose to lift that ban. At the same time I will advocate to roll out practical, humane alternatives so no one faces arrest simply for lacking a roof. We will create low-barrier daytime warming centers, expand transitional housing beds, strengthen street outreach teams, and connect people quickly to rapid re-housing, credit counseling and repair, job counseling, skills assessment, and job placement services. The goal remains simple: treat every person with dignity, keep our streets clean and safe, and build a Montrose that cares for its own.

Proactive Leadership Through Resolution: My outlook is to use city resources efficiently by proposing a resolution that directs the city grant writing team to identify and pursue every available external resource. This focused effort will secure funding and partnerships to accomplish these goals without placing any financial burden on local taxpayers.

Funding Without New Local Taxes: None of this requires new local tax dollars. We will fund these efforts entirely through existing federal, state, foundation, and public-private partnerships already available to Montrose and the Western Slope.

Federal Grant Opportunities: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Continuum of Care program delivers millions annually for permanent supportive housing, rapid re-housing, and coordinated entry systems through Colorado's Balance of State Continuum of Care, which serves Montrose. The Homelessness Resolution Program provides competitive funding for emergency shelter, street outreach, prevention, and rapid re-housing

State Funding Sources: The Colorado Department of Local Affairs Division of Housing offers direct support. The Transformational Homelessness Response Grant Program has already delivered hundreds of thousands to Montrose and Delta counties. Hilltop Health Services received over $678,000 for rapid re-housing and eviction prevention plus $163,500 for street outreach. These funds run through September 2026. The Homeless Prevention Activities Program, funded solely by voluntary state income-tax check-off contributions, awards grants for rental assistance and crisis intervention. Additional resources flow through the Affordable Housing Support Fund under Proposition 123, which dedicates significant dollars specifically to serving persons experiencing homelessness.

Local Foundations and Partners: The Western Colorado Community Foundation awards roughly $100,000 each year in Community Grants, with past cycles targeting housing and homelessness across its seven-county region that includes Montrose. The Bray Cares Foundation supports housing and shelter needs on the Western Slope. The Montrose Community Foundation operates targeted Basic Needs and Helping Hand funds. United Way of Mesa County administers the FEMA Emergency Food and Shelter Program grant that serves both Mesa and Montrose counties. Partnerships with the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless Rural Initiatives and USDA Rural Community Development Initiative grants provide further access to rural-focused housing support.

Nonprofits such as Haven House in Olathe, Hilltop Health Services, and Catholic Charities already receive and manage these dollars successfully. By forming public-private partnerships we can leverage their expertise, match grant requirements, and stretch every dollar further.

A Compassionate Future for Montrose: This approach works. It has worked in Montrose before. It keeps full responsibility off local taxpayers while delivering results that are both compassionate and practical. Montrose deserves leadership that rejects displacement and instead builds real pathways home. Together we can create a city that is clean, safe, and truly humane for everyone who calls it home.

Just one man’s humble opinion.

Michael J Badagliacco, “MJB”

Michael is a father of 5, grandfather of 3, USAF Veteran, recording artist, entrepreneur, Editor of USA Liberty Report, passionate about Freedom, Liberty, the founders’ genius of the Constitution and current Candidate for Montrose City Council.