Montrose neighbors, help shape Code Blue this winter

Last year, when we asked what mattered most to Montrose, affordable housing rose to the top. By the time the snow came, the focus turned toward our unhoused neighbors. People stepped up. They offered food, rides, blankets, and space. There was real heart in the response. But there was also strain. Some efforts worked well, others left people feeling unheard. What became clear is that Montrose cares deeply, but without a shared plan the response can be uneven and confusing.

This year, we have a chance to do it differently.

Unify Montrose is partnering with the Solutions for the Unhoused Citizens group to launch a community deliberation on Code Blue. Code Blue is the emergency response when freezing temperatures, wind chill, snow, or ice make nights dangerous. Instead of scrambling in the moment, we want Montrose to shape a plan ahead of time that balances safety, dignity, and feasibility.

Here’s how it will work. We’ll randomly select 20 residents who reflect Montrose County, so even if you are not at the table, your perspective is still represented. This group will meet for two evenings in September, learn about three proposed approaches, ask questions of experts, share lived experiences, and recommend improvements. The options on the table include a seasonal fixed site shelter, a pop-up shelter activated during storms, and a private host network that connects screened hosts and guests. None are perfect. Each carries tradeoffs. That’s exactly why community input is needed.

For participants, this is more than a conversation. You’ll gain real knowledge about the issue, a voice in shaping recommendations, dinner at both sessions, and a $50 stipend after completing the process. Most of all, you’ll know you played a direct role in shaping how Montrose responds when winter bears down.

The sessions are set for September 16 and September 23, from 6 to 8 pm. Location will be announced soon. To be considered, simply submit the short form by September 3.

Unify Montrose has done this before—on childcare, on youth ideas, and on other hard challenges where people don’t always agree. Our role is not to pick sides, but to provide a neutral table where Montrose can talk to itself honestly and respectfully. That’s what we’re building again now.

If we do nothing, we risk the same patchwork of responses and preventable harm. If we do this well, we can leave with a plan built by neighbors, for neighbors. That’s something Montrose can take pride in.

Submit your name today to join the Code Blue deliberation.