City of Durango Receives Multiple Grants

July 17, 2024

The City of Durango has received grants to enhance bus safety and fund a specialty court aimed at assisting unhoused individuals. The Durango Problem Solving Court, supported by various local organizations, seeks to address chronic homelessness, untreated mental health issues, and substance dependence through a structured, multi-phase program. Durango Public Library experienced a significant increase in youth engagement in May, along with a rise in overall circulation and visitor numbers. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by FASTSIGNS Durango and FLC Center for Innovation.

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The City of Durango has received grants to help improve bus safety and fund a specialty court aiming to help the city better work with unhoused individuals. The Durango Problem Solving Court is a partnership with the city, Housing Solutions for the Southwest, Community Compassion Outreach and the Manna Soup Kitchen. And Durango Public Library saw a 146% increase in youth engagement in the month of May. You're watching the Local News Roundup, brought to you by FASTSIGNS Durango and the FLC Innovation Center. I'm Sadie Smith. The City of Durango received part of a $52 million grant to Colorado from the United States Department of Transportation. The grant is part of the bus and bus facilities grant program, which helps to replace, rehabilitate, and purchase buses, as well as to construct bus related facilities and modify low or no emission vehicles and facilities. The City of Durango wrote the grant for $659,000 to replace aging buses and improve safety at bus stops. The Durango Municipal Court has conditionally received a nearly $43,000 grant to fund the Durango Problem Solving Court. The court is an initiative designed to addressing growing issues with residents who are chronically unhoused, have untreated mental health illnesses, and are dependent on substances. The court intends to hold individuals accountable through local resources. The municipal court has put together stakeholders from law enforcement, community housing providers, advocacy groups for the unhoused, mental health service providers and the legal community to craft the program. The program consists of three phases, identifying defendants who might benefit from the program, providing support and services to the defendants, and a maintenance phase. The program can be individualized to meet each participant's needs and participation is voluntary. The goal of the program is to ensure community safety by providing treatment and housing options for individuals who might otherwise be overlooked. The Durango Public Library reported a 5% increase in circulation in the month of May with 26,700 items circulated. The library also reported a 146% increase in youth engagement in May, hosting 32 programs with 1,282 visitors. 11 adult programs with 178 attendees contributed to the 24,000 overall visitors to the library. There were 236 new library cards issued, 678 new books, and 94 new periodicals added also in May. Learn more about these and other stories online at durangolocal.news. Thank you for watching this edition of the Local News Roundup. I'm Sadie Smith.

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