Annual river cleanup starts early with unhoused participation

Jace Dicola - The Daily Sentinel

Ahead of Saturday’s 22nd annual community cleanup of the Colorado River, a new effort is underway, enabling unhoused individuals camping along the riverside to kickstart the spring cleaning.

According to Mutual Aid Partners Executive Director Stephania Vasconez, the riverside encampments aren’t new, yet historically, there are a small percentage of individuals who chose to live there, with most having no other viable alternatives.

But since HomewardBound of the Grand Valley’s North Avenue shelter closed in late February, halving the number of beds available on the Western Slope, she said more people are turning to the riverside as one of the few solaces from anti-camping laws and conflict with others.