As cities across the nation look for ways to assist unhoused people, Arvada is utilizing a program designed to help — One Small Step.
One Small Step is designed as a way to rehabilitate criminal defendants experiencing homelessness without punitive measures. Instead of facing jail time or fines for low-level offenses, participants are connected with resources to better their lives.
When defendants participate regularly and complete the program, punitive measures such as jail time or fines can be waived.
The program restarted in January 2021 after experiencing a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Housed within the municipal court, One Small Step is overseen by Municipal Judge Kathryn Kurtz.
“All of our defendants are really, really good, kind-hearted people who’ve just had a lot of struggles in their life,” said Kurtz. “I think the coolest part about it is watching people make progress and positive change in their life.”
Participants in the program attend weekly check-in meetings where they update the court on their lives. During these meetings, participants are also given the opportunity to speak with resource navigators who can help connect them with many resources, including housing, food and clothing.
Housing navigators from Jefferson County and the City of Arvada are available to participants, as are resources from Community Table Food Bank and other local aid organizations.
The program currently has approximately 120 participants, with 40 participants attending on a weekly basis. Since January 2021, the program has seen 10 graduates. Graduating from the program looks different for each participant, but typically they no longer benefit from the resources offered by One Small Step, meaning they have homes and are employed.
Officer Chris Humphrys, who is on Arvada Police Department’s CORE team — which deals most frequently with the city’s homeless population — believes the program helps to connect unhoused people in Arvada with resources they need and holds them accountable to achieving their goals.
When he gives tickets that enroll people in the program, Humphrys knows they’re facing help — not punishment.
“The consequence for this ticket is getting off the street,” Humphrys said. “…No fine. There’s no jail time, if you comply with the program. You’re just taking the literal one small step. We work with folks to try to get them plugged into the resources. When they come back next week, they tell us about the progress they’ve made.”
However, the support doesn’t stop at graduation. Humphrys mentioned one recent graduate of the program, who now works concessions at the Pepsi Center, continues to come every week to connect with the community created by One Small Step.
“You don’t have to keep coming if you don’t want to, but we’re happy to see you every week,” Humphrys said to the graduate. “And they were like, ‘No, I want to, this is my accountability.’”
Judge Kurtz believes the program is a creative alternative to punishing unhoused people.
“If these individuals would come into court, on whatever ticket that brought them into my doors, whether it be a trespass or disorderly conduct or whatever, normally we would impose some sort of fines,” Kurtz said. “That doesn’t address the core issues that these individuals have.”
Instead, by connecting participants with resources, Kurtz believes the program works “to address (participant’s) core issues, mental health, substance abuse and poverty.”
“If we kind of flip it on its head and address those issues, then we’ll have much better outcomes,” Kurtz said.
“The whole point is for those experiencing homelessness to take One Small Step to a more stable life,” Alternate Municipal Court Judge Christopher Daly said to a defendant on July 31. “We’re not here for punishment; we’re trying to get your life back on track.”
During a meeting on July 31, one defendant expressed their desire for assistance from the program, asking Judge Daly to help them get out of their current situation.
“I don’t want to live this life no more,” the defendant said. They were sentenced to a suspended fine for 12 months; if no further infractions are committed in that span, the fine will be waived.
“Sometimes it’s two steps forward, one step back,” Kurtz said. “One small step, because I don’t ever expect perfection, just progress. I hope that we’re able to provide the support that our defendants need to help them make progress in a positive way.”