What to Do After a Camp Sweep in Denver
Camp sweeps in Denver are stressful, sudden, and can leave you without your belongings, medications, or ID. This guide walks you through exactly what to do — before, during, and after — including your legal rights and how to get your property back.
Call 211 or go to a shelter immediately
If a sweep just happened and you have nowhere to go tonight, call 2-1-1 for shelter referrals or see our shelter guide for Denver emergency options.
Your rights during a Denver camp sweep
What Denver is legally required to do
- 72-hour written notice — Denver must post notice at least 72 hours before a non-emergency sweep. Emergency sweeps (imminent health/safety risk) have different rules.
- Storage of your belongings — Denver must store items that aren't discarded or hazardous for at least 30 days. You have the right to retrieve them.
- Offer of shelter — City policy requires offering a shelter bed before conducting a sweep. You do not have to accept, but they must offer.
- No destruction of medication or ID — Medications, ID documents, and irreplaceable items should be set aside, not thrown away.
These rights come from the Denver Right of Way Enforcement Policy and federal court decisions. Denver Human Services (DHS) Outreach teams and HOPE (Homeless Outreach Program Effort) are required to be on-site at scheduled sweeps.
Immediately after a sweep — what to do first
- Find somewhere safe to be Your immediate safety matters most. If it's cold or dark, get to a shelter, day center, or any warm space. Call 211 for referrals or see the shelter page.
- Write down what happened Note the date, time, location, what was taken or destroyed, any city employee names or badge numbers, and whether you received written notice. This information matters if you want to file a complaint or pursue legal action.
- Ask if your belongings were stored Speak to any DHS or HOPE outreach staff on site. Ask where your property was taken and get a claim number if possible. Items should be at the Denver municipal storage facility.
- Contact legal aid if your rights were violated If Denver destroyed your belongings without proper notice, or threw away medications or IDs, you may have a legal claim. Contact the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless legal team or Denver Legal Services.
- Replace any lost ID or documents If you lost your ID in the sweep, read our guide on getting a free replacement ID in Denver.
- Get medical help if needed If you were injured during a sweep or lost medications, go to Stout Street Health Center (2130 Stout St) or Denver Health (777 Bannock St) for care without ID or insurance.
How to retrieve your belongings
Denver stores sweep property for 30 days
Property taken during a sweep is supposed to be stored for at least 30 days. To retrieve items, contact Denver 311 (call or text 311, or visit denvergov.org) and ask about the encampment property retrieval process. You may need a claim number from the outreach team on site.
Steps to get your property back
- Call 311 (Denver's non-emergency city line) and ask about encampment property storage
- Provide the location and date of the sweep
- Ask for the storage location and pickup hours
- Bring any ID you have to the pickup location (ID is helpful but not always required)
- If your property was destroyed without proper notice, contact legal aid (see below)
Legal help — free resources in Denver
You don't need money to get legal help
-
Colorado Coalition for the Homeless — Legal Services
Handles sweep-related property destruction, civil rights issues, tickets, and warrants.
📞 303-894-3000 -
Denver Legal Services
Free civil legal aid for low-income Denver residents.
📞 303-837-2828 -
Colorado Legal Services
Statewide free civil legal help — can assist with property rights, ID, and benefits.
📞 303-861-3177 -
ACLU of Colorado
If your constitutional rights were violated during a sweep.
📞 303-777-5400
If you lost your ID or important documents
Losing your ID in a sweep creates a domino effect — no ID means it's harder to get into shelter, apply for benefits, or get a job. The good news: you can get a free replacement Colorado ID even if you have no documents to start with.
→ Full guide: How to get a free Colorado ID with nothing
Prepare for future sweeps
What to keep on you at all times if possible
- Your ID or a copy of it
- Medications and prescription information
- Any important phone numbers written on paper
- A small bag with a change of clothes and hygiene items
- The number for legal aid: 303-894-3000
Some Denver outreach organizations offer free storage lockers or safe storage for important documents. Ask your case worker, a shelter, or call 211 about storage options in your area.
File a complaint about a sweep
If Denver violated its own policies during a sweep — no notice, property destroyed, medications thrown away — you can file a complaint:
- Denver Auditor's Office — 720-865-2000 or denvergov.org/auditor
- Denver Community Planning and Development — handles ROW enforcement complaints
- Legal aid organizations above — can file formal legal challenges