Five Park Hill residents are suing the city, a non-profit, Park Hill United Methodist Church and its Rev. Nathan Adams to stop the opening of a sanctioned homeless camp.

The lawsuit filed in Denver District Court Thursday comes nearly one month after the church announced its intentions to host the encampment in partnership with Colorado Village Collaborative through funding from the city.

The plaintiffs allege that placing the camp in the church’s parking lot will pose a threat to minors and school-age children in the area, since PHUMC operates its own preschool each weekday and is near Park Hills Elementary School, Montview Presbyterian preschool and Blessed Sacrament Catholic School.

“The proposed (camp) will not have adequate security measures to protect children and staff of the preschool,” wrote Heather Thomas and Douglas Baier of Robinson & Henry on behalf of the plaintiffs in the complaint. 

The five plaintiffs are Jean-Baptiste Varnie, Kurt Monigle, Justin Lovac, Dave Rodman and Blair Taylor.  

The lawsuit alleges the staff on-site does not have the professional training needed to keep children safe, deescalate conflicts or help people suffering from drug and alcohol abuse. 

In addition, the plaintiffs allege residents didn’t have an opportunity to voice their opinions about the proposal, and the neighborhood lacks the resources needed nearby including food options and public transportation.

The legal encampments are designed to keep areas with a homeless population cleaner and more stable environments. 

Cole Chandler, the executive director of CVC, said the lawsuit is baseless.

“These are precisely the kinds of well-funded arguments we have heard before in efforts to advance and protect various forms of segregation and oppression throughout our nation’s history,” Chandler said in a statement to The Denver Gazette.

Chandler said CVC is committed to the site more than ever.

“The plaintiffs have lit a fire underneath us,” Chandler said  “We’re here to ensure this fire does not grow into an untamed flame that would burn our process to the ground, but that sacred sort of fire that gathers community together to be safe, warm and whole.

“Gathered around this fire, we look forward to that day when justice will prevail and the forces of discrimination, so prevalent to our society will be defeated.”