Keep It Clean and Safe COS wordmark


Keep It Clean and Safe COS (KICAS) is a coordinated City initiative focused on improving safety and cleanliness in priority areas of Colorado Springs. The program brings together City departments, public safety partners and community organizations to address trash, illegal dumping, public safety concerns and the impacts of homelessness.  

KICAS supports a safe, welcoming environment for residents, businesses and visitors. It expands on the foundation established by the Keep It Clean COS program. While Keep It Clean COS focused primarily on coordinated trash removal and beautification efforts, KICAS integrates additional safety and outreach components to create a more comprehensive response.

KICAS consists of three primary lines of effort:

Safety & Security

Targeted enforcement and visible public safety presence in priority areas. This includes coordinated efforts between law enforcement and other City departments to address criminal activity and ordinance violations. 

Cleanliness

Removal of trash and debris, response to illegal dumping, and beautification efforts in public spaces. Clean-up operations are conducted in coordination with outreach teams when appropriate. 

Outreach

Connection to housing navigation, behavioral health resources, mental health support and other community-based services. Outreach efforts aim to provide individuals experiencing homelessness with pathways toward stability. 

Mission

A map of the South Nevada Urban Renewal Area that outlines the area in blue.

KICAS works to mitigate the negative impacts of urban camping, homelessness and illegal dumping through coordinated enforcement, impactful outreach and beautification efforts in needed areas of the city, such as the South Nevada Urban Renewal Area. KICAS aims to: 

  • Support a safe and welcoming environment for residents and visitors 
  • Help businesses operate in clean and accessible commercial areas 
  • Connect individuals experiencing homelessness with available services and housing resources 
  • Maintain public spaces that reflect community pride 

Background

In recent years, certain areas of Colorado Springs have experienced increased impacts related to trash accumulation, urban camping and public safety concerns. These challenges affect nearby residents, businesses and visitors and can strain public infrastructure. 

Supplemental Funding

The security and mental health outreach portions of the program can legally be funded by recreational marijuana (RMJ) tax revenue.