Office is closed to walk-ins after threats to staff members

Because of threats to staff members, the AspenPitkin County Housing Authority has closed its office to walk-in traffic.

The move was made after an individual who is being evicted from his apartment at Truscott Place — at the Aspen golf course, where the housing authority’s office is — turned his anger toward employees.

“We have restricted access to the APCHA office in response to credible threats against staff by residents,” said housing authority Executive Director Matthew Gillen, declining to identify the individual who is being evicted. “It’s an inconvenience, and we would love to have the doors open. But I have to protect the staff.”

Deputy Director Cindy Christensen, who has worked for the agency for three decades, said threats against staff members and distrust of the housing authority have intensified in recent years.

“It’s hatred. I have to say it: People are abusive. They yell and scream at us, and we’ve even had sexual innuendos,” she said. “We are only abiding by the rules and asking people to do the same. And we get vilified in the press and (with) people we run into on the street, and I don’t quite understand it.”

The housing authority made the move during the spring to close the office to walk-in traffic. People can still call to make an appointment or ring a doorbell at the front door during regular office hours to be let in to talk to staffers.

“We want to be helpful and provide a service, and I don’t think it’s affected that,” Gillen said.

A former diplomat for the State Department, Gillen is keen on safety and recognized the Truscott office needed more security. Access was cut off to side doors that are now controlled by key cards.

Christensen said because the housing authority serves as the landlord of Truscott units, the aggression against staffers has increased since the office was relocated there from downtown Aspen.

People get upset when their leases are terminated, or if they don’t qualify or if there are no units available, for example.

Some aggressors falsely believe the housing authority controls privately owned and managed complexes such as Castle Ridge, and demand they be allowed to live there.

“They see it as an entitlement, and I see it as someone who lives in employee housing, that it’s a privilege,” Christensen said.

When a person’s lease is ending, it is not the first time that individual has had conversations with staffers, and they typically have been put on notice to rectify their situation.

“So many people would relish the chance to live out here,” Christensen said. “We have kept a lot of people who are problematic.”