During these cold snowy months, what safeguards do you put in place to ensure that the units in your facility aren't being used as temporary shelter for the homeless?
Earlier this week at a Colorado facility, two homeless men were sadly killed by what investigators are referring to as a "warming fire" inside a storage unit. Full story can be found here.
I'm hoping that your contract specifically states that habitation of the units within your facility is prohibited. But the bigger question is, what are you doing to make sure that those rules are being followed? Are vacant units kept locked? Do you walk your grounds periodically throughout the day? Do you actually keep an eye on your camera system to watch as people come and go during business hours? Are the hallways to your climate controlled buildings locked after hours?
Homelessness is a sad and very serious issue. It may be tempting to turn a blind eye to those seeking shelter during these cold, snowy winter months. But I assure you, this is not a good idea. Our facilities are not built to be habitable. As you can see, the results can be deadly. Be vigilant. Know what is happening at your property at all times.
