The Denver City Council deliberated on the potential acceptance of a $2 million state grant aimed at facilitating the provision of vital services to those experiencing homelessness, encompassing the facilitation of their transition from temporary shelters to permanent homes.
The housing department of Denver intends to allocate the funds towards expeditious rehousing initiatives across the city within the upcoming biennium.
Colorado’s “Transformational Homelessness Response” grant program will provide financial support to Denver until September 30, 2026, pending approval. The program’s objective is to offer a range of services, encompassing mental health care, as well as options for both temporary and permanent accommodation.
The Colorado Department of Local Affairs, in collaboration with the Division of Housing, allocated a sum of $86 million in 2023 to distribute the program among various cities and counties throughout the state.
The Colorado Department of Local Affairs has allocated around $39 million for cities, counties, and nonprofit organizations in the metro Denver area.
The state program provides funding for a range of services, such as outreach support, emergency shelters, transitional housing, recovery care, residential programs, training and employment services, and permanent housing with wraparound support.
Furthermore, the program offers data analytic capabilities to enhance the precision of service targeting for individuals experiencing homelessness.
The primary objective of the initiative is to fundamentally alter the situation of homelessness in cities throughout Colorado by modifying systems, services, and outcomes, as stated in the resolution of the Denver City Council.
Denver’s rapid rehousing initiatives monitor the movement of homeless individuals from temporary shelters, such as hotels or “micro-communities,” and assist in their adjustment to permanent housing.
The award coincides with Denver’s current surge in the number of homeless individuals residing in city shelters.
According to Denver’s homeless housing dashboard, Mayor Mike Johnston’s “housing first” strategy has led to the relocation of 1,419 homeless individuals from the streets to temporary homes since July.
Out of the entire population, 399 individuals who were homeless have transitioned into stable homes.
Johnston’s administration allocated $45 million in 2023 to facilitate the relocation of 1,135 individuals experiencing homelessness into temporary accommodation. The administration intends to allocate an additional $50 million in 2024 to facilitate the relocation of an additional 1,000 individuals experiencing homelessness into temporary housing.