Permanent and Transitional Housing
In the first three years of the plan, Denver’s Road Home increased our total housing stock by 1,243 housing units. The plan remains focused on ensuring that a portion of these units targets the chronically homeless. To date, Denver’s Road Home has created 60% of the housing units called for in the plan and is on track to meet a five-year 75% reduction in chronic homelessness. Studies by the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless demonstrate that the chronically homeless use our most expensive emergency services. Tremendous cost savings are realized by moving them indoors and surrounding them with services.
Shelter System
Denver’s Road Home remains committed to working with homeless providers in the community to transition the homeless out of shelters and into housing, focusing on expansion of housing stock rather than shelter beds. Through overflow services and collaboration across agencies, homeless providers in Denver have worked tirelessly to assist the homeless with this transition.
Prevention
In the first three years of Denver’s Road Home, 957 families received homelessness prevention assistance through eviction, foreclosure and utility shut-off assistance. As Denver assists its homeless in living life off of the streets, the commitment remains to work strategically to prevent new individuals and families from becoming homeless in the first place.
Services
Every unit of housing through Denver’s Road Home is connected to services to ensure that the homeless have access to medical, mental health and substance abuse services. Since implementation, Denver’s Road Home has assisted homeless people in accessing public assistance and key services necessary to live life off of the streets.
Public Safety and Outreach
Four outreach case managers, 19 outreach workers and two police officers work collaboratively to connect the homeless with services and to reach out to the community to ensure that the homeless in Denver are safe and well cared for. Since implementation, outreach workers have assisted 533 homeless persons in living life off of the streets.
Education, Training, and Employment
Since implementation of the plan, Denver’s Road Home has assisted 3,278 homeless persons with employment assistance. Through collaborative efforts involving the hospitality industry and other private sector outlets, the initiative remains committed to ensuring that every homeless person has access to employment services. Denver’s Road Home is not about free housing. Most tenants are expected to pay 30% of their income for rent and those who have no income apply for benefits to help support their rent payments.
Community Awareness and Coordinated Response
Denver’s Road Home continues to pursue media coverage through a variety of outlets. During this past year, through high-profile efforts such as the Donation Meter Project, Denver’s Road Home was the subject of 60 newspaper articles and multiple television and radio broadcasts, including National Public Radio, the New York Times and a Dublin, Ireland morning radio show.
Zoning, Urban Design, and Land Use
To ensure ongoing public participation and involvement in the development of affordable housing for the homeless, Denver’s Road Home formed a site selection committee this year. Neighbors and other community leaders develop site selection criteria and make recommendations for new housing projects. Denver’s Road Home remains committed to taking a comprehensive and collaborative approach to zoning, urban design and land use and is working closely with Housing and Neighborhood Development Services to advance its housing plan for Denver.
