Denver Homelessness: City Moves Forward With Managed Campsites

DENVER, CO — Mayor Michael Hancock announced his support Wednesday for the establishment of temporary, managed campsites in the city.

The Colorado Village Collaborative, which runs the city's Beloved Community tiny homes, has proposed a Safe Outdoor Space plan that would offer emergency support for people without homes.

Hancock has begun directing city agencies to help people move to shelters, safe outdoor spaces and motel rooms. Officials have also been working to improve sanitary conditions and safety for those who live in tents.

"Outreach, healthcare and mental-health workers will intensify their visits to encampments, and the city will increase efforts to clean encampments with more frequent trash pickup and used-needle collection," Hancock said in a Facebook post.

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"Due to COVID-19, the humanitarian crisis of homelessness is even more dire today than it was just a few short months ago. These are extraordinary times that call for extraordinary measures," Hancock said.

"By supporting the Colorado Village Collaborative’s proposal to establish temporary, managed campsites, I’m hopeful we can provide a new pathway that leads to more stable housing options for people experiencing homelessness."

The decision comes after weeks of discussions with the Colorado Village Collaborative and review by the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment, Hancock said.

“In moments of great crisis, great societies respond by centering the needs of their most vulnerable citizens,” said Cole Chandler, director of the Colorado Village Collaborative.

“Our peer cities across the country have demonstrated that Safe Outdoor Spaces provide a resource rich environment for unhoused neighbors to safely survive the global pandemic while creating longer term links to health care and housing. We are pleased to partner with the City and a long list of community based organizations to bring this safe, dignified, human centered model to Denver.”

Hancock has also announced his support for a possible November ballot measure that would raise an estimated $40 million a year to support services for people experiencing homelessness. Planning for the measure is being led by Councilwoman Robin Kniech, the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless and several shelter operators and service providers.

If referred to the ballot by Denver City Council this summer and approved by voters in the fall, the measure would increase the city’s sales tax by .25 percent, or 2.5 cents on a $10 purchase.

The proposal would increase housing options, rental assistance and supportive services, Hancock said.

The city has spent more than $24 million in emergency COVID-19 response funding for people experiencing homelessness. The funds have helped cover costs for two 24-hour shelters, secure more than 700 motel rooms for vulnerable populations, provide more hand-washing stations and publicly accessible toilets, and provide testing and screening services.