Denver's Homelessness Plan

Did you know that in Denver?

43% of the homeless are women and children.
Many hard-working people have become homeless because they have lost their job or had a healthcare crisis.
Area shelters can only provide a fraction of the beds that are necessary.
Over 40% of people in shelters are working and only 10% of the homeless earn money from panhandling.
The Cost of Inaction
Studies in New York and Philadelphia showed that the average person who was chronically homeless accessed over $40,000 per year in public services. In San Diego, the costs were as high as $200,000 over 18 months. The details of these costs can be found at the Interagency Council on Homelessness website.

These same startling costs are true for Denver's homeless.

One night in jail cost $174 per arrest. It would not be unusual for four arrests and bookings to occur per year at a cost of $696.
A monthly stay in emergency shelter costs $775; the typical stay is six months or $4,650.
Two meals a day at soup kitchens cost $2.66. Meals for 200 days cost $532.
Emergency room visits costs $1,000. Homeless individuals average two visits per year at $2,000 per homeless person.
One night at Denver C.A.R.E.S. "detox" center costs $295. Chronic alcohol/drug abusers averaged 80 nights per person last year. The annual cost was $23,600 per person.
One hospital stay averages $29,921. In 2004, 1,074 homeless people were admitted for hospital stays in Denver. Those who only access healthcare through the emergency room do not receive follow-up care or services beyond immediate intervention, making them more likely to return to the hospital in the future.
Denver's Road Home employs the "Housing First" model of providing stable housing coupled with the appropriate social services. Under this model the cost to house and provide services to the chronic homeless is:

Monthly rent for an efficiency apartment in Denver is $376. A year's lease totals $4,512. This total cost is reduced as the occupant is stabilized and is responsible for paying 30% of their earned income toward rent. The cost of providing other social services is $10,000 per year.
For people in shelters the cost is less:

40% of homeless people living in shelters work. These households are able to initially pay a portion (average: $100/month), the annual subsidy is $3,312. Social services cost is substantially less for a non-chronic homeless person.
Mayor John Hickenlooper and the Commission to End Homelessness, through a comprehensive community effort, have established a plan to end homelessness in the City & County of Denver. Find out more about the plan.
Panhandling is a difficult issue faced by every major city, and Downtown Denver is no exception. People who panhandle may need help, but the experience of numerous social services agencies indicates that money given to individuals on the street often supports destructive habits, including alcohol and drug addiction.

The Downtown Denver Partnership encourages Downtown workers, visitors and residents to redirect their generosity to the institutions best suited to helping our city's homeless and struggling citizens. By donating your money and volunteer time to organizations and service providers, you play an integral part in improving the lives of these individuals.