DENVER — With solely days left to go in his first calendar yr in workplace, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston stated he feels “nice” concerning the prospect of surpassing his purpose of sheltering 1,000 unhoused individuals by Dec. 31.
The Metropolis of Denver has introduced 892 individuals indoors as of this text’s publication.
“We now have plans to maneuver greater than about 200 individuals over the following three days nonetheless, [and] items which are nonetheless opening coming on-line,” Johnston instructed Denver7’s Rob Harris. “We’re speaking to individuals across the metropolis who’re actually enthusiastic about this transformational likelihood to get again up on their toes and indoors and into transitional housing. And so we really feel nice concerning the progress, however largely be ok with what it means for Denverites… Should you drive by downtown Denver tonight or over the following few days, it’s going to really feel like a completely completely different place than it did six months in the past. There shall be no main encampments left in downtown Denver for the primary time in so long as I can bear in mind.”
Town did change the best way it tracks the success of this system earlier this month after inside reporting discrepancies had been found. Initially, media organizations had been instructed an unhoused individual was counted as sheltered in the event that they remained for not less than 14 days. We got here to study, nonetheless, that people had been being counted immediately, no matter their size of keep. Even nonetheless, Johnston stated he’s “one hundred pc assured” that the numbers at the moment being reported are correct.
Of the 892 individuals reported to have been introduced into shelters as of Thursday, 870 are nonetheless indoors, constituting a hit price of practically 98 p.c.
Johnston’s administration has set a purpose of getting one other 1,000 individuals off the streets in 2024. But on the similar time, Denver faces overlapping crises of 1000’s of arriving migrants and native homelessness rising for a number of years. We requested Johnston if he’s involved that our homelessness issues are rising sooner than our options. He instructed us he’s not.
“I believe this is the reason we’ve proposed a complete answer right here — which is, sure, we’re targeted on figuring out these individuals which are on the biggest threat and getting them immediately off of the streets, out of unsheltered encampments, and into housing. That’s the first step,” Johnston stated. “However the subsequent step goes to get most individuals moved from transitional housing — these inns or micro-communities — into completely reasonably priced items. That’s why we’ve a giant focus subsequent yr on constructing 3,000 completely reasonably priced rental items. And that’s not simply for those that are previously unhoused. That’s for nurses and academics and firefighters and folks working two jobs which are struggling to make it on this metropolis.”
Watch Rob’s full dialog with Johnston under.
FULL INTERVIEW: Mayor Johnston assured he’ll surpass House1000 purpose by the top of the yr
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