Denver to spend $57.5 million a year in hopes of ending homelessness by 2026

(The Center Square) – The city of Denver plans to spend $57.5 million a year on its All In Mile High program that has a goal to house homeless people.

This is according to the agenda items discussed at the July 15 City Council meeting .

The city of Denver is considering approving a cash transfer of $6.5 million from the Coronavirus Emergency Response Special Revenue Fund to the Homelessness Resolution Fund. The documents detail anticipated costs for the 2025 fiscal year for the All In Mile High Budget, a program designed to get as many people as possible into shelters.

The city is anticipating a cost of $57.5 million per year to pay for 2,000 people annually, with a cost of $28,750 per person for services, temporary housing, and wraparound supports, while congregate shelters per bed average around $30,000-$36,000., and depending on needs, those remaining outdoors can potentially cost the city up to $50,000.

The document shows the city initially budgeted $48 million for 2023 and $39 million for 2024, while the amount spent on the All In Mile High over the 10-month period was $56.3 million from July 18, 2023, through May 9, 2024.

Mayor Mike Johnston announced the initiative in July 2023, when it was first known as the "House1000." After closing ten encampments in 2023, the mayor announced the new goal of moving 2,000 homeless inside by Dec. 3, 2024, and renaming it the All in Mile High initiative, according to the city's website.

Denver's new vision is to "set us up to deliver on our broader goal of achieving functional zero in unsheltered homelessness by December 31, 2026," according to Denver's One-year report for the All in Mile High program, while planning to reduce unsheltered homelessness by 50% by the end of 2025, and to have no individuals unsheltered by the end of 2026.

The city is planning to expand permanent housing by adding more than 3,000 units per year for the next four years.

The city's 2023 Point in Time count shows that Denver had more than 1,400 homeless people unsheltered and living outdoors on Jan. 23, 2023, and over 4,000 homeless people in shelters, according to the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative website .

The city did not respond to an email seeking comment.