Which helps homeless people more: Aurora's work first or Denver's housing first program?

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As Aurora Mayor Pro Tem Dustin Zvonek sees it, there now stands a stark comparison between two different homeless service models on the Front Range. Denver' s housing first and Aurora's work first structures come from cities with far different politics even though they share a border. Denver elected a majority of Democrats on the City Council. And, as a county as well as a city, has deeper pockets than Aurora. Aurora has a majority Republican representation on the City Council.

Aurora approved its work first model Monday. Utilizing a former hotel as a homeless navigation campus, Auorora will offer three tiers of services, according to Mayor Mike Coffman. The first will be a low-barrier shelter where case management or addiction and/or mental health treatment will not be required. The second tier will offer semi-private rooms for those engaged in substance abuse or mental health treatment as well as case management services. The third tier will include private rooms for people who have found employment but still need services. They will pay 30% of their income for rent, Coffman said.

In Denver, Mayor Mike Johnston's House 1000 and All In Mile High campaigns have successfully sheltered almost 2,000 people in less than two years, according ot the mayor's office. But how long those people will be allowed to remain in those shelters remains unclear. And recently, homeless czar Cole Chandler admitted that promised wraparound services at the former DoubleTree Hotel on Quebec have not yet been provided. The hotel already has been open several months. It has been the site of a double homicide and other crimes, according to police.

Zvonek said Denver is good at "hiding the homeless" but not at helping them. He said he believes Aurora's model could become a beacon of hope for other cities.

Keeping people on streets, not offering skills 'inhumane'

"It is inhumane and economically unwise to allow individuals experiencing homelessness to remain on the streets, or simply offer unconditional housing, rather than providing them with the necessary support services that offer a structured path to self-sufficiency and housing," reads a resolution adopted by the Aurora council Monday. "The Aurora mayor and City Council are embarking on a distinct approach by providing a structured pathway to self-sufficiency and housing. Self-sufficiency is defined by utilizing the lowest level of public subsidies possible and producing self-support through employment."

Council members Alison Coombs, Crystal Murillo and Ruben Medina voted against the proposal. Coombs said she is not against providing people experiencing homelessness with resources, but she is against not utilizing housing first as a strategy. She said it has been proven effective and does include wraparound services such as mental health and addiction treatment. Mayor Coffman pointed out they are not required, however, or even encouraged, and that's what sets their plan apart from Denver's.