Denver Mayor Johnston declares state of emergency over homelessness9News

During his first full day in office, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston declared a state of emergency over the city’s rising homeless population.

As part of the declaration, Johnston said he plans to house 1,000 of Denver’s unsheltered homeless residents by the end of the year – those who sleep in public places, such as on the street, in tents or in cars. 

This is Johnston’s first official act as mayor after campaigning to end street homelessness in the next four years.

“We know it doesn’t end today, we know it starts today. But this is our commitment,” Johnston said.

There were at least 4,794 homeless people in Denver in January 2022, according to the latest count. That’s up 44% from only five years prior. Around 27% (1,313) of the homeless population was unsheltered.

Johnston’s administration plans to activate the city’s emergency operations center by the end of the week to begin work under the declaration. It will be tasked to coordinate and manage the initiative’s objectives.

The declaration will give Denver access to state and federal resources to address homelessness, including allowing the city to apply for Colorado’s last round of grants from the American Rescue Plan Act.

It will also focus the city’s existing work on homelessness, Johnston said, letting them take regulatory action, such as permitting and construction, faster than they could otherwise.

“We are ready to put all of our energy and effort as a city behind a solution for this,” Johnston said. “We want to have a city where no one has to sleep on the streets.”

Denver’s renewed efforts to tackle homelessness will begin with a 78-neighborhood tour led by city councilmembers to answer questions from residents and tell them what resources and supports they can provide.

Later, city officials will work with landlords and property owners to expand access to housing, convert hotels to housing, and build tiny home villages on city land. Johnston said 197 publicly-owned parcels have been identified as potential sites for the tiny homes.

There will be 10 mayoral appointees assigned to lead the effort against homelessness, Johnston said.

In a release after the declaration, Johnston’s administration said it will also immediately deploy trash, hygiene and care services to homeless encampments; enhance existing housing programs aimed at homeless residents; and, mobilize a coalition across public and private sectors dedicated to resolving the crisis.

“We have a lot to work on together,” Johnston said. “Today is the start.”

The emergency declaration will initially last seven days, with the city council then responsible for extending it and deciding the duration. 

Many Denverites are skeptical of Johnston’s plan to end street homelessness – something other city leaders have promised and failed to deliver on in the past. But some of the city’s homelessness activists are cautiously optimistic about Johnston’s declaration. 

Ean Tafoya, former mayoral candidate and co-chair of Johnston’s transition committee on homelessness, called the move “the first step.”

“We must bring our communities and resources together to deliver on human rights,” Tafoya said. 

The Denver Rescue Mission, which worked with the city under 25 different mayors before Johnston, said Johnston has a different perspective on homelessness than the city’s former leaders.

The organization said it will actively partner with Johnston’s administration to assist people experiencing homelessness.

“Mayor Johnston brings a fresh vision into the conversation on housing and homelessness,” the organization said in a statement. “We look forward to supporting Mayor Johnston and his administration as best possible in assisting the Mile High City’s most vulnerable population.”