Denver officials celebrated the purchase of a 96-unit hotel last year with much hype, envisioning a homeless shelter that would offer an array of “supportive” services such as case management and therapy.
The city described the former Stay Inn hotel as having recently undergone updates. Then-Mayor Michael Hancock said the city was proud to “transform” yet another hotel into a shelter for homeless people, and the Department of Housing Stability said it anticipated the site would begin housing the homeless by late 2023.
The hotel cost taxpayers $9 million. Roughly 15 months later, not a single homeless person has moved into the building.
When asked why, Mayor Mike Johnston’s administration pointed to delays in renovations. A councilmember attributed it to zoning issues.
In order for the shelter to open, a contractor needs to be assigned to complete renovations, according to Derek Woodbury, a spokesperson for Denver’s Department of Housing Stability.
The department promised to do that “as soon as possible.”