A $634,880 federal grant will be used to house 31 transgender people and women in Denver who are involved with the criminal justice system.
The city received the federal grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, according to a memo from city staff to the council. It will be conferred to The Empowerment Program for permanent supportive housing for transgender people and women. The grant will pay for housing for one year.
“We take on a Housing First strategy and aim to address housing needs first,” The Empowerment Program explains on its website. “The underlying issues that so often lead to incarceration — such as complex trauma, substance use disorder and/or mental health concerns — cannot effectively be addressed with a person who does not have a safe, secure, and stable place to live. For many of our participants, particularly those who are transitioning from homelessness or the criminal legal system, securing housing is a barrier to living a safe and healthy life