While homelessness increased in the metro Denver area, the numbers dropped in El Paso County, according to the results of a comprehensive survey conducted this year.
The survey in major cities nationwide on one or two days each January highlighted anew the crisis plaguing metro Denver, whose local governments — notably Colorado’s most populous city — have spent significant amounts.
Mayor Mike Johnston, who marked one year in office in July, had vowed to eradicate homelessness in his city within the first four years and has embarked on aggressive campaign to house individuals.
Denver, Aurora and El Paso
The count pegged Denver’s total number of homeless people at 6,539 this year, compared to 5,818 last year.
And the city saw only 150 fewer “unsheltered” people — individuals who sleep in public places, such as parks and in cars — compared to the previous year’s count.
Between 2022 and 2023, Denver’s “unsheltered” homeless population grew by 110 homeless people. This time around, that number dropped from 1,423 to 1,273 in 2024.