For the first time, more people are exiting Denver’s All-In Mile High hotels and micro-communities to permanent housing than are returning to the streets.
According to the All-In Mile High dashboard, 708 people have gone into permanent housing and 386 either have returned to the street or their whereabouts are unknown. City Council member Amanda Sawyer noted that at the last update given to the Housing, Safety, Education and Homelessness Committee, the numbers were reversed. More were ending up back on the street than exiting the sites into permanent housing. “Congratulations on finally flipping to the outcomes we need to see,” Sawyer told city Deputy Director of Homelessness Resolution Cole Chandler.
Chandler said outcomes have improved because the case management team is better staffed and has more experience than it did when the sites opened. Chandler also said the original strategy was to let each site develop its own methods for wraparound services. Chandler said systemwide strategies now are being put into place. “I’m very pleased to see it headed in another direction,” Sawyer said.