August 30, 2023
Re: Houseless State of Emergency
Dear Mayor Johnston,
We are glad for your goal to house 1000 houseless Denverites by the end of the year, and appreciate your serious focus on this issue, as evidenced when you declared houselessness in Denver to be a State of Emergency in the early days of your administration. We couldn’t agree more with your assessment of the urgency of the crisis.
That said, we are writing to express our concern with the initial plans under this State of Emergency that focus largely on non-congregate sheltering. That’s not housing. It is critical that you use this opportunity to create substantial, attainable low-to-no income housing that prioritizes those most in need, and not squander more money and political capital on continued efforts to shuffle the most visible houseless people out of sight. This band-aid approach has characterized so much of the historical approach to houselessness in our city. It will not have the meaningful, lasting impact you desire to achieve.
Six Criteria of Successful Housing for State of Emergency
Action that delivers real, lasting housing and prioritizes the most vulnerable residents is what Denver desperately needs. People should not be forced to live in managed programs with “quick fix” boxes. What follows are the six criteria of a response to the crisis that would put our city firmly on the right track to addressing the crisis of houselessness.
1. Prioritize the Most Vulnerable, Not Most Visible. The 1000 units of housing created under the State of Emergency should be given first to the most vulnerable people, not the most visible. Giving people housing just because they happen to be at a visible downtown encampment is an ineffective and ludicrous way to select people for housing opportunities. People who are elderly, sick, disabled, and families with children must be prioritized. Our houseless neighbors agree: in conducting our 2023 survey of 828 houseless people in Denver (‘Pipe Dreams and Picket Fences’, pg. 54) we learned that, irrespective of whether or not they personally fell into those demographics, an overwhelming majority (77%) of houseless people themselves believe that families, disabled people, and seniors should get priority access to housing opportunities.
In addition, an equitable and impactful prioritization scheme should consider the intersectional oppression of marginalized communities. Black and Brown people, migrants, transgender and queer people, victims of violence — these are the factors that must be taken under serious consideration when prioritizing people to receive housing – not simply offering housing to the people who housed neighbors would prefer to have out of sight.
2. Create Genuinely New Housing Opportunities. The 1000 units of housing created under the State of Emergency should be genuinely new low/no income housing opportunities, not housing units previously acquired or secured. The units do not need to be newly constructed, but they do need to be newly made available to low-and-no income people. For example, counting hotel acquisitions that were already in the works prior to your tenure in office, and prior to the State of Emergency declaration, undermines the purpose and the spirit of your goal. New master leases or securing new vouchers for poor people in pre-existing units currently priced for the rich would be rightly counted as new housing opportunities.
3. Create Long-Term, Not Temporary, Housing. In order to truly be effective at achieving a sustained reduction in houselessness, the 1000 units of low-to-no income housing created under the State of Emergency must be long-term. Housing secured temporarily through rapid rehousing or transitional housing should not count, as these stop gap measures will not last. Housing insecurity is traumatizing and, as we witnessed when the temporary housing set up during COVID came to an end, only serves to demoralize people and make them distrust the system further. Let’s stop pushing the need down the road. Temporary housing offers the appearance of progress in lieu of actual progress.
4. Housing with Amenities, Not Simply Four Walls. The 1000 units of housing created under the State of Emergency must include the amenities needed to allow people to remain comfortably housed. Being “housed” is not just about having four walls and a roof. In order to live healthy lives, people need running water, a bathroom, and a kitchen in which to cook for themselves. In ‘Pipe Dreams and Picket Fences’ the responses we received in surveying 828 houseless people in Denver tells us that amenities are the third highest desire named after housing (pg. 24). Desire for proper hygiene was repeatedly mentioned, as was the need for the independence of one’s own kitchen.
5. Housing with Rights, not “Non-Congregate Shelter”. The 1000 units of housing created under the State of Emergency should include the same standard legal protections offered to any other tenant. It cannot be “non-congregate shelters” that rob residents of their rights and are run as programs as opposed to independent housing. The type of housing opened up through State of Emergency funding should be housing any city official would be content to move into. In ‘Pipe Dreams and Picket Fences’ the responses we received in surveying 828 houseless people in Denver tell us that autonomy and community are the top concerns amidst a desire for housing (pg. 24). Rules that restrict guests are repeatedly named as a top issue for housing, and the ability to have guests or housemates was the second highest “support service” requested (pg. 97). Other rules and restrictions, such as curfew or room checks, are a reason hundreds of respondents stated they could not move into certain housing. Houseless people are clear as day throughout this survey that they want housing with the same rights and freedoms as any housing built for people with more money.
6. Housing with Transition Supports, not “In-and-Done”. The 1000 households who receive housing under the State of Emergency should have a support team to help with transition needs, including but not limited to: help with paperwork; utilities assistance; acquiring furnishing, dishes, and cleaning supplies; neighborhood navigation; personal emotional support; and more. In ‘Pipe Dreams and Picket Fences’ the responses we received in surveying 828 houseless people in Denver, together with our experience in assisting hundreds of people with moving into housing, tells us transition support is a high priority. 200 respondents specifically named the need for help with paperwork/bureaucracy after getting into housing. Financial support was by far the highest support service named, at 500 people, which points to the need for assistance with housing needs such as furniture, dishes, utilities, etc. (p 97).
Let’s do this right the first time. If you are truly committed to ending houselessness in Denver during your tenure, these first steps are crucial. And if Denver’s response to the Houseless State of Emergency is going to house 1000 houseless people — and allow them to stay housed – then these six criteria for who is prioritized to receive housing, what kind of housing is created, and how people are supported in their housing must be heeded. If we don’t create real housing that people want to live in where they’re supported to be successful in remaining there for the long term, then this whole State of Emergency will just have to be re-done again the next year as people will be back on the streets or in micro units where they continue to need real housing.
We want a State of Emergency successful in creating housing for people in desperate need. We also understand that the only way for you to succeed is if you listen to and respect the voices of houseless people, and give them housing they want to live in and can remain in — not just try to remove visible houseless people from the sight of people who are housed.
Sincerely,
Housekeys Action Network Denver
Read our March 2023 report ‘Pipe Dreams and Picket Fences’ here.
Cosigned by:
American Friends Service Committee
Bring Our Neighbors Home
Buck Foundation
Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition
Colorado Poverty Law Project
Denver Catholic Worker
Denver Democratic Socialists of America
Denver Task Force to Reimagine Policing and Public Safety
Empowerment Program
Friends of SODen
Harm Reduction Action Center
Housekeys Action Network Denver
Mutual Aid Monday
National Homelessness Law Center
Reciprocity Collective
Redress Movement
Romero Theater Troupe
Seasoned with Grace Unboxed
Swing By Street Supply
The Gathering Place
Warm Cookies of the Revolution
Western Regional Advocacy Project
Women Uprising
In Addition, 103 Mental Health Workers from Well Power signed on to support this letter as individuals:
Bauer, Kayla responder with Denver Parks and Recreation
Vaughan, Adele mental health worker
Hawley, Christina LCSW
Favela, Suzette Case Manager
Pocock, Emily Health Navigator
Rodriguez, Kiara Case Manager
Jacobson, Sydney Case manager
Travis, Beth Peer Support formally unhoused
Wang, Lucy Mental Health Worker
Lahowetz, Marsh works in mental health
Eligar, Celaina works in mental health
Toffoli, Selene Peer Support
Harting, Ivonne Peer Specialist
Parton, Bailey Mental Health Worker
Ramsey, Rowan Mental Health Worker
Werner, Jade LCSW, former case manager
Litt, Emily Case Manager
Lescroart, Matt LPC
Perlin, Julie LCSW
Garcia, Cassandra Case Manager and Prevention Specialist
Simmons, Mandy Psychologist
Guetling, Lauren LCSW
Mitchell, Nikki Peer Support
Sasha Neal Housing Resource Specialist
Diana Walbrun Mental Health Worker
Viviana Acosta Mental Health Worker
Jennifer Hermon Case Manager
Winicov, Natalie Co-Responder
Monroy Pineda, Sue Mental Health Worker
Bargas, Charly residential counselor
Berry, Jessy case manager
Lyon-Frick, Samara project coordinator
Johnson, Fannie psychiatric LPN
Felder, Jud peer specialist
Kazutomi-Crosby, Elaine Mental Health Worker
Hudson, Patrick Psychiatric Nurse
Benson, Essence Mental Health Worker
Reynolds, Sheila Peer Specialist, formerly unhoused.
Don Reynolds, Samaritan House Employee, formally unhoused
Cyrus Brown Case Manager
Smith, Angelina LCSW, former Case Manager
Cox, Edward Mental Health Worker
Parker, Alyssa Mental Health Worker, Former Housing Case Manager
Wilson, Khristine Psychiatric Nurse
Ricketts, Meredith Mental Health Worker
Oliver, Leon Case Manager
Low, Izzy Mental Health Worker
Asantewaa, Anastasia Mental Health Worker
Nwokedi, Ambrose Mental Health Worker
Bryan Milner LCSW with Veterans Administration
Reichwein, Daniel LCSW
Mable, Emerald Co-Responder
McKenzie, Marilyn Vocational Specialist
Jameson, Meredith Nurse Practitioner
Wandel, Joseph Mental Health Worker
Pellissier, Eddie Mental Health Worker
White, Timber Mental Health Worker
Ortiz, Mayra Psychiatric Nurse
Martinez, Alex Mental Health Worker
Kay, Erin Case Manager
Rapp, Caroline Mental Health Worker
Captain, Jon Mental Health Worker
Stefanich, Emily Case Manager
Bohlender, Heather LCSW, former Case Manager
Kelley, Maygan Case Manager
Dickinson, Delaney Case Manager
MacIntyre, Kenneth Psychiatrist
Eisenhauer, Rachel Mental Health Worker
Poulton, Scott Co-Responder
Valladares Giron, Giovana LCSW
Lander, Miguel mental health therapist
Huberman, Avi Med Courier-Pharmacy
Bramstedt, Jennifer program manager
Elliott Burke mental health therapist
Miah Gomez residential counselor
Shevieve Gallegos vocational project coordinator
Joel Gagliano mental health therapist
Isabelle Moses LCSW
Wichmann, Jessica Mental Health worker
Jenkins, Matthew Mental Health Worker
Owens, Kristin Case Manager
Flanigan, Erin LCSW
Landry, Danielle psychiatric medical assistant
Neuville, Jennifer Case Manager
Young, Kelsey Co-Responder
Ubriaco, Emma Public Health
Pierce, Kate Co-Responder
Carney, Thomas Mental Health Worker
Wells, Jules Peer Specialist
Barraza Mendez, Maria Mental Health Worker
Mary Kent Co-Responder
Kanicki, Bohdan Mental Health Worker
Bowden, Russell Mental Health Worker
Stone, Jessica LCSW
Mercy Bessem, Ashu Mental Health Worker
Lobung, Ite Case Manager
Alvarez, Liliana Mental Health Worker
Soellner, Rachael LCSW
Hampton, Deeann peer specialist
Kay Sasser LPC
Jennifer Van case manager
James Blair, Case Manager
Migongo, Esther Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
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