Homelessness in Colorado

Homelessness is very difficult for many Coloradoans to escape due to the continuous increase in costs for housing in Colorado, along with mental health treatments and other factors.

When people are forced to live without stable shelter, they are then exposed to a number of risk factors that affect physical and mental health (State of Colorado).

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Point-in-Time (PIT) Count,[1] there were 10,857 people who were homeless within the state of Colorado in 2018.

Mayor Michael Hancock and the City Council passed the Urban Camping Ban which prohibited individuals from sleeping in public places with a blanket over them or something between them and the ground.

[6] This influx of residents has caused a shortage in affordable housing and contributed to the price of home ownership and renting increasing yearly.

During the winter months, shelters are on a first-come, first-served basis, and people are often waiting for hours in the cold for the doors to open.

In order to make a significant impact, the state can adopt multiple new methods that were proven effective in other places to help curb the demographic much faster.

[11] Therapy sessions, psychiatric hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, and prescription drugs are the most common mental health treatment options for the public, however, the homeless are unable to afford them.

According to Bharadwaj, Pai, and Suziedelyte (2017),[12] people are less likely to report that they have a mental health issue when compared to other medical conditions that may be ailing them.

If organizations adopt a new program to house the homeless, get them counseling, and then help them get a job and food on the table, this will enhance their quality of life and their recovery process.

In 2015, the Right to Rest Act was introduced to Colorado (as well as Oregon and California) and would have changed the way Denver treats unsheltered citizens.