The deal has not yet closed, but the housing authority believes the 194 units will make significant headway toward Mike Johnston’s goal of housing 1,000 unsheltered people by the end of the year.

The city would start leasing the complex through its Department of Housing Stability (HOST) on Sept. 1.

  • @[email protected]
    25•11 months ago

    I think using the whole building for low income or homeless housing is a mistake. It’s going to turn to shit. What they need to do is sprinkle low income families in amongst medium income residents.

    This has the added benefit of providing some income to the program and increasing social mobility.

    • @DillonBrooksEnjoyer
      19•11 months ago

      There’s 1,300 unsheltered homeless people in Denver. This hotel has near 200 rooms. With space in each room for multiple residents, this can put a major dent into the amount of homeless on the street if it’s used exclusively for that purpose. Plus, other homeless shelters in the Denver/Boulder area are spread crazy thin as it is. It’ll take a massive effort to keep it from going downhill but I think it can be done.

      I like what you’re proposing, but I think this idea is just addressing a different goal. Plus there are probably better places than a hotel to integrate homeless into low/medium income society.

    • @[email protected]
      13•11 months ago

      It depends on what their goal is.if it’s just to give people temporary shelter for 6 months or so it could be an effective halfway house style setup. If it’s meant to be permanent housing, the it would be better to have a mix. If it’s just about headlines, then throw the most problematic homeless there and let the place get destroyed in 3 months.

      • @InverseParallax
        3•11 months ago

        6 months won’t work, it’ll take another 6 months renovation afterwards.

        We need better solutions than short term warehousing, I’ve seen tiny house and similar systems that seem to have worked some, the key is to keep things manageable but ensure the expectation that the user is responsible.

        The moment you have hallways you go back to Cabrini green really quickly.

    • fiat_lux
      6•11 months ago

      We’ve experienced this where I am, and I agree. Mixed demographic high density is necessary to prevent the stigmatisation that comes from living in designated ghettos.

      It does look like they’re thinking about these things to sone degree though, thankfully:

      40% of the units designated for tenants earning 30% of the Denver area’s median income.

      I am very happy that there are efforts to help the homeless though. I hope it is to help, and not just hide away.

      I’m personally a fan of Singapore’s rules which make 5% of all new development social housing.

    • SeaJ
      2•11 months ago

      It has been pretty successful in my county. The county bought up around seven hotels to house the homeless. Several hundred homeless are housed until they can find more permanent housing.

    • @An_Ugly_Bastard
      1•11 months ago

      Too Few of those programs exist. However, I’ve heard they are very competitive and make people jump through lots of hoops.

      • @Mirshe
        4•11 months ago

        There’s also waiting lists a mile long in most cases.