For years, candidates for mayor in Denver and in other large cities have vowed to end scenes of tents and tarps lining sidewalks and parks, but Mayor Michael Hancock warns that voters should be wary of anyone who claims they can fix the problem in a set amount of time.
Hancock, who has dealt with persistent criticism over his handling of homelessness, said he wishes he had understood the issue’s complexity when he was first elected as mayor in 2011.
“We have not been sitting around for 10, 11 years twiddling our thumbs and playing politics with the lives of human beings on our streets. These are human beings,” Hancock said. “And we have been working diligently to try to find the secret sauce for each individual so we can not only house them but stabilize them.”
The number of people experiencing homelessness in the city has grown to at least 4,794, more than 44% compared to five years earlier, according to the metro Denver Point-In-Time count in 2022. The Denver metro ranks among the top 10 cities and counties in the country with the most homeless people. It’s an issue voters have repeatedly pointed to in surveys as one of Denver’s most pressing as 17 candidates vie to replace Hancock.
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“There’s no silver bullet for homelessness,” said Jamie Rife, executive director of the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative. “It’s something that took us decades to get here. It’s going to take us a while to get out of.”
During Hancock’s tenure, the city has significantly increased its spending on homelessness and affordable housing, with $253 million of the 2023 general fund budget allocated for housing and homelessness. Denver created the Department of Housing Stability, the Affordable Housing Fund and programs for permanent supportive housing and outreach. It now owns or leases three shelters, has purchased motels and hotels for transitional housing, operates sanctioned outdoor camping spots and works with nonprofits to provide services. Voters also approved a .25% homelessness sales tax increase in 2020. And the city saw success with its Social Impact Bond Initiative, working with private investors to provide housing and services.
Denver mayor Michael Hancock arrives at Denver’s Homeless Commission meeting in the Parr Widener room of Denver City and County building in Denver on Thursday, April 19, 2012. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
Hancock, however, has faced pushback for …read more
Source:: The Denver Post – News