A Community Response to Mayor Mike Johnston's Claims About Reducing Street Homelessness

Every person deserves a safe, stable place to call home. Ending homelessness is a goal we all share.

As organizations, outreach workers, healthcare providers, faith communities, advocates, volunteers, people with lived experience, researchers, and community members who walk alongside our unhoused neighbors every day, we share the goal of ending homelessness in Denver. We recognize the complexity of this work and appreciate every effort that helps people move indoors, especially during dangerous weather.

At the same time, we believe public conversations about homelessness must be grounded in complete, transparent, and accurate information.

Mayor Mike Johnston has repeatedly stated that Denver has achieved a 64% reduction in street homelessness, presenting this statistic as evidence that the City's homelessness strategy is succeeding. While this figure reflects one measure of change, it does not tell the whole story.

How we define success matters. If success is measured primarily by reductions in visible street homelessness, we risk overlooking whether people are actually obtaining and maintaining permanent housing. Public policy should be evaluated not only by what is visible on our streets, but by whether it creates lasting housing stability, improves health and well-being, reduces racial and economic inequities, and addresses the root causes of homelessness.

For nearly six years, Mutual Aid Monday has shown up every Monday without interruption. Our perspective is informed not only by research and data, but by thousands of conversations and relationships built with people experiencing homelessness. We believe Denver residents deserve a complete picture of both the progress that has been made and the challenges that remain.

This is only part of the story. Access the full report here.