For the first time in Denver, a piece of city property will host a safe outdoor space to temporarily house people experiencing homelessness.
Colorado Village Collaborative said in a release on Tuesday its newest site will be located at the Denver Human Services East Office in the Clayton neighborhood. The site at 3815 Steele St. will open on Dec. 14 and be available through Nov. 30, 2022.
"We are glad to help support Colorado Village Collaborative and help grow this model that has provided residents another path from our streets to stability in Denver," Britta Fisher, executive director of Denver's Department of Housing Stability, said in a release.
The new site will replace one at Park Hill United Methodist Church that opened in June and is scheduled to close in December. Neighbors there unsuccessfully sued CVC and the church to try and get the safe outdoor space from opening.
The release said many of the 40 residents at the Park Hill site will relocate to the Human Services location. The new site can host up to 50 residents.
The new site will cover 15,000 square feet, and, like other locations, will offer 24-hour staffed and secure shelter, according to the release. Cots, food and other supportive services helping people find permanent housing will be available to the site's residents.
CVC currently operates a safe outdoor space at Regis University, which has extended its lease agreement with CVC to allow the site to operate through March 2022. A third site, helping Native American residents, is scheduled to open at Denver Health next week, according to the release.
An online community meeting about the Human Services site is scheduled for Nov. 17 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
