Committee hears briefing on supportive housing contracts that aim to serve roughly 650 households annually

Host’s supportive‑housing team briefed the committee on Nov. 18 about a portfolio of supportive‑housing contracts that will serve households with high housing and service needs. Staff said the city conducted a competitive solicitation and is preparing five contracts for 2026–27, three of which will require council approval because their 2026 amounts exceed $500,000.

Staff described supportive housing as a long‑term intervention pairing rental subsidy or project‑based units with voluntary wraparound services to stabilize people exiting literal homelessness. "Supportive housing really works with literally folks experiencing literal homelessness to access housing and support services to maintain that housing and effectively end their episode of homelessness," a Host staff member said during the briefing.

Host noted several delivery models will be used: project‑based programs where a provider owns a building and provides on‑site case management, and tenant‑based supports that pair rental subsidies with services. In 2024 the city’s supportive housing programs served 364 households; Host said the 2026–27 contracts plus related programs aim to serve roughly 617 households annually across multiple contract sources, and about 282 units are associated with the five main contracts discussed at the committee meeting. Among those five, staff said the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless program would be the largest single contract supporting about 165 households annually; other contracts include Mercy Housing, Saint Francis Center, Dolores Project and Urban Peak (youth households).

Councilmembers pressed staff on funding sources, capacity and operational concerns. Host said 2026 supportive‑housing funding in this packet is primarily general‑funded and that, while contracts may continue existing placements, the city is seeking to increase the total number of households served. Members raised concerns about staff turnover at some providers and asked Host to track whether services are being delivered as contracted; Host said outcomes and HMIS entries will be used to monitor performance.

Next steps: staff will finalize contract language and route the three large contracts for council approval on the consent calendar before the end of the year or in early January, and the city’s housing needs assessment procurement is underway to provide a more detailed demand and capacity baseline in 2026.