Advocates press Denver council for private, hygienic shelters and housing pathways

Advocates, service providers and unhoused residents used the Denver City Council public comment period on March 9 to press for immediate shelter options that protect family privacy and lead to long-term housing.

"The time for listening has passed, and now it's your responsibility to meet these families with the action and urgency that reflects the crisis that they're facing," said Jasmine Soto, a volunteer with the House Keys Action Network. Jasmine told the council more than 200 people had been removed from the weather-activated shelter and that "hundreds more" were on a wait list.

V Reeves, an organizer with House Keys Action Network Denver, said families need shelter that affords privacy, culturally appropriate food and services that connect people to housing. "We wanna make sure that shelter results in housing. We are not preferring shelter over housing," Reeves said, adding that congregate gymnasium settings quickly spread illness and fail to meet families' needs.

Rose B described the weekly presence of unhoused families as "a sign of real community," and urged council members to treat stability for those families as an investment in the city.

Speakers emphasized urgency and criticized what they described as city priorities that do not reflect the immediate needs of unhoused children and families. No council response was recorded during the public comment period; rules stated the dais would not respond and staff or members might follow up afterward.

Next steps were not set on the record; commenters requested the council prioritize immediate, private and hygienic shelters and clear pathways from shelter to affordable housing.