Extreme heat predicted for Friday July 12 -Sunday July 14. The City of Denver has opened cooling centers at all rec centers during normal operating hours. Stay in the shade, drink water, and stay safe!
Extreme heat predicted for Friday July 12 -Sunday July 14. The City of Denver has opened cooling centers at all rec centers during normal operating hours. Stay in the shade, drink water, and stay safe!
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People experiencing homelessness (PEH) often find themselves trapped in a homelessness-incarceration cycle where a lack of supportive services and access to housing keeps people stuck between jail or prison, shelters, and the streets. Policies that make it difficult or illegal for people experiencing homelessness to engage in everyday life-sustaining activities criminalize and exacerbate homelessness rather than work to reduce it. This cycle is well-documented:
Incarceration to Homelessness
Homelessness to Incarceration
Homelessness and interactions with the criminal legal system combine to disproportionately harm racial and gender minorities and contribute to inequality.
Costly and Ineffective
Not only does the homeless-incarceration cycle fail to help people achieve stability and wellbeing, but it is also extremely costly and resource intensive.
Breaking the Cycle
Investing in PEH through a Housing First model can break the homelessness-incarceration cycle and help people gain stability while also reducing costs to taxpayers. The Supportive Housing Social Impact Bond Initiative (SIB) implemented in Denver in 2016 managed to increase housing stability while reducing police contacts by 34% and arrests by 40% and significantly cutting the amount of time participants spent behind bars.16 Furthermore, about half of the total per person annual cost of the SIB was offset by cost avoidances in other services like jail/prison and emergency room visits.17 Other policy solutions may include:
By moving away from punitive approaches that criminalize homelessness and towards investments in community, we can help people achieve stability and reduce interactions with the criminal legal system.
From better health to food security to good education, housing is foundational to every aspect of well-being, building stronger communities, promoting economic growth, and providing opportunities for everyone to thrive. Our Colorado-based, multi-sector coalition is working in coordination with the National Low-Income Housing Coalition to generate widespread support for local, state, and federal policies that correct long-standing racial inequities and economic injustices that have prevented access to affordable, quality housing for people with low incomes