Mayor Mike Johnston and members of the community were joined by Denver’s Department of Housing Stability and the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) to mark the opening of Renewal Village, a supportive housing project aimed at assisting homeless individuals and those at risk of homelessness. The $13.6 million initiative, partly funded by the American Plan Rescue Act, was celebrated for its promise to offer 215 studio apartments complete with a range of intensive supportive services.
Located in the Globeville neighborhood at 200 W. Warner Place, the facility previously known as the Clarion Inn, is set to provide a mix of permanent and transitional housing solutions. "All Denverites deserve access to safe, stable, and affordable housing," Mayor Johnston said, as per the City of Denver, adding, "Housing paired with wraparound services, like Renewal Village, provide key support structure to help people successfully transition out of homelessness for good."
Renewal Village has 134 units allocated for permanent housing, while the remaining 81 are reserved for transitional or non-congregate shelter use. This facility arrangement ensures that tenants contribute no more than 30 percent of their income toward housing costs, a measure further supported by vouchers from the Colorado Division of Housing. Part of this initiative also specifically addresses the needs of Veterans, with 60 units supported by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Citing the effectiveness of the housing-first approach, Britta Fisher, President and CEO of CCH, emphasized, "Housing is the foundation for lasting solutions to homelessness and the Coalition is proud to work in partnership to bring more than 200 homes online in half the usual time," as obtained by the City of Denver. She delineated the model utilized by Renewal Village as not just providing shelter, but also essential supportive services that foster a safe and welcoming environment. Each resident at Renewal Village is to have an onsite case manager, who will offer a spectrum of clinical-based support ranging from healthcare access to mental health resources.
The project is a cornerstone in Denver's strategy to combat homelessness and provides a proactive approach that encompasses rehabilitative services on-site, such as food services, shuttle transportation, and security teams. With this addition, Denver's inventory of supportive units has grown to 2,324, indicative of a focused effort to improve housing stability for those in need.
