The City of Denver has once again put its money where its results are, making a robust payment to investors following a positive report on its Housing to Health (H2H) supportive housing program. Partners in this innovative project have managed to keep most participants housed over the last two years. The recent independent evaluation by the Urban Institute confirms the pilot's effectiveness, prompting a second payment of $793,427 to investors. This brings the total success payments to $1,360,513, as per the City and County of Denver.
The program was designed to actively combat homelessness for those also dealing with frequent legal entanglements and significant health issues. With a focus on measurable outcomes, the H2H program is structured to require the city to pay if certain targets are hit. According to the report, the city has witnessed 70,676 days of stable housing from program inception through 2024, which was enough to trigger further payments to the investors. Such programs are pivotal because they aim to not only provide a roof over heads but actively strive to reduce jail time and emergency health care costs, which benefits the whole community.
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston highlighted the holistic impacts of quality supportive housing. "This report clearly shows, yet again, that quality supportive housing is not only an effective intervention to end homelessness, but a needed health care solution as well," he said, as obtained by the City and County of Denver. The program draws on a blend of local housing resources, substantial private funding to the tune of $11.75 million, and a federal grant from the Treasury, ensuring continued support to at least 125 individuals who are most at risk.
Outcomes for housing stability were particularly notable, with 119 participants meeting the payment requirement and 105 staying housed for an entire year after deductions. Sarah Gillespie of the Urban Institute emphasized the critical connection between housing and health. "Through innovative partnerships and a data-driven commitment to serving those with the highest unmet health care needs, the Housing to Health program is poised to provide rigorous, long-term evidence about cost-effective models to end homelessness and improve health care outcomes," she explained, as noted by the City and County of Denver.
Another layer of the program's success is the collaboration with Denver Health, which serves as a referral partner, a connection that, according to the report, has already reduced emergency room visits and ambulance rides among participants. Dr. Sarah Stella, a Denver Health physician and site director of H2H, mentioned the importance of this collaborative effort: "Directly connecting at-risk patients to lifesaving housing and wraparound supports through the H2H program enables us to treat patients holistically by addressing a major driver of poor health outcomes," as per City and County of Denver.
