A First-of-its-Kind Report Reveals Staggering Gaps Between Need and Resources Across the State
A first-of-its-kind statewide report on homelessness in Colorado shows the state is further behind in solving the problem than previously thought.
In 2024, more than 52,000 accessed homeless services in Colorado, according to the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative, the state’s largest continuum of care. In the Denver metropolitan area alone, there were more than 34,000 people who accessed homeless services, a 13% increase from 2023. More than 30% of that total were chronically homeless, meaning they have been homeless for at least 12 consecutive months, while another 28,000 people accessing homeless services had disabilities.
The number of people accessing homeless services was compiled by adding together figures from the state’s homelessness management information system, data collected from public schools, and the state’s Point in Time Count.
While MDHI has published data about the Denver metropolitan area for several years, this is the first year the report had a statewide scope. Kyla Moe, MDHI’s deputy director, said the four continuums of care in Colorado have been working on improving their data collection since 2018 to get a better picture of what is happening statewide.
Even with the improved data collection, MDHI Executive Director Jason Johnson said the data is still limited to the people who are known to be experiencing homelessness.
“It’s one night when people are counted because we know where they are,” Johnson said. “They’re in our shelter programs; they’ve come to a focus group or a meal program. In the evening, we’re able to count them because they’re living in a community and encampment that’s known.”
Limited Solutions
Despite the overall growing number of people accessing homeless services in Colorado, MDHI’s report did point to a couple of solutions that appear to be working.
For instance, metro Denver has invested millions to address housing instability and first-time homelessness through rapid rehousing and other initiatives. In turn, the number of newly homeless individuals declined from more than 13,000 in 2023 to about 5,200 in 2024, according to the report.
The number of veterans experiencing homelessness also declined from 2,170 in 2023 to 2,005 in 2024.
Chronic Homelessness and Disability Rates on the Rise
Colorado still faces an uphill battle to address chronic homelessness and the growing number of people experiencing homelessness with a disability.
In 2024, there were nearly 16,000 chronically homeless individuals across Colorado, with more than 11,000 of them living in the Denver metro area alone. That total represents about 30% of the overall homeless population, a figure that has been stagnant for multiple years, MDHI data shows.
At the same time, there were roughly 28,000 people with a disabling condition identified as homeless across Colorado. Roughly 65% of those individuals reside in the Denver metro area. For comparison, 6,400 people with a disabling condition were identified in the 2023 report.
Representatives from all four continuums of care said addressing these challenges requires local lawmakers to invest more heavily in supportive housing. Over the last year, Colorado’s permanent supportive housing bed count has increased by 9.5% up to more than 7,200, compared to the 13% increase in people seeking homeless services.
“The state has unique challenges in that there are communities where people who work there can’t afford to live there, and so there’s a lot of need to live further away,” said Jeri Erickson, who leads the Balance of State Continuum of Care. “So, it’s a housing problem that becomes a transportation problem. Really, there’s some compounding factors there.”
Why Statewide Data Matters More Than Ever
Colorado’s statewide report also highlights the strengths of publishing statewide data about homelessness instead of regional data.
HUD required each CoC to publish data from its Point in Time Count, but the agency does not specify how the agencies must use the data. Even though the reports are available on HUD’s website, CoCs have wide latitude to decide whether to operationalize the data or not.
Several states publish statewide HMIS data reports. Some of them include Arizona, Hawaii, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington, according to The National Academy for State Health Policies. There are also states with interagency data-sharing agreements, like New York and Oregon, that share their information with other government agencies.
Publishing statewide data allows homeless service providers to see where the populations they serve overlap. This can be useful in deciding how to design service delivery methods or sharing resources.
Publishing regional data can obscure homelessness itself. Even though homelessness is a predominantly urban issue, many suburban and rural communities face similar issues.
Statewide data can also help identify areas where CoCs can improve their data collection methodologies, which improves the system, said Matt Richard, the HMIS manager for Colorado’s Balance of State CoC.
“The report highlights the collaboration that’s happened, the skillsets that have been increased, and the trainings that our staff have gone to get our data sources to the place that they are now,” Richard said. “And that’s kind of the value of the report that has been placed out there for everybody, too.”
How You Can Help: Speak Up for Housing First
Homelessness isn’t inevitable—it’s the result of policy decisions. That means it can be solved with better choices.
Everyone deserves a safe, stable place to call home. If we invest in what works—like Housing First—we can end homelessness for hundreds of thousands of people and save taxpayer dollars in the process.
Here’s how you can help:
Contact your elected officials and urge them to support legislation that:
- Accelerates the development of affordable housing
- Removes barriers to permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness
- Strengthens the government’s long-term response to homelessness
Your voice matters. Let’s choose housing, not handcuffs—and build a future where everyone has a place to live.
