In an effort to reduce his city’s homelessness, the recently elected mayor of Denver has announced plans for the construction of up to 1,400 tiny homes.
Former Colorado State Senator Mike Johnston, who was elected as the Mile High City’s new mayor in a runoff election on June 6 with around 55% of the vote, has said that the issue of affordable housing will be one of his administration’s top priorities when he takes office next month.
Johnston has proposed building nearly two dozen micro-communities across the city that would include the tiny homes. He has additionally advocated for the conversion of older hotels into affordable housing space.
During the recent campaign, Johnston remarked: “More than 50% of Denver voters can’t afford to live in Denver today. Families who have been here for generations are being pushed out, as well as the teachers, nurses, and first responders who serve our city.”
In 2022, Johnston successfully sponsored and campaigned for a measure called Proposition 123. That state-wide measure is dedicating as much as $300 million a year to fund lower income housing units.
The measure is also funding the purchase of land that can be used for housing construction, as well as loans for factory-built and modular housing, along with financing for low and middle-income housing.
According to the Denver Post, rents in the city have more than doubled in the last decade, while the cost of a typical home has gone up by a significant 165%. Denver’s homeless population, meanwhile, has risen from around 3,700 in 2015 to nearly 6,900 as of last year.
By Garry Boulard
