In a move to alleviate continued homelessness in Denver, a move is underway to repurpose former hotels and motels into new shelter space.
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock wants to see city voters this fall vote for a large bond proposal that would include funding for the reconversion projects.
Speaking at the opening of the city’s most recent motel repurposing, the Mayor remarked: “We plan to acquire and rehabilitate hotels and motels to help people stabilize, to help them exit homelessness and to help them enter housing.”
Hancock added that the city’s acquisition of hotel and motel properties for repurposing projects will result in “options for people in need much quicker than the traditional housing development.”
Funding for the project, if approved, will come out of a $450 million bond package that also includes money for a variety of other projects, including the possible construction of a new arena.
Of the total bond amount, some $47 million would target the motel and hotel repurposing initiative.
According to published reports, Denver’s homeless population has increased from just over 3,600 in 2016 to nearly 4,200 people today. Parts of the city, particularly in public parks, have become increasingly dotted with tent and tarp shelters.
Earlier this spring, the city purchased the former four-story Stay Inn Hotel at 12033 E. 38th Avenue with the goal of reconverting the property into homeless shelter space.
A second factor driving Hancock’s initiative is the ongoing lack of low-income affordable housing in the city. According to a recent report published by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Denver ranks 42nd nationally in affordable housing options for those in lower income brackets.
By Garry Boulard
