Denver advocates promise to ‘hold Johnston accountable’ for lofty housing goals
Photo: Robert Davis
By Robert Davis
Denver housing advocate groups Mutual Aid Monday and Housekeys Action Network Denver rallied outside of Mayor Mike Johnston’s inauguration on July 17 and promised to hold his administration accountable to its lofty housing goals.
“We are hoping he acts quickly in stopping the sweeps and providing immediate relief for the unhoused,” Jess Wiederholt, an activist with Mutual Aid Monday, told Denver VOICE. “We plan on holding him accountable; making sure he is listening to the voices of houseless folks and providing permanent housing solutions.”
Johnston campaigned on ambitious plans like creating 25,000 permanently affordable units within eight years, establishing a “city-wide renter wealth-building program,” and expanding the city’s down payment assistance program, according to his campaign website.
He is also assuming the mayor’s office at a critical time for the city. Denver’s unsheltered homeless population has grown by more than 60% since 2016, according to federal one-night count data, while rent growth and home price appreciation have made it more difficult for households with low incomes and seniors living on fixed incomes to afford housing.
Meanwhile, the Colorado Health Foundation’s latest Pulse Poll shows that the rising cost of living and homelessness continue to be the two biggest issues in the state. About 85% of respondents described the rising cost of living as either an “extremely serious problem” or a “very serious problem” while 79% of respondents described homelessness in similar terms.
“Coloradans not only have low expectations for a rapid turnaround on the cost of living – they worry that the state’s housing challenges could become generational,” Democratic pollster for the Pulse survey Dave Metz said in a statement.
During his inauguration speech, Johnston acknowledged the gravity of the moment and said his administration would work to create a city that will not “give up” or “abandon” its most vulnerable residents.
“We will get you a home. We will get you help. We will get you healed,” Johnston said in his speech.
To activists like Terese Howard with Housekeys Action Network Denver, there are several steps Johnston can take to show that he is serious about helping Denver’s unhoused find permanent places to live. Howard said a great place to start is by housing residents of the soon-to-be-closed Rodeway Inn, which is set to close as a supportive housing complex for unhoused transgender and LGBTQ+ folks on August 24.
HAND recently sent a letter to Johnston outlining several additional steps the mayor can take to support the city’s unhoused. A few examples include ending Denver’s practice of sweeping unhoused encampments, providing trash services for people who are unhoused, and stopping companies from towing vehicles that people live in.
“This is Johnston’s opportunity to do something different,” Howard told Denver VOICE.