Degette, Local Leaders Announce Plans to Construct New Shelter for Homeless Youth

Statement

U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Urban Peak CEO Christina Carlson announced plans today to build a new shelter for youth experiencing homelessness in the Denver area.

The announcement comes after DeGette successfully secured $3 million in federal funding for the project as a part of legislation Congress approved last week. As a result, the head of Urban Peak said at a press conference Monday that it plans to begin construction on the new facility, located at 1630 S. Acoma Street, this Fall.

"This is a big day for our community," DeGette said. "Thanks to the $3 million that we got for Urban Peak, they are going to soon be able to construct a new shelter for youth experiencing homelessness, right here, in the Denver area."

The new soon-to-be-constructed South Denver facility is one of 10 Denver-area projects DeGette secured funding for as part of this year's government funding bill. The congresswoman said her focus in deciding which projects to support as part of this year's funding bill was on addressing the community's most urgent needs -- including providing more housing for those experiencing homelessness.

"Every single one of us should have an affordable place live," DeGette said, "and every single one of us needs to work to make sure that happens. We know these funds will not solve all the problems that we have [and] there is no one-size-fits-all solution, but all of these little projects together help to create a web of support for the most vulnerable in our community."

Carlson praised DeGette for advocacy and tenacity to get the funding approved.

"Representative DeGette has been such an amazing advocate in Washington for the people of Denver," Carlson said, "specifically for addressing the current crisis we see on our streets tied to affordable housing. Her tenacity about getting [this funding] across the finish line was just amazing."

The new funding, according to Carlson, "will allow us to build a transformational new campus here, where youth experiencing homelessness will not only be able to find refuge but also the opportunity to achieve self-sufficiency and success."

Once complete, the new shelter will be able to house 136 youth ranging in ages from 15 -- 24. In addition to providing them a safe place to sleep at night, the facility will also provide a wide-range of integrated, in-house support services including education, employment, medical and mental-health services.

In addition to the $3 million she secured for Urban Peak, DeGette also secured $2 million to help the city of Denver purchase a now-vacant, 95-room hotel in Northeast Denver and convert it into more housing for those experiencing homelessness.

She also secured $2 million for Colorado's Coalition for the Homeless to construct a new recuperative care facility where individuals experiencing homelessness will be able to recover after being discharged from the hospital; $2 million to expand the Tepeyac Community Health Clinic in Elyria-Swansea to provide additional health care services to residents there; and $1.3 million to support Denver Health's Center for Addiction Medicine Project.

Following is the list of all 10 projects DeGette secured funding for:

Urban Peak -- $3,000,000 to construct a new shelter for youth experiencing homelessness in the Denver area.
Stay Inn Hotel -- $2,000,000 for the City of Denver to purchase a now-vacant 95-room hotel to provide and convert it into more housing for those experiencing homelessness in the area.
Denver's Montbello FreshLo Project -- $1,450,000 for the City and County of Denver to construct 97 units of affordable housing in Montbello as part of the Montbello FreshLo Project.
Center for African American Health -- $1,000,000 for the Center for African American Health to renovate its building at 3350 Hudson Street to add offices for mental health consultations, a technology room to provide job-readiness classes, and a teaching kitchen to provide community cooking classes on how to eat healthy.
Colorado Coalition for the Homeless -- $2,000,000 to construct a new recuperative care facility where those experiencing homelessness will be able to recover after being discharged from the hospital.
Tepeyac Community Health Clinic -- $2,000,000 to expand the Tepeyac Community Health Clinic in Elyria-Swansea to provide additional health care services to residents there.
Denver Health -- $1,200,000 for Denver Health's Center for Addiction Medicine Project that provides training and assistance to psychiatric, substance abuse and mental health facilities in the region.
Jewish Family Service of Colorado -- $500,000 for the Jewish Family Service of Colorado to provide vocational training programs to Coloradans disproportionately affected by the pandemic - including people of color, immigrants, refugees, veterans and those with disabilities.
United Way -- $100,000 for Mile High United Way's Bridging the Gap Project that provides critical supportive services to 18-year-olds transitioning out of the child welfare system into independence.
Mi Casa Resource Center -- $20,000 for Mi Casa Resource Center to provide low-income residents the education and skills needed to succeed in pursuing higher education and help lift their families out of poverty.
Video of today's press conference is available here.

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