What to know about Boulder's homeless strategy update
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Boulder's new plan to tackle homelessness aims to eliminate unsheltered nights by 2028 through a rapid rehousing initiative.
Why it matters: If successful, the effort — which would cost $11 million annually until 2029 when it would increase to $13 million —could transform Boulder's approach to homelessness.
- Yes, but: It risks overwhelming the city's already strained budget.
Driving the news: City Council reviewed the proposed update to its 2017 homelessness strategy last week, developed with Houston-based Clutch Consulting.
- The two main goals of the proposed plan are to eliminate and prevent instances of chronic homelessness and have no people sleeping on the streets or in parks.
By the numbers: Boulder's July point-in-time count, an estimate of the number of people experiencing homelessness at a specific time, totaled 140 unhoused people, up from 122 in 2024 but below 171 in 2023.
- 72% reported experiencing chronic homelessness, defined as one year or longer.
- Boulder estimates it must help 1,250 people annually to meet its goals.
Between the lines: Clutch's Mandy Chapman Semple said Boulder is "stuck" — current strategies are preventing increases but not reducing homelessness.
How it works: The new homeless strategy aims to shorten the average shelter stay from 73 days to 46 by:
- Having diversion specialists help individuals reunite with family or relocate when possible.
- Expanding transitional housing options with shared homes and time-limited rentals.
- Creating more temporary solutions for people traveling through Boulder or who do not intend to stay in the city.
- Relocating food and supply services from parks to shelters and ramping up enforcement of the city's camping ban to direct people to services.
The intrigue: The plan doesn't require All Roads, Boulder's rebranded shelter, to expand beds — but any further reductions could jeopardize the strategy.
- The shelter went from 180 beds to 160 in April due to Boulder County's financial cuts driven by a reduction in federal funding.
- Councilmember Matt Benjamin called All Roads a "nexus" of the strategy but warned about gaps in regional planning.
What they're saying: The majority of City Council said the strategy update provides a blueprint to move forward.
- Homelessness remains residents' top issue, Mayor Pro Tem Lauren Folkerts said, adding the city cannot approach homelessness as an "unsolvable tragedy."
- "Our budget is tight but we have to work toward a day in Boulder where homelessness is rare, brief and non-recurring," she said.
The other side: Despite being told to separate strategy from money for feedback at this session, Councilmembers Mark Wallach and Taishya Adams raised budget concerns.
- Wallach said, "I like the plan; I don't like it being divorced from funding."
- "I simply do not understand how you can have an action plan without understanding where you are going to fund it," Wallach said. "$13 million a year is a lot of money
What's next: The strategy update will guide Boulder City Council's discussion of the recommended 2026 budget later this year.