Broken relationships leading to homelessness, new report finds

What they're saying: Costs and difficulty finding other housing options after a breakup are the main reasons why people may end up unhoused, Cathy Alderman, a spokesperson and public policy officer for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, tells us.

• "We hear that from people all the time," Alderman says. "It's very expensive to have to move."
• Alderman said people in the LGBTQ community are especially vulnerable to losing housing due to strained relationships.

Between the lines: The report also notes an inability to pay rent or a mortgage as the second-most common factor leading to homelessness.

The big picture: More than 30,400 people across seven metro area counties, including Denver, Adams and Arapahoe, used homelessness services between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023.

• Men made up more than half of the people seeking services (64%) while African Americans and Indigenous residents made up a disproportionate amount of people experiencing homelessness.

• First-time homelessness is rising, with 44% of people surveyed saying this was the case.

Of note: The report notes 94% of respondents said they didn't choose to be homeless, while 88% of unhoused people were already living in the state.

What's next: The annual point-in-time count is scheduled to begin at sundown Monday.

Go deeper: Federal data shows sharp rise in homelessness in Denver