Denver's homelessness strategy earns national recognition

Yes, but: The strategy is not perfect. Homelessness continues to rise in metro Denver, with hundreds of people still living outdoors and evictions rising.

• The city's urban camping ban has long been chastised by advocates who say it criminalizes homelessness.

Context: The report highlights the 45% drop in unsheltered homelessness between January 2023 and January 2025 — a dip Johnston's staff called the largest in the country — and a sharp decrease in encampments.

Between the lines: The program cost $57.5 million this year, though a spokesperson for Johnston's office says the 2026 budget is not set yet.

State of play: The Urban Institute listed steps cities can adopt from Denver's program, which it called effective and humane. It includes:

• Using real-time data to find and prioritize what encampments were targeted for sweeps.
• Keeping cleared encampments closed.
• Prioritizing connecting unhoused people directly to shelters or housing.

By the numbers: Encampments with 20 or more people fell by 98% between July 2023 (when Johnston took office) and January 2025, per the report, which based its findings on local 311 data.

What they're saying: While noting the city's progress, Johnston, in a Reddit "Ask Me Anything" session on Wednesday, said: "The work is not over."

• He alluded to his new strategy to address so-called "quality of life" crimes like drug use and theft, a crackdown that has sparked mixed reviews from community members.

What's next: The Urban Institute plans on evaluating AIMH through 2027.