Eviction assistance grows after near-record filings
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Despite eviction filings topping near-record highs last year, a vast majority did not result in enforced removals, city data shows.
Why it matters: The discrepancy suggests programs like Denver's eviction legal assistance helped dismiss evictions for some of the city's lowest-income residents.
The big picture: Total households assisted by the program grew 8% from 2024 to 2025, figures shared Tuesday by the Department of Housing Stability (HOST) show.
- Roughly 15% of the 15,953 total filings last year resulted in sheriff-enforced removals.
- Additional cases were resolved before an eviction was completed, HOST spokesperson Julia Marvin tells us.
Yes, but: The data doesn't paint a full picture. Experts estimate that for every formal filing, two households may move out without going through the legal process.
- And the city stresses the cases don't represent unique households — meaning some had multiple filings.
Caveat: A third of the 3,584 cases assisted by the city's eviction legal assistance program last year were dismissed due to its intervention, per HOST's data.
- Nearly 80% of people who used the service earned less than 30% of the area median income. The city also depleted its entire $2.5 million legal aid budget last year, Marvin adds
- The program "materially improves residents' ability to navigate the court process, avoid an eviction judgment and maintain access to future housing options," Marvin adds.
Between the lines: Black households represented nearly a third of all cases, despite comprising just 9% of Denver's population.
- Latinos — who make up about 28% of the city's residents — were involved in 37% of cases.
What's next: Experts warn slowing construction and units filling up may soon end favorable conditions for tenants.