Overall Homelessness is Down in Denver for First Time in Near Decade

Overall Homelessness is Down in Denver for First Time in Near Decade

Published on May 20, 2026

Mayor Mike Johnston today joined leaders in housing and homelessness, members of City Council, and frontline employees in announcing that Denver has achieved the city's first reduction in overall homelessness in nine years and a 64% reduction in street homelessness since 2023.

The figures were recorded in the annual Point-In-Time (PIT) Count, a national effort to track sheltered and unsheltered homelessness on a single night in January. Denver's count is led by the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI), a trusted third-party dedicated to ensuring homelessness is brief, rare, and nonrecurring. This year's results show significant reductions in homelessness across every major category.

"This is a historic accomplishment, and it is one we celebrate with every city employee, partner, and Denverite who shares the belief that our neighbors deserve better than to sleep on the streets," said Mayor Mike Johnston. "These numbers represent real people who are defined not by struggle but by resilience, and they are a testament to a city that will never stop taking on the toughest challenges. I am incredibly grateful to everyone who made this possible, and I know that together we will make street homelessness a thing of the past in Denver."

The 2026 PIT Count found 518 people living on the streets of Denver, a 64% reduction from 2023 and the lowest number on record since 2017 - the earliest year in which county-specific data is available. Other report highlights include:

• Overall homelessness fell by 12.5% from the prior year, the first documented instance of a reduction in overall homelessness in the last nine years

• Homelessness, both sheltered and unsheltered, is down roughly 30% among newly homeless and chronically homeless individuals, meaning fewer people are falling into homelessness and that, when they do, cases are resolving more quickly

• Sheltered homelessness among youths fell by 28%, with street homelessness falling 57%

This is the third consecutive year of major declines, and Denver is on track to meet its citywide goal of a 75% reduction in street homelessness by 2027. Denver has helped more than 8,500 individuals access shelter and assisted 7,700 people in transitioning to permanent housing since the launch of Mayor Johnston's All In Mile High initiative in July 2023.

MDHI's newly released 2025 State of Homelessness Report shows that unsheltered homelessness fell in every major category across the Metro area, with Denver's efforts serving as a key contributor to the region's progress.

"Denver's success is the metro's success," said Jason Johnson, Executive Director of Metro Denver Homeless Initiative. "The results speak for themselves. Homelessness is down across the region, thanks in no small part to Denver's investment in housing, prevention, and coordination."

A recent Urban Institute evaluation found that Denver's All In Mile High initiative has produced substantial, measurable improvements and a reduction in encampments of all sizes. Urban Institute identified several key strategies behind Denver's success, including the use of real-time data to prioritize encampments, coordinated outreach across agencies, expansion of non-congregate shelter options such as hotel conversions and micro-communities, rapid connections to permanent housing, and ongoing monitoring to prevent encampments from returning.

While the data shows clear and historic reductions, there is more work to be done. This year, Denver has placed more emphasis on street outreach programs to provide ground-level engagement alongside performance-based contracts, which ensure providers are compensated based on their success in helping individuals transition into housing and better outcomes.

"Ballpark Denver is proud to be one of the communities that has begun to show progress as a result of All In Mile High," said Kate McKenna, Executive Director of the Ballpark General Improvement District. "Through daily coordination with City Agencies, the Ballpark Ambassadors are able to connect those in need of services more effectively. Ballpark is proof that, despite adversity, progress is made when communities step up and go All In."

This success is due to the commitment and dedication of countless individuals and organizations who have long served our city and unhoused neighbors. As we continue to work to end street homelessness, Denver encourages you to get involved in the following ways.

• Say Something: If you see someone in a crisis, don't assume that someone else has already called for help. Call 311 and let responders know what's going on so the city can get someone out to help.

• Do Something: There are several organizations around Denver who utilize volunteers to feed, support, and assist people experiencing homelessness. Learn more here.

• Give Something: Don't have time but want to give back? Your donations are welcome at organizations across Denver. Learn more here.

The city extends its sincere appreciation to MDHI, whose work is pivotal to understanding homelessness not only in Denver but in the broader Metro region, as well as other key partners whose dedication made these results possible.

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