PRESS RELEASE: Colorado’s Continuums of Care Release 2025 State of Homelessness Report
DENVER, CO (May 18, 2026) —The Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI), on behalf of Colorado's four Continuums of Care (CoC), has released the 2025 Colorado State of Homelessness Report, providing a statewide look at homelessness, housing stability, and the performance of Colorado’s homelessness response system.
Developed collaboratively by partners across the state, the report combines data from Colorado’s Homeless Management Information System (COHMIS), Point-in-Time (PIT) counts, and additional statewide and local sources to better understand both the scale of homelessness and the systems working to prevent and resolve it.
The Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) serves a central and comprehensive role in the state’s homelessness response system. DOLA’s Division of Housing (DOH) funded the creation of the State of Homelessness report, and serves as the lead agency for the Balance of State CoC (BoS CoC), directing housing and services across 54 rural and non-metro counties.
The Division of Housing is also the HMIS lead, supplying the foundational data for understanding the statewide scale of homelessness and measuring system performance.
Building on the inaugural 2024 report, this year’s report expands beyond a singular focus on homelessness counts to include the broader range of households served across Colorado’s homelessness response system — including housing stabilization, outreach, shelter, and permanent housing programs, and preventative resources.
“These numbers are showing exactly what we hoped, our collaborative CoC efforts are showing significant measurable improvement in Colorado’s housing stability,” said Tyler Jaeckel, Director of the Division of Housing. “DOLA is immensely proud to highlight this positive action with such committed partners, and we’re showing how Colorado can be a model for what truly focused state collaboration can achieve.”
Key Findings from the 2025 Report
Housing Stability Is Possible:
In 2025, 27,448 Coloradans achieved or maintained housing stability through homelessness prevention, permanent housing, or successful exits to housing. These outcomes demonstrate that when housing and supportive services are available, people stabilize and avoid more costly crisis systems.
“The 1.3% reduction in the number of people experiencing homelessness across Metro Denver shows that we are turning the curve. What we are doing is working!”, said Jason Johnson, Executive Director of Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI). “This is not the result of just one program type, policy, or strategy. But instead, the combined results of a statewide system of partners working together toward the common goal of solving homelessness quickly and long-term.”
Colorado’s Response System Is Reaching More People:
While 53,776 individuals experienced homelessness in 2025, Colorado’s homelessness response system expanded its reach to serve a total of 84,425 people. This total is an increase from the 81,375 people served in 2024, and it encompasses not only those who experienced homelessness, but also anyone who received supportive services across the system—from street outreach and emergency shelter to prevention and longer-term permanent housing programs.
Veteran Homelessness Continues to Decline:
Veteran homelessness decreased by 2.9% statewide in 2025, reflecting continued progress through strong partnerships, targeted housing efforts, and coordinated support services.
Supportive Housing Remains Critical:
More than half of people experiencing homelessness reported living with a disabling condition, reinforcing the need for flexible housing options and long-term supportive housing for individuals with higher service needs.
The System Is Working—Housing Supply Remains the Challenge:
Colorado’s permanent housing programs achieved an 82.1% housing stability rate in 2025. While housing interventions continue to show strong outcomes, the largest barrier remains the availability of affordable housing and supportive housing units statewide.
The report also highlights regional successes and community partnerships happening across Colorado, including coordinated outreach efforts and programs led in partnership with people who have lived experience.
"Keeping people housed is the least expensive way to fight homelessness," said the Balance of State (BoS) Continuum of Care Lived Experience Advisory Board (LEAB).
The full report is available at: www.cohmis.org/soh2025
About Colorado’s Continuums of Care
Colorado’s homelessness response system is coordinated through four regional Continuums of Care (CoCs), which bring together local governments, nonprofit organizations, housing providers, healthcare systems, and community partners to prevent and resolve homelessness.
Metro Denver CoC:
Lead Agency: Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI)
Serving Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson counties
Media Contact: Jenn Meyers, Director of External Affairs at Metro Denver Homeless Initiative
jenn.meyers@mdhi.org
Northern Colorado CoC
Lead Agency: Homeward Alliance
Serving Larimer and Weld counties
Media Contact: Sandra Wright, NoCo CoC Director, Homeward Alliance
sandra@homewardalliance.org
Pikes Peak CoC
Lead Agency: Changeline
Serving El Paso County
Media Contact: Amber Carlton, Director of Marketing & Communications at Changeline
amber.carlton@changeline.org
Balance of State CoC
Lead Agency: Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Division of Housing
Serving 54 rural and non-metro counties across Colorado
Media Contact: Shannon Gray, Communications Director at DOLA, Division of Housing
shannon.gray@state.co.us
Program Contact: Jeri Erickson, Balance of State CoC Program Manager
jeri.erickson@state.co.us