PRESS RELEASE: MDHI Releases First-Ever Statewide Homelessness Report
DENVER, CO (April 28, 2025) — The Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI), on behalf of Colorado's four Continuums of Care (CoC), has released the state's first-ever State of Homelessness Report, providing critical base-line data and insights on housing instability across Colorado's diverse communities and outlining pathways toward lasting solutions.
The groundbreaking statewide report, funded by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), expands upon MDHI's previous annual reports that focused only on the Denver Metro area. The report also compiles data for a full calendar year (2024) instead of only one single night or the federal fiscal year as with previous reports. This collaborative effort uses data from Colorado's Homeless Management Information System (COHMIS), Point-in-Time (PIT) counts, and the Colorado Department of Education.
"This first statewide report marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to address homelessness throughout Colorado," said Jason Johnson, Executive Director of Metro Denver Homeless Initiative. "By bringing together data from all regions and perspectives, we're strengthening collaboration and maintaining a united approach to homelessness reporting and solutions across our state."
Key Facts from the 2024 State of Homelessness Report
The Scale of the Crisis
In 2024, over 52,000 people in Colorado needed help with housing. Each number is a real person with their own story—neighbors, veterans, parents, and young people. Homelessness affects every community in our state.
The Housing System Isn’t Working for Everyone
Colorado doesn't have enough affordable homes. To rent a two-bedroom apartment, someone would need to work 2.6 full-time jobs at minimum wage. When housing costs this much while wages stay low, many people can't keep a stable home.
Health and Housing Are Connected
More than half of people experiencing homelessness in Colorado have a disabling condition that makes daily life harder. Without a stable home, it's nearly impossible to stay healthy. Having a home makes it easier to get and stay well.
Homelessness Is Solvable When We Work Together
Colorado is the first state working with a program called Built for Zero to make homelessness rare and brief. This brings together housing groups, doctors, government, and local communities. They share data and focus on getting people into homes. It’s working— 7% fewer veterans are homeless since last year. When we team up and focus on housing, we can solve homelessness in Colorado.
"This report reminds us that behind every statistic are real people in Colorado with unique stories and challenges," said Jason Johnson, Executive Director of Metro Denver Homeless Initiative. "Across our state, dedicated teams are working tirelessly to connect people to housing and support services. The collaborative efforts of all four CoC’s demonstrate that when we center people in our work and share resources and knowledge, we can make meaningful progress toward solving homelessness."
The complete report is available at: https://www.cohmis.org.
About Colorado's Continuums of Care
Colorado's homeless response system is coordinated through four Continuums of Care (CoC), each serving different regions of the state. For regional information about homelessness and local initiatives, please contact:
Metro Denver CoC
Lead agency: Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI)
Covering Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, & Jefferson counties
Contact: Jason Johnson
jason.johnson@mdhi.org
Northern Colorado CoC
Lead agency: Homeward Alliance
Covering Larimer & Weld counties
Contact: Christine Koepnick
ckoepnick@nocococ.org
Pikes Peak CoC
Lead agency: Pikes Peak Community Health Partnership
Covering El Paso County
Contact: Amber Carlton
amber.carlton@ppchp.org
Balance of State CoC
Lead agency: Colorado Department of Local Affairs
Covering 54 counties in rural, non-metro regions
Contact: Jeri Erickson
dola_bos_coc@state.co.us