Denver council approves new overnight homeless shelter

DENVER (KDVR) — A new overnight homeless shelter has been approved in Denver, but it’s not without controversy and complaints from neighbors.

This new shelter will be a part of Haven of Hope and will be just across the alley from the day shelter that’s operated for more than 25 years at 7th Avenue and Mariposa Street. It’s also just a few blocks away from the large homeless tent encampment that the city swept a few weeks ago and did not have shelter space available for the people living there.

The area was already zoned for a large homeless shelter, but Haven of Hope wanted to house up to a dozen people there. This week, Denver City Council unanimously approved the change.

During the rezoning process, the city heard from 18 people who did not want the overnight shelter. None of them spoke up during the council meeting, but the city talked about their concerns: security, drug use, trash, property damage and more camping in the area.

Haven of Hope plans to use the overnight shelter for a program that aims to get people off the streets, teach them job skills and get them a job and their own home.

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