Homelessness in Colorado
4,000 homeless in Denver; 600 of those chronically homeless*
9,100 homeless in the seven- county metro area, including 3,260 children
12,050 homeless in Colorado
3,637 homeless in Colorado in 1988
60 percent of homeless are in families with children
29 percent are women
40 percent are working
70 percent have been homeless less than two years.
25 percent are mentally ill; 40 percent are alcohol or substance abusers; 15 percent are both.
Most common causes of homelessness: 1. Loss of job (28 percent) 2. housing costs (23 percent)
3. family breakup (20 percent)
*Chronically homeless are defined as single people who sleep outside and in shelters.
All figures are estimates.
Sources: Denver’s Road Home; University of Denver’s Project Homeless Connect; Metropolitan Denver Homeless Initiative
