The Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI) has released its 2025 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, an annual survey that provides a snapshot of homelessness across the seven-county Denver metro region. While the overall number of people experiencing homelessness has seen a modest increase, the data tells a deeper story—one of progress, resilience, and the power of coordination.

Signs of a Turning Tide

This year’s count reflects a slowing rate of growth in homelessness and an important movement in the right direction:

• A slower increase overall: The number of people experiencing homelessness grew from 9,997 in 2024 to 10,774 in 2025, but the rate of increase has significantly flattened compared to previous years.
• More people indoors: Emergency and transitional shelter usage rose sharply—from 7,058 to 8,625—while the number of unsheltered individuals declined by 26%, a shift directly tied to expanded shelter capacity and winter weather response efforts.
• Fewer newly homeless: First-time homelessness dropped from 3,535 to 2,992, suggesting that early intervention and prevention strategies are working.

“Homelessness is solvable—we’ve proven that coordinated, evidence-based strategies work,” said Jason Johnson, Executive Director of MDHI. “These numbers reflect a regional system that’s responding with urgency, humanity, and results.”

A Winter Without Tragedy

In what MDHI describes as a historic milestone, this winter marked the first season in which no deaths from cold exposure were reported among people sleeping outside in the region. Investments in cold weather shelters—particularly in Denver and Jefferson Counties—provided critical protection and affirmed the value of rapid-response shelter expansion.

“Safe shelter saves lives. But more than that, it opens the door to long-term housing,” said Johnson. “We can’t help people rebuild their lives if they don’t survive the night. This success shows that when we offer support, people use it.”

Effective, Efficient—and Economically Smart

Backed by research, MDHI continues to advocate for data-driven strategies like the Housing First model, which not only improve outcomes but also reduce public costs. For every $1 invested in coordinated housing, communities save $2 or more in emergency services and healthcare—up to $10,000 per person annually.

Regional Collaboration Delivers Results

Across Metro Denver, local governments and nonprofits are demonstrating what’s possible when resources and strategies are aligned:

• Denver: Under the "All In Mile High" initiative, more individuals are accessing shelter services and fewer are living unsheltered.
• Jefferson County: Expanded winter shelter capacity dramatically reduced the number of people exposed to the elements.
• Douglas County: Achieved functional zero for veteran homelessness in late 2024—proof that ending homelessness for specific populations is not only possible but already happening.

What Comes Next

The PIT Count comes as Colorado continues to face a broader housing crisis. More than 52,000 Coloradans sought housing assistance in 2024, and the state’s rental market remains out of reach for many. The average person needs to work over two full-time minimum-wage jobs just to afford a two-bedroom apartment.

“Now is not the time to pull back,” said Johnson. “We’ve seen what works—and we need to keep building on it. Investing in coordinated housing strategies benefits everyone.

MDHI remains a leading voice in Colorado’s Built for Zero movement, a nationwide initiative focused on making homelessness rare and brief. By leveraging real-time data and cross-sector collaboration, the region is continuing to move toward sustainable solutions.

📊 Explore the full 2025 Point-in-Time Count Report: MDHI.org/PIT
📘 Learn more about homelessness in Colorado: COHMIS.org/SOH2024

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