Denver Moves Forward with Homeless Community Despite Controversy
As Denver continues to grapple with its ever-growing homeless population, the city has turned to a controversial solution: tiny home shelters. And in a questionable move, they have chosen to pay a whopping $6 million to a contractor with a history of violating the Clean Water Act.
Denver is considering hiring Oakwood Homes, a subsidiary of Clayton Properties Group, for the construction of 300 tiny home shelters for the homeless population. This decision has faced criticism from both advocates and community members, with some calling it a misleading approach that offers only temporary shelter instead of permanent housing options.
A subsidiary of Clayton Properties Group in North Carolina is currently facing a federal lawsuit for violating the Clean Water Act while developing a 616-home subdivision. This raises serious concerns about the due diligence Denver is performing on their contractors.
Despite these red flags, the Denver City Council’s Safety, Housing, Education & Homelessness Committee voted unanimously to approve the purchase order for the shelters. It still needs to be approved by the full City Council, but the speed at which this contract is being pushed through is alarming.
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston’s senior advisor on homelessness resolution, Cole Chandler, stated that another contract with Clayton Properties Group will be coming before City Council soon. This hasty decision-making process, coupled with the potential for environmental harm, raises serious doubts about the effectiveness of this plan.
Additionally, the proposed tiny homes come with a hefty price tag of $20,000 each, which is significantly higher than the $17,500 per shelter that the city is paying another contractor, Pallet PBS Inc., for a similar project.
For many Denver residents, this raises questions about the city’s priorities and whether they are truly looking for the most cost-effective solution for their homeless population.
Despite these concerns, Council member Jamie Torres seemed eager to move forward with the contract, citing the need for more options for those experiencing homelessness. However, the lack of permanent housing options and the questionable cost of the project make it clear that Denver is not truly addressing the root causes of homelessness and is instead adhering to a band-aid solution.
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Denver is in dire need of solutions to address their growing homeless population, many undocumented migrants coming from the southern border, but this decision to hire a contractor with a troubled history and at a high cost only raises further red flags.
The city should take a step back and re-evaluate their approach, prioritizing the long-term well-being and stability of their homeless population over hasty and questionable contracts.