Denver, March 30, 2017 — After three years of hard work by many in the homeless community and their allies, Denver’s Department of Community Planning and Development issued a first-of-its-kind permit to Colorado Village Collaborative to build a tiny home village at 3733 Walnut Street. This marks a historic victory in the struggle for creative, dignified solutions to Denver’s interconnected economic, housing, and homelessness crises.
The approval arrived on the eve of the National Day of Action for Housing and five days before three homeless people stand trial for citation’s under Denver’s Unauthorized Camping Ban. The project — Beloved Community Village — is a response to these compound issues.
In 2016, 5467 individuals were counted homeless on one night in the Denver metro, while those who become homeless over a year soar into the tens of thousands. Shelters are not homes and particularly ill equipped to provide even short-term care for many community members, including: couples, people with pets, those with disabilities, people who work odd hours, the LGBTQ community, among others. Housing prices are at an all-time high. Large-scale affordable housing projects, while essential, cost
millions and take years to develop. Finally, those who cannot find somewhere safe to sleep indoors are criminalized for using blankets, sleeping bags, and other survival measures.
Tiny homes offer a safe, cheap, inclusive, and rapidly buildable alternative. We are grateful to the City of Denver for supporting a new approach. Colorado Village Collaborative believes this village is only the first of many to come, and this permit is only the first step toward developing new zoning that will allow for permanent tiny home communities.
We also extend our gratitude to the many community members who have supported or endorsed this project, including: RiNo BID and Art District, Cole Neighborhood Association, Curtis Park Neighbors, Councilman Albus Brooks, and Councilwoman Robin Kniech.
Finally, we are grateful to the more than 250 community members who contributed financially to making this dream a reality. We would not be here without you.
To celebrate our historic victory, Colorado Village Collaborative invites you to come party with us!
Tiny Home Blues
benefit evening of art, food, music, and dancing
Sunday, April 9 from 5:00-7:00pm
Beloved Community Mennonite Church
3001 S. Acoma St.
Englewood, CO 80110
(village organizers and residents
will be available for Q&A)
Donations can be made through our crowdfunding page:
https://www.gofundme.com/denvers-first-tiny-home-village
Colorado Village Collaborative Partners
Denver Homeless Out Loud
The Interfaith Alliance of Colorado
Bayaud Enterprises
Beloved Community Mennonite Church
Radian Inc.
The Buck Foundation
Alternative Solutions Advocacy Project
Denver Relief Consulting
