Denver, CO. Housekeys Action Network Denver City Budget Proposals for Housing and Health

Denver City Council is in discussions on the Mayor’s proposed 2023 City Budget until a final vote on November 14th 2022. Yet again the Mayor’s budget puts the largest present of City money – 36% – into police and jails. And yet again, low-income housing is getting a drop in the bucket of the money. 

While the HOST budget is 5% larger this year than last, at $254million, only tiny amounts of this money (which is very hard to even calculate given the way the budget is outlined) are planned to go for actual very low/no-income housing. The increase in the HOST budget is due to federal ARPA funds, not due to investment from the City. The budget only has a $2 million increase from the general fund from last year to this year. Meanwhile the Mayor’s police budget jumped 8% from 2021 to 2022 – an increase of $43 million. 

We, Housekeys Action Network Denver, have written seven budget proposals for City Council to amend the Mayor’s budget and move money from police, jails, and faulty shelter systems into housing and health resources. These proposals would double the number of very low-income (under 30%AMI) housing units created in 2023 (from 219 to 419), would triple the number of hotels parched and converted to housing (from 2 to 6), and would improve and establish public health infrastructure (including water fountains, bathrooms, and showers) for sanitation in our City. See full proposals attached.

City Council members have the opportunity to introduce budget amendments between now and November 14th 2022 at the final hearing and vote. Public comment on the City Budget will be on October 24th 2022 in the City Council chambers or virtual. City Council members need to hear from you about the need for your tax dollars to be used for housing and health, not police and jails!! 

Contact your council member and ask them to support these proposals. 

Find my council district https://www.denvergov.org/maps/map/councildistricts 

City Council Contacts https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Denver-City-Council/Meet-the-Council-Members 

Onwards towards housing and health for all…