The Common Sense Institute discovered the Denver metro spends almost double on one homeless person than it does on one K-12 student.
The data comes from all spending: private, public, taxpayers, and charity.
From the report (emphasis mine):
1. Denver Metro spends $481.2 million annually on the homeless: shelters, services, emergency response, and healthcare.
2. Denver’s homeless population ranges from 4,171 to 10,428. The money spent on the homeless range from $41,679 per person to $104,201 per person.
3.. In 2019, Denver Public Schools had 87,644 K-12 students. The district spent $19,202 on each student.
4. Denver’s homeless budget is more than some of the departments in the Colorado government.
The median per capita income in Denver is around $45,000, while per household is $68,592.
The average rent for a Denverite is $21,156.
So as I said, the data combines all spending on the homeless. Denver’s Department of Housing Stability told FOX31, “While well intentioned, unfortunately this report also mischaracterizes nonprofit spending on homelessness to include their work in other areas.”
I find it suspicious that is all the city has to say about the report. Why not refute it with actual numbers? Do you think we will take the government’s explanation and move on? I do not trust any government on any level.
The Common Sense Institute said this is not the end of its study.
The report came out as Denver released a five-year plan to address the homeless problem.
Denver7 said the city had 4,100 people on the streets in 2020, the highest in six years.
It looks like the plan concentrates more on housing and, of course, advancing equity.
I did not read the 152-pages. However, I did not see anything in the table of contents about teaching homeless people skills to obtain jobs. Nothing about addressing mental health issues.
It’s all about affordable housing.
Let’s talk about those who have the mental ability to function in society. Do they want to throw them in housing? Why not teach them how to perform a trade job? Why not help them get their feet on the ground?
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