The Denver City Council recently approved a nearly $1 million contract to enhance city services for homeless individuals under Denver Health’s care. The contract will fund services related to the Roads to Recovery Program, aimed at moving individuals struggling with addiction or mental health issues out of the criminal justice system and into treatment. This comes as Denver Health faces financial challenges, with uncompensated care costs rising significantly.
The approval of the contract was met with unanimous support from the council members present. Another item on the agenda, concerning the Denver Downtown Development Authority (DDDA), was postponed to avoid confusion with an upcoming ballot measure. The DDDA seeks to establish a special revenue fund through tax increment financing to invest in development projects from 2025 to 2038.
Councilmember Flor Alvidrez emphasized the importance of continued funding for programs like Roads to Recovery, which address the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness. The delay in the DDDA vote was to ensure clarity in addressing the funding mechanism and avoid any potential misconceptions.
The council will revisit the DDDA agreement on Tuesday, Nov. 12, following the Veteran’s Day holiday. Despite the delay, the city remains committed to supporting initiatives that improve services for vulnerable populations and promote economic development within Denver.
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