A lawsuit has been filed against the City and County of Denver alleging that the city is not providing adequate accessible shelter for people experiencing homelessness with disabilities. The lawsuit was filed by Disability Law United, Newman| McNulty LLC, and Brooklyn Law School’s Disability and Civil Rights Clinic on behalf of Housekeys Action Network Denver (HAND) and individuals with disabilities who have experienced homelessness. The lawsuit claims that individuals with disabilities were denied access to shelters and shelter-based services, forcing them to sleep on the streets in violation of disability laws.
One of the plaintiffs, Christopher Haworth, who has cerebral palsy, claimed that he was denied admission to shelters that contract with the city and turned away from shelters that did not have accessible beds for wheelchair users. Advocates argue that some shelters in Denver do not comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and state anti-discrimination laws.
The Denver Rescue Mission, one of the shelters named in the lawsuit, declined to comment on the pending litigation. The Denver Department of Housing Stability stated that the city is working to improve the shelter system and meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness.
Advocates representing the plaintiffs argue that the city has failed to provide enough accessible beds to meet demand, resulting in shelters turning away people with disabilities. The lawsuit seeks to address these issues and ensure that individuals with disabilities experiencing homelessness have access to safe and accessible shelter options in Denver.
