Project Homeless Connect
  • Organizing Sponsors
  • University of Denver
  • Denver's Road Home
  • Mile High United Way
  • Participating Sponsors
  • Comcast
  • Imperial Since 1916
  • Pepsi
  • Qdoba Mexican Grill
  • Regis University
  • Sodexho
  • Xerox
  • 5280.com
Quick Facts on Homelessness

Who is homeless?

Nationally, an estimated 842,000 adults and children are homeless in a given week, with that number swelling to as many as 3.5 million over the course of a year. People who are homeless are the poorest of the poor. While almost half (44%) of people who are homeless work at least part-time, their monthly income averages only $367 compared to the median monthly income for U.S. households of $2,840. Those who have disabilities and are unable to work can find it nearly impossible to secure affordable housing in virtually every major housing market in the country.

In Colorado, the percentage of homeless families is growing:

  • 33% are single adults, and of these, 44% are women
  • 66% are parents with children, 60% of whom are single parents

Recent Colorado surveys indicate racial and ethnic minorities, particularly African Americans, are overrepresented:

  • 59% are non-Hispanic whites (compared to 76% of the general population)
  • 14% are African Americans (compared to 11% of the general population)
  • 24% are Hispanic (compared to 9% of the general population)
  • 5% are Native American (compared to 1% of the general population)

Nationally, homelessness continues to be a largely urban phenomenon:

  • 71% are in central cities
  • 21% are in suburbs
  • 9% are in rural areas

In Colorado, people who are homeless frequently report health problems:

  • 26% report substance abuse problems
  • 21% report some form of mental health problems
  • 2% report having HIV/AIDS
  • 4.4% report a developmental disability
  • 20% report a debilitating medical problem

Nationally, people who are homeless also have high rates of other background characteristics:

  • 23% are veterans (compared to 13% of the general population)
  • 25% were physically or sexually abused as children
  • 27% were in foster care or institutions as children
  • 21% were homeless as children
  • 54% were incarcerated at some point of their lives

(National statistics taken from: the National Training and Resource Center on Homelessness and Mental Illness, http://www.nrchmi.samhsa.gov/facts/facts_question_2.asp

Colorado statistics taken from the 2006 Colorado Statewide Homeless Count - http://www.colorado.gov/cich/pit.htm)

Denver’s Homeless Crisis:

Denver is currently spending more than $70 million annually on shelter, healthcare and other stopgap services for the homeless. Yet, we still have more than 4,600 homeless men, women and children in our city.

Did you know that in Denver:

  • 43% of the homeless are women and children?
  • Many hard-working people have become homeless because they have lost their job or had a healthcare crisis?
  • Area shelters can only provide a fraction of the beds that are necessary?
  • Over 40% of people in shelters are working and only 10% of the homeless earn money from panhandling?

(Taken from: Denver’s Road Home, http://www.denversroadhome.org/the_problem.php)

Upcoming Events

The Denver Project
A Curious Theater Production

FREE tickets for the DU community!
Classes are welcome. First come, first served.

Thursday, May 15, 8pm Reception at 7:15 There will be a talk back with actors and homelessness advocates after the performance.

Contact Karen.Bensen@du.edu to reserve your ticket!

Video Features

Watch a video about the event.

Watch a student-produced documentary of the event.