With support from the US Conference of Mayors, cities across the country--including Chicago, Philadelphia, New York and Atlanta--are creating and implementing these 10-year plans.
Roxanne White, manager of the Denver Department of Human Services, will chair the commission for the mayor. The creation of the 35-member Denver Commission on Homelessness follows up on a campaign promise by Hickenlooper to mobilize a coalition of key players from city agencies, non-profits, foundations, businesses, the faith community and homeless services providers to develop strategies for addressing the many challenges of homelessness.
Dealing with the homeless is a huge economic development issue, Hickenlooper tells GlobeSt.com. Many business owners, conventioneers, residents and tourists, for example, are concerned about aggressive panhandling.
"Panhandlers account for what, maybe 5% of all the homeless, but that is 85% of the homeless that most people see," Hickenlooper says.
Hickenlooper emphasizes to GlobeSt.com that any plan must have clear, achievable goals. He tells GlobeSt.com that he wants it to be results oriented. "This commission brings together people who have the experience, the skills, the knowledge and, most importantly, the heart, to tackle the challenges surrounding homelessness in Denver," Hickenlooper says.
Housing will be a key component of the effort. It will include preserving existing housing, developing new units for the homeless, implementing new housing policies and trying to prevent people from losing their homes or being evicted in the first place.
"If we are to consider ourselves a truly great city, we must make every effort to confront the multiple complex issues that underlie homelessness," Hickenlooper says, noting that the number of homeless persons in the metro area has increased nearly 80% since 1990.
Hickenlooper said the commission will begin working immediately to support efforts already in progress to ensure adequate emergency shelter for the winter months.
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