The Beginning
CVC was founded in early 2017 with the community initiative to develop and build tiny home units with people experiencing homelessness helping to spearhead the project. The Beloved Community Village (BCV) was the first of its kind in Denver and gained traction as a valuable solution for emergency shelter while community members worked toward stable housing opportunities. Since those original 11 units, CVC has grown to operate 45 units at the Tiny Home Village, in addition to Safe Outdoor Spaces and Micro-Communitites.
Our Approach
From the beginning, CVC’s strategic approach has been based on decades of research demonstrating that shelter-first programs are more effective at reducing homelessness and improving individual stability compared to traditional congregate models. For many people experiencing homelessness, traditional congregate shelters are unwelcoming, unsafe, or inaccessible. Our approach also acknowledges that providing a safe living environment is a critical first step in addressing the complex needs of people experiencing homelessness. Research consistently shows that shelter-first programs are more effective than traditional models, and are proven to have a widespread positive effect on the broader community through decreased emergency service utilization, fewer incarceration incidents, mental/behavioral management, and economic growth. CVC is committed to addressing and bridging the gaps in services for people experiencing homelessness by offering low-barrier, trauma-informed shelter in an equitable manner that amplifies the voices of those experiencing homelessness and empowers them to be part of the solutions.
The Data Shows…
- Over 6,500 people are experiencing homelessness in Denver, with more than 1,200 experiencing unsheltered homelessness. (Metro Denver Homelessness Initiative Point in Time Count)
- The cause of homelessness is primarily economic related, such as loss of employment, inability to pay rent/mortgage, and family dissolution. (2023 Colorado Coalition for the Homeless State of Homelessness Report)
- 89% of Coloradans say the cost of housing is a serious or very serious problem. 34% of respondents are working multiple jobs, 34% have avoided addressing issues with their homes and landlords for fear of eviction, and 30% have cut back or gone without critical needs, including food and healthcare. (2024 Colorado Health Foundation Pulse Poll)
- Over 30,000 people accessed homelessness services in Denver between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023. (2023 Colorado Coalition for the Homeless State of Homelessness Report)
About Our Shelters
Street Outreach refers to activities that are designed to meet the immediate needs of people experiencing homelessness in unsheltered locations. This includes the Safe Outdoor Spaces. Emergency Shelter aims to increase the quantity and quality of temporary shelters. This is the Tiny Home Village and Micro-Community model. All CVC sites provide shelter and basic necessities, at least one hot meal per day, restrooms & showers, and supportive services, including internal case management and peer support.
Tiny Home Villages:
Safe Outdoor Spaces: Launched in December 2020 to respond quickly to the COVID-19 pandemic in partnership with the City and County of Denver, CVC now operates three Safe Outdoor Spaces in the Denver metro area. These SOS sites provide resources and services in a healthy and secure environment that is staffed 24/7. This innovative model provides outdoor, individualized shelter and a pathway into stable housing for people experiencing homelessness in Denver.
The first two Safe Outdoor Spaces successfully operated in Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood from December 2020 until May 2021. Since then, CVC has operated SOS locations in the Park Hill, La Alma Lincoln Park, Clayton, Barnum, Regis University, and Montbello neighborhoods.
Micro-Communitites:
