Homelessness & Poverty Statistics
How many people are homeless in Denver?
The Metro Denver Homeless Initiative conducts a point-in-time survey every year to assess the demographics of homelessness in our community. The last survey was taken in January 2012, and found that 12,605 people were homeless in Denver.
Of those individuals: 44% were women and 64% were adults living in households with children. Additionally, 25.7% of the individuals surveyed were newly homeless, meaning they have been homeless less than a year and this is their first time to experience homelessness.
What are the demographics of individuals served at The Gathering Place?
We serve women and children ages 0-86 at The Gathering Place. Almost all of our clients live at or below the federal poverty line; 85% of individuals report an income of less than $800 per month.
Approximately 42% of individuals who receive services at The Gathering Place are homeless. 20% are employed. 36% are African American, 33% are Hispanic, 47% are Caucasian, 11% are Native American, 1% is Asian, 1% is Native Hawaiian, and 3% identify ethinically or racially in a way that is not listed on our intake form.
What are some common causes of homelessness?
Homelessness typically results from an economic crisis, which could be caused by any number of circumstances: loss of a job, housing-related costs, a relationship ending or family break-up, sudden and/or prolonged illness, substance abuse, severe and persistent mental illness, physical and intellectual disabilities, and many other life-altering situations.
While we do see many homeless individuals at The Gathering Place, we also see a number of individuals who are living just "one paycheck" or one crisis situation away from being homeless themselves.
What income is needed to be self-sufficient in Denver?
A mother with an infant child living in Denver County would need to earn $15.51/hour working full time ($32,760/year) to make ends meet. A recent report from the Colorado Center on Law and Policy found that 1 in 5 Colorado households cannot afford to make ends meet; neither can 54% of single mothers in our state. Learn more from the Colorado Self-Sufficiency Standard Calculator online.
Did you know?
- 1 in 4 homeless individuals is employed full- or part-time.
- 1 in 4 homeless individuals is a child.
- The fastest growing homeless group in the United States is families with children.
- Many homeless people have completed high school; some have attended college and even graduate school.
Source: Metro Denver Homeless Initiative and National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty.
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