Colorado Homeless Hotel Project Hits a Snag

Homelessness is a problem throughout the state of Colorado, and one seemingly perfect plan to convert an abandoned hotel into a massive homeless shelter has unfortunately been put on hold.

Read More: Homelessness In Colorado: Key Statistics And Challenges |

While it would seem that converting an abandoned hotel into housing for the homeless would solve two problems, unforeseen circumstances have potentially put the idea in jeopardy.

What Was the Original Plan for the Closed Colorado Hotel?

For the past few years, the building that was once a Stay Inn Hotel at 12033 E. 38th Avenue in Denver has been sitting abandoned.

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Local lawmakers came up with an idea to convert the 96-room hotel into "permanent supportive housing" for homeless individuals in the area and were awarded a whopping $9 million in taxpayer money to make it happen.

However, despite receiving the requested funds, the city has abandoned the effort.

Why Didn't the Colorado Homeless Hotel Plan Come to Fruition?

Denver's Department of Housing Stability, also known as Housing Outreach Stabilization and Transition or HOST, cites the unforeseen difficulty in obtaining housing vouchers from the Federal Government as the main reason that the project has been abandoned.

What's Going to Happen to the Closed Colorado Hotel Now?

The City of Denver is still hopeful that the closed hotel will be converted into a sustainable living facility for the homeless, but now it's up to someone else to make it happen.

The property is currently for sale for a mere $10, but the purchaser will be responsible for associated taxes and additional costs needed to convert it into a sustainable living facility as originally planned.

[Denver Gazette]