DENVER — Hundreds of unhoused people could be moved directly into permanent leased housing under a new program the city is considering.

The city began testing the Street to Lease program earlier this year as part of Mayor Mike Johnston’s ongoing efforts to fight homelessness.

During the pilot program, the city moved 12 people from a small encampment in Council District 8 directly into permanent housing.

Right now, unhoused people who accept city services are moved into temporary housing.

The city wants to use $5 million in pandemic funding to expand the Street to Lease program.

This would allow the city to move 250 unhoused people directly into permanent housing within 30 days of outreach.

Most of the money, about $4.2 million, would be used to pay their rent and utilities for up to a year, city officials said.

“This is a program that HOST (Department of Housing Stability) has intended to deploy for some time,” said Cole Chandler, the mayor’s senior homelessness advisor.

Chandler, who appeared before the city council’s housing committee on Wednesday, said money had already been set aside for the program.

“We’re now at a place where we’re ready to bring it forward and implement that,” said Chander.

The city plans to contract with Housing Connector, a nonprofit focused on helping people access affordable housing.

Housing Connector will help the city identify available housing units. They will also help process payments.

“They’re able to really be a strong liaison. And if there are challenges that are coming up with an individual in the housing unit, they’re able to work through those and sort through those with the landlord,” Chandler said.

Like with District 8, the city would focus on providing permanent housing to people living at smaller encampments throughout the city.

“The goal is to spread them out in the city of Denver, but also give them options so that they can choose where they want to live,” said Will Goodale with Housing Connector.

Denver wants to move those experiencing homelessness directly into permanent housing

Councilwoman Amanda Sawyer said the program appeared to be more promising than other homelessness programs the city spent money on.

But she and others were concerned about how the city plans to pay for the program long-term, given that pandemic funding is running out and city agencies having to cut their budgets due to the immigration crisis.

“You cannot have sustainable programs without a sustainable funding source,” said Sawyer.

Councilwoman Stacie Gilmore told Chandler there was not a lot of time left to figure out how the city would pay for this program and others that depend on pandemic funding.

“The majority of those funds are one-time funds,” said Gilmore. “They’re not going to magically appear again, ever.”

Chandler said city officials were having “critical conversations” about its long-term spending plan.

“We’re evaluating that as we look forward into the 2025, 2026 and beyond budget,” Chandler said. “I think that this is a program that is worth investing in and is worth bringing into our community.”

Gilmore also pressed Chandler about the overall spending of the mayor’s All In Mile High Homeless initiative.

“We were told by May 10 we would have the numbers around what is the All In Mile High’s true operating costs,” said Gilmore.

She asked Chandler if he could tell her the annual costs of that program.

“I mean you should know it,” said Gilmore.

“We’re still actively working on that,” Chandler replied. “We have a presentation for [the finance and governance committee] on June 18 where we’re planning to bring those items forward,” Chandler said.

Gilmore has been seeking the spending numbers for months and said it was disappointing that she even had to ask that question in a televised committee meeting.

“This is bordering on ridiculousness now. It’s embarrassing not to be able to tell a constituent what this costs,” said Gilmore. “It was early May and now June.”

Councilwoman Flor Alvidrez said she feels hopeful about the Street to Lease program and wants to know how the city is going to get participants into a position where they can pay their own rent.

“I feel like if people are investing something in this program, they’ll get more out of the program,” said Alvidrez.

Chandler said the city does not require people in its homelessness programs to meet with case managers.

But he said there are plenty available, about one case manager for every 20 people.

“While it’s non-compulsory, we’re working actively with individuals to help them get access to services,” said Chandler.

The city council’s housing committee advanced the city’s $5 million request on Wednesday, but some council members said they were on the fence about whether to give it final approval due to concerns about its long-term funding.

Denver International Airport is gearing up for a record number of Memorial Day weekend passengers, meaning travelers can expect a busy trip and long waits, airport officials said Tuesday.

Between Thursday and Tuesday, airport officials expect nearly 450,000 passengers to pass through Transportation Security Administration checkpoints, according to a news release from DIA. This is a 9% increase from the same holiday travel period last year.

Thursday and Friday alone will each see more than 80,000 travelers moving through TSA screening areas, with additional foot traffic coming in from flight connections inside the airport, DIA officials said.

Airport officials said holiday travelers should arrive inside the airport at least two hours before their scheduled boarding time and should have plans for parking and making it through security checkpoints.

Parking

Parking lots fill up quickly during the holidays and officials encourage flyers to take the Regional Transportation District’s A-Line to the airport.

Those committed to parking on-site should avoid the Pike Peaks lot due to construction and park at the Landslide parking lot — 6975 Valley Head Street.

The Pikes Peak and Longs Peak shuttle parking lots will close on Friday at 3 a.m. and re-open by 5 p.m., according to Tuesday’s release. The Landslide lot will be open for overflow parking at 3 a.m. Friday and will remain open until full.

Regular shuttle service will be available from all parking lots to and from the airport terminal.

TSA Security Checkpoints

DIA’s South Security Checkpoint — located on level five at the south end of the terminal — is open from 3 a.m. to 1 a.m. the next morning and is the primary checkpoint for travelers who need standard screening.

South Security has four TSA PreCheck lanes open from 4 a.m. to 7:45 p.m., but PreCheck passengers traveling after 8 p.m. may use South Security and receive a form of expedited screening, officials said Tuesday.

One CLEAR lane is available for standard screening at the South Security Checkpoint, but passengers with both PreCheck and CLEAR must use the dual-service lane at West Security.

The West Security Checkpoint — located on level six at the northwest corner of the terminal — is open from 4 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and is the primary checkpoint for TSA PreCheck travelers.

Passengers with standard screening at this checkpoint should enter through West Security 1, and passengers with reservations for DEN RESERVE should enter at West Security 2.

Finally, A-Bridge Security is open for standard screening between 4:30 a.m. and 5:45 p.m., officials said Tuesday.

The bridge has a limited number of lanes dedicated for travelers requiring standard screening and is not available for TSA PreCheck.

Real-time security wait times and parking availability can be found online at FlyDenver.com.

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Chasing Denver’s “300 days of sunshine” is easy when you have an patio reservation.

There are a plethora of rooftop vantage points and restaurant patios across the Mile High City, but you don’t have to have the same idea as everyone else and find yourself on a two-hour waitlist while trying to grab a quick cocktail during golden hour.

Whether you want to bring your dog to happy hour, eat a Japanese meal with Mother Nature, or enjoy a martini in the sun this summer, here are seven new patios to explore around town:

Kawa Ni

Connecticut chef Bill Taibe opened Japanse pub Kawa Ni in a former fire station in LoHi in November. The 24-seat, raised patio offers plenty of shade and an oasis on the bustling 32nd Avenue corner, and dogs are allowed to watch while you feast on shaved broccoli miso goma, crispy karaage chicken or DIY handrolls under the string bistro lights.

1900 W. 32nd Ave., Denver; kawanidenver.com

Corsica Wine Bar

Corsica, from the owners of Barcelona Wine Bar, opened in RiNo at the end of April. Inspired by the namesake Mediterranean island, the small-bites restaurant offers a European escape on its streetside, 30-seat patio. Share a punch bowl of Lambrusco and nibble on charcuterie under bright orange umbrellas until 1 a.m.

2801 Walnut St., Suite 100, Denver; corsicawinebar.com

Gusto and ChoLon Sloan’s Lake

Sit lakeside by a fire pit at ChoLon or Gusto’s new patios. Denver restaurateurs Lon Symensma and Christopher Davis-Massey opened a third ChoLon restaurant, along with their brand new Italian concept, Gusto, in March on the ground floor of luxury condo building Lakehouse. ChoLon offers 24 seats for French onion soup dumpling fanatics, plus 10 Adirondack chairs, while Gusto serves wood-fired pizza and focaccia on the Raleigh Street side with 28 outdoor seats.

1691 N. Raleigh St., Denver; cholonconcepts.com

Alma Fonda Fina

Alma Fonda Fina couldn’t make much use of its corner patio in the heart of LoHi when the upscale Mexican restaurant first opened in December. Now that the sun’s out full-time, it doesn’t take much to persuade guests to take their hamachi crudo and avocado margarita outside.

2556 15th St., Denver; almalohidenver.com

Desert Social

The family behind Adelitas opened Desert Social cocktail lounge down the street from their South Broadway Mexican restaurant in September. The bohemian-style patio is reminiscent of beach clubs in Tulum, serving punchy mezcal and tequila-based libations until 1 a.m. all summer long.

1312 S. Broadway, Denver; desertsocialdenver.com

Wonderyard Garden + Table

Sit in a flower-covered, oversized birdcage, gulp down a pricey cocktail in a teacup booth or warm up around a large firepit on Wonderyard’s whimsical turf patio. The new downtown bar from local restaurateur Francois Safieddine, which opened in March, feels like you’re walking through pages of the “Secret Garden” or “Alice in Wonderland.”

2200 Larimer St., Denver; wonderyard.com 

Honorable mentions:

Parkway Food Hall: Longmont’s first food hall opened on May 20 with a 150-seat patio, where guests can bring food from any of the eight concepts, from Japanese street food to shawarma.

700 Ken Pratt Blvd., Longmont; parkwayfoodhall.com

Sap Sua: Sap Sua made waves with its take on Vietnamese cuisine when it debuted in June last year, and it’s still hard to snag a reservation. This summer, the City Park restaurant added a 12-seat, east-facing patio with plenty of shade for guests to enjoy a sake juice box while they wait for their table.

2550 E. Colfax Ave., Denver; sapsua.com

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