Photo: Photo courtesy of RATIO Designs
There is a disproportion of American Indian and Alaska Native people experiencing homelessness in the Denver metro area. They make up 1.4% of the region's population, and 6.3% of people who are unhoused.
As the population of the two groups of people is growing in the state, many who live in Denver and Colorado Springs, so is the number of them who don't have a permanent home. That number is 432 for the metro area.
“It’s really important to be able to provide a new development that would be a resource for the American Indian and Alaska Native community," said Shelly Marquez, president of Mercy Housing Mountain Plains.
Mercy Housing was selected by the Denver Housing Authority to build an affordable housing development with services that would support American Indian and Alaska Native people in the metro area. The site will be located at 901 Navajo St.
The plan is to help 187 households earning between 30% and 60% of the city's area median income. Which, according to Denver's 2022 income limits is $24,650 to $49,260 for one person, and $35,150 to $70,320 for a household of four.
Half of the units will give preference to families and individuals experiencing homelessness.
Marquez said the health center being planned for the property is an aspect that will help people remain in their home.
“For this particular development, having access to resident services and collaborating with the Denver Indian Health and Family Services to provide healthcare to residents at the property will be really important," Marquez said.
Some of those services include medical, behavioral, and dental care; as well as wellness, nutrition, and fitness activities. She said having access to the 10th and Osage R-T-D light rail stop creates more accessibility for people to outside services.
Mercy Housing will also partner with WellPower to give residents housing stability, case management, mental health, and financial services.
Before the non-profit can dig into the details of the design and other aspects to include they will meet with American Indian and Alaska Native people who have been homeless to design the project and have culturally appropriate programs and services. to get feedback on the development to make sure it’s culturally relevant.
To push toward being culturally inclusive, they are also partnering with the Native American Housing Circle, a Native-led and Native-serving organization.
In order to begin construction, Mercy Housing has to secure financing; which they will do in August by submitting an application to the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority for a long-term housing tax credit allocation.
“We’re rolling up our sleeves and getting ready for the next steps to make this development possible," Marquez said.
This story is part of a recurring series from our Report for America Reporter Emily Capetillo about housing in Denver. Follow her on Twitter @emilycapetillo or send an email at emilycapetillo@iheartmedia.com. For more information on how to donate to Report for America, contact the KOA News Room at 303-713-8500.