This interim report documents the early implementation of Denver’s All In Mile High (AIMHigh) initiative, a city-wide effort to reach functional zero for unsheltered homelessness by the end of 2026. The initiative’s strategy includes (1) applying a place-based encampment resolution approach; (2) moving individuals to new noncongregate shelters with supportive services on site; (3) connecting people to permanent housing; and (4) providing people with rapid rehousing and supportive housing. This report assesses progress toward goals, identifies facilitators and challenges, and offers recommendations for the final year of implementation.

Why This Matters

This report offers guidance to AIMHigh leadership on how to strengthen the AIMHigh implementation strategy and guide their sustainability planning in the final year of the initiative. The findings from this report can be used by other jurisdictions interested in developing strategies to reduce unsheltered homelessness in their communities.

What We Found

From January 2023 to January 2025, the number of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness on a given night in Denver decreased by 45 percent. The number of reported encampments, the size of reported encampments, and the reported hazards in encampments also decreased.

Important lessons learned from Denver’s work include the following:

• Real-time data, even with significant limitations, can be used to coordinate a rapid response to unsheltered homelessness, helping people to access shelter and other resources more quickly.
• Noncongregate shelter is a preferred option because it helps people stabilize with safety and privacy and accommodates individual situations, such as partners, pets, and possessions. However, providing noncongregate shelter creates challenges that must be addressed, such as high facility and maintenance costs that jurisdictions need to plan for.
• Successful exits to permanent housing are the driving force behind reducing homelessness and maintaining sufficient shelter capacity to house people newly experiencing homelessness.
• A galvanizing champion can leverage the political will and resources needed to gain momentum and make significant progress, but it is important to balance the urgency with deliberative system planning and sufficient organizational capacity.

How We Did It

We interviewed partners and staff during biannual implementation reviews and site visits and conducted focus groups and interviews with AIMHigh participants. We also observed AIMHigh activities, reviewed documents, and collected data from 311 call reports. We analyzed 311 call report data to estimate the number, location, and size of encampments found across Denver.