Most of Denver’s Supportive Housing Costs Were Offset by Reductions in Costs for Other Local Services

Urban Institute

Sources: Jail and booking data are from the Denver Sheriff Department. Court data are from the Denver County Court. Shelter data are from the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative and costs are estimated from selected programs. Police and arrest data are from the Denver Police Department. Detoxification, EMS, and 911 data are from Denver Department of Public Safety. SIB services data are from CCH and MHCD.

Notes: SIB=Denver Supportive Housing Social Impact Bond. CCH=Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. MHCD=Mental Health Center of Denver. Public safety includes EMS, 911, and detoxification services. Denver’s costs for the SIB are estimated as the cost of services minus the average share of Medicaid revenue. Denver’s offsets are estimated as the costs associated with outcomes paid by the city budget. Cost of services represents the share of services (not including permanent housing) not funded by Medicaid based on authors’ analysis. MHCD used both SIB-funding and other revenue sources for these services.