📈 Denver’s latest homelessness numbers

📈 More Denverites Homeless in New Count

This year’s Point in Time Count, an annual survey to track homelessness, found more than 7,300 Denverites are unhoused, up from 6,539 people last year. However, the number of people who are unsheltered has dropped significantly — from 1,273 to 785 — which the mayor’s office is touting as evidence that the city’s approach to shelter and housing is successful. [Denver Gazette 🔒]

🏛️ Gov. Polis Pauses ICE Cooperation

After a state official blew the whistle last week on Polis for ordering officials to comply with an ICE request for information about undocumented minors, the governor has agreed to wait to share information while the whistleblower’s lawsuit plays out. The next court hearing is scheduled for June 23. [Colorado Sun]

🏘️ Housing Fights in the Littleton, Lakewood

Six of Denver’s suburbs are suing Gov. Polis over his threat to revoke funding if they don’t implement his housing density agenda. So City Cast Denver took a look at a couple of brewing density battles to better understand the stakes of “local control.” [City Cast Denver 🎧]

🚓 ICE Releases DoorDasher

Carla Medina, an immigrant from Honduras, was released from Aurora’s ICE detention center after winning her asylum claim. Medina was arrested in October while delivering a DoorDash order to Buckley Space Force Base. Medina’s family confirmed they have been reunited. [Denver Post 🔒]

What is Denver’s historic queer cultural district called?

In 2023, a coalition of community organizations recognized the official formation of a historic queer cultural district to “celebrate queer stories, serve as a regional beacon for queer culture, and spur on the city’s economy.”

• Ruby Hill
• Lavender Hill
• Harvey Park