Aurora's new approach to homelessness: Invest in the individual
Homelessness is a growing and urgent issue across the country, with more than 650,000 Americans experiencing homelessness on any night. Chronic homelessness has reached unprecedented levels, and Colorado is no exception. Current responses to this challenge focus almost singularly — and myopically — on simply housing the unhoused. This approach is expensive, slow, and hard to scale. And it’s not working. There is a better way — one that is more responsive to both the challenges that homelessness presents in a community and to the individual needs of those who have found themselves homeless. The goal is simple yet powerful: anyone who wants help, gets help.
That is the reason I support the City of Aurora’s bold new vision: the creation of the Aurora Regional Navigation Campus (ARNC) and its holistic approach to homelessness by addressing the root causes such as addiction, mental health challenges, and unemployment.
The ARNC will serve as a coordinated service-delivery hub, working with multiple organizations to provide a range of recovery pathways. In one location, the ARNC will provide a variety of support methods to those who are willing to accept assistance — from ID recovery and hygiene support to mental health and addiction services to job training and placement.
For those who are homeless, the ARNC will be a stable, safe place with well-coordinated assistance, including recovery and long-term employment as the goal.
For our police and first responding partners, who are contacted frequently by the community to intervene with homeless individuals, the ARNC will provide a single location to connect people with those who can help — one resource that’s generally less costly and more effective than an emergency room or jail and one that will allow our first responders to return to protecting our communities. In addition, this resource will add critical shelter capacity allowing more people to move from public, exposed areas to a safe, protected location.
Just last week, the City of Aurora announced that Advance Inc. will operate the ARNC. The Daniels Fund joined with other funders to support the launch of this organization because their approach includes a heavy dose of compassion and care while focusing on outcomes. Advance will play a pivotal role in helping the city achieve its ambitious goal of reducing homelessness and establishing a proof point for a better way to address the issue. This model can serve as a blueprint for other cities nationwide, offering a scalable, effective solution to a national crisis.
Mayor Mike Coffman’s personal experience living among homeless individuals in Aurora and Denver drives the importance of this shift in strategy. In his recent USA Today op-ed, Coffman described how his time in homeless encampments revealed the shortcomings of the Housing First model, which focuses solely on providing housing without addressing underlying issues. He pointed out that more than 60% of chronically homeless individuals struggle with drug or alcohol abuse, and that the Housing First initiative leaves people to suffer from the issues that led to their homeless path, rather than providing the help they need to break the cycle and become independent and contributing members of society. Aurora is at the forefront of change, championing a model that invests in people by charting a path not just for survival but for lasting transformation.
With Advance Inc. leading the charge, Aurora is laying the foundation needed to make a difference. Imagine a city where people are empowered to reclaim their lives and futures, where compassion meets accountability, and where everyone has the tools to succeed.
At the Daniels Fund, our belief is that philanthropy can impact innovative solutions that deliver measurable results. We align closely with Aurora’s focus on addressing the full range of needs that contribute to homelessness. Bill Daniels believed deeply in the dignity of every individual and the power of opportunity. His legacy guides our work, reinforcing that when we invest in people, we lay the groundwork for lasting change.
We commend Mayor Coffman and the Aurora City Council for their bold leadership; we are confident this partnership will inspire cities across the country to follow Aurora’s lead.
Hanna Skandera is president and CEO of the Daniels Fund (danielsfund.org).