DENVER (KDVR) — A tiny home community in Denver’s Clayton neighborhood could be forced to close or relocate if the mayor’s proposed budget is approved.
The micro community on North Monroe Street, operated by the Colorado Village Collaborative, has served as housing for 40 to 50 people at any given time since opening about two years ago. The nonprofit says it offers housing to people who may not be well-served in a communal shelter by allowing couples to stay together and offering a home to pets.
The tiny home village sits on city-owned land and relies on city funding and a temporary zoning agreement set to expire in 2026.
In Mayor Mike Johnston’s proposed budget, funding would be cut for both the Monroe micro community and a hotel shelter. The mayor argues that, with fewer people living on the streets, the city can shut down those programs, ultimately saving $11 million.
“In just two years, we have changed the landscape of homelessness in Denver and we are not slowing down,” Johnston said in a statement. He plans to replace the micro community site with permanent workforce housing to help people currently in the shelter system.
Jessica Ehinger, CEO of the Colorado Village Collaborative, said the move would be costly and disruptive for residents who have become rooted in the neighborhood.
“We exist to kind of help round out the ecosystem of the shelter system to make sure there’s a space for everyone,” Ehinger said. “For us to move everything and replace all this infrastructure is really substantial. It really feels like we’re integrated with the community here. It doesn’t feel like there needs to be a change.”
The city has offered to help CVC find a new location, but Ehinger said relocating the community would cost about as much as its roughly $1 million annual budget.
“Unfortunately, we’re not at a point where I think it makes sense to move away from supports that are in place for people who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness or chronic homelessness,” she said. “And they need that larger level of support.”
Ehinger is now urging city officials and the broader community to support keeping the Monroe site open.
The budget proposal still needs city council approval. Ehinger says a public hearing on the issue is expected later this month.
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
