Denver’s Department of Housing Stability (HOST) announced it may close the Crossroads shelter, a 300‑bed facility in the historic Five Points neighborhood, within the next year. Department head Cole Chandler confirmed the possibility during a city council committee meeting, noting that the decision is tied to a pending one‑year contract with the nonprofit Urban Alchemy.
Contract competition and potential transition
Urban Alchemy, a California‑based nonprofit, won the bid to operate Crossroads, beating the Salvation Army, which has run the shelter since 1983. The contract is for one year, with the option to extend another year, and the city is also reviewing a similar three‑year agreement for the larger 48th Avenue Men’s Shelter.
Impact on residents and replacement plans
Chandler emphasized that any closure would not occur without a plan to replace the beds. “There would be no plan to close Crossroads without a plan to replace those beds,” he said. The department is exploring possible replacement locations, though no final site has been identified. Earlier this year, the city proposed a 400‑bed cold‑weather shelter on the border of Elyria‑Swansea and Clayton that could have absorbed Crossroads residents, but community pressure led HOST to halve the size of that project.
Potential development opportunity
Shutting the shelter could free a large, city‑owned parcel near the fast‑growing Denargo Market for future development. City officials see the land as a valuable asset that could support economic growth once the shelter’s future is resolved.
Council discussion and next steps
During the meeting, Councilmember Paul Kashmann asked about aging facilities within the system. Chandler replied, “I think we’ve identified that there are some aging buildings within our system that need to be replaced,” a point Kashmann described as “very politically stated.” Chandler assured the council that nothing is final yet and that more information will be provided before any decision to shutter Crossroads is made.
Community response
Local advocates and residents have expressed concern about where the shelter’s current occupants would go if the facility closes. The shelter has been a staple in Denver’s homeless services for four decades, originally described as a temporary site but now considered a core part of the system.
The city’s real‑estate office continues to search for alternative sites, and HOST remains open to extending Urban Alchemy’s contract while it finalizes a replacement strategy. The outcome will shape both the city’s approach to homelessness and the future use of a prime downtown parcel.
Original reporting: Denverite — read the source article.
