Left Behind in the Land of Plenty: Homelessness, Housing Policy, and Dignity in Colorado

Pathways Weekly: Thoughts, Reflections & Real Conversations from the Community
By John Collins, CEO, Dignified Pathways

Colorado is not like every other state—and that matters. Our communities are known for resilience, independence, and a strong sense of responsibility toward one another. From cities to rural towns, Coloradans take pride in showing up. Because of that, “any support” is not good enough. The people who call this state home deserve support that works, support that lasts, and support rooted in dignity.

Yet across Colorado, homelessness and housing instability continue to affect thousands of people—many of whom do not fit the public image of homelessness. These are individuals sleeping in their cars, staying temporarily with friends, or working full-time jobs while struggling to afford rent. They are parents, workers, neighbors, and community members trying to stay afloat.

What We Mean by “Systems”

When we talk about systems, we are talking about the formal structures designed to help people meet basic needs. These include:

• government programs like SNAP (food assistance), Medicaid, and housing vouchers,
• nonprofit service networks,
• and public policies that determine who qualifies for help and how quickly that help arrives.

These systems are created with good intentions—to provide structure, fairness, and accountability. But they rely on rules, income limits, paperwork, timelines, and eligibility requirements that do not always reflect real life.

When systems work, they stabilize lives. When they don’t, people fall through the gaps.

Policy Progress—And Where It Falls Short

In 2022, Colorado voters approved Proposition 123, committing hundreds of millions of dollars each year to affordable housing efforts. It was an important and meaningful step—one that showed Coloradans are willing to invest in long-term solutions rather than ignore the problem.

That progress deserves recognition.

At the same time, policy changes take time to reach people. Funding must be distributed, projects must be approved, housing must be built, and local governments must opt in. While these processes move forward, people still need places to live now.

This is not about blame. It is about understanding a simple truth: life moves faster than policy implementation.

Who Gets Left Out

Many Coloradans who experience housing instability are working and actively trying to improve their lives. Yet they often earn just enough to be denied assistance—while still earning far too little to afford housing, healthcare, or childcare.

For example:

• A full-time worker may earn slightly above SNAP limits but still be unable to afford groceries and rent.
• Someone may make too much for Medicaid but not enough to afford private insurance.
• A person may qualify for housing support on paper but wait years due to shortages.

These situations are not caused by laziness or poor choices. They are the result of systems built around fixed thresholds that do not account for rising costs or real-world circumstances.

The Human Impact

Housing instability does not stay contained. It affects mental health, physical health, employment, and family stability. Stress compounds. Opportunities shrink. A missed paycheck, medical bill, or car repair can permanently change someone’s trajectory.

This is how people slip from stability into survival—not because they stopped trying, but because support arrived too late or not at all.

Why Dignity Must Come First

At Dignified Pathways, we believe dignity should never depend on eligibility. Our mission exists because people deserve care and support regardless of income level, background, or circumstance.

We provide resources and community support without conditions, because dignity is not something people earn—it is something they inherently deserve.

Colorado’s values call for solutions that combine responsibility with compassion. That means continuing to improve systems while also supporting community-based efforts that can respond quickly, flexibly, and humanely when systems fall short.

A Shared Path Forward

This conversation is not about politics. It is about people.

When we stay informed, support dignity-centered organizations, and hold ourselves to a higher standard of care, we strengthen our communities. Colorado’s future should be one where no one is left behind simply because they do not fit neatly into a system’s rules.

At Dignified Pathways, we invite you to learn more, stay engaged, and support work that reflects the best of Colorado—where care, dignity, and opportunity are foundational, not conditional.

Call to Action

Stay informed. Support dignity-centered solutions. Get involved in ways that strengthen our communities—because when Colorado shows up for its people, everyone moves forward.



References:

City and County of Denver. (2024). All In Mile High: Homelessness initiative updates. https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Mayors-Office/Programs-and-Initiatives/Homelessness-Initiative

Colorado Department of Local Affairs. (n.d.). About Proposition 123: Affordable housing funding. https://cdola.colorado.gov/about-proposition-123

Colorado Sun. (2022, November 14). Colorado voters approve Proposition 123, dedicating hundreds of millions annually to affordable housing. https://coloradosun.com/2022/11/14/affordable-housing-colorado-prop-123-results/

CPR News. (2022, November 14). Colorado voters approve Proposition 123 to fund affordable housing. https://www.cpr.org/2022/11/14/colorado-votes-to-dedicate-300-million-annually-to-housing/

CPR News. (2024, April 30). Homelessness in Colorado: What the numbers show—and what they miss. https://www.cpr.org/2024/04/30/homelessness-in-colorado-report/

Denverite. (2022, October 17). Voter guide: Proposition 123 and affordable housing in Colorado. https://denverite.com/2022/10/17/vg-2022-proposition-123-denver-affordable-housing/

Metro Denver Homeless Initiative. (2024). Point-in-time count shows continued increase in homelessness across the Denver metro area. https://www.mdhi.org/blog/annual-point-in-time-count-shows-an-increase-of-people-experiencing-homelessness-in-denver-metro-area-g5asr

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2023). The 2023 annual homeless assessment report (AHAR) to Congress. https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/ahar.html

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. (2024). Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Eligibility and benefits. https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/eligibility