The Center for Housing and Homelessness Research
Colorado faces numerous challenges as it responds to the needs of a growing population of individuals, families and communities experiencing homelessness and other issues related to housing security—issues such as behavioral health, socioeconomic status, NIMBYism and access to affordable housing.
Housing security and homelessness are among our most pressing social justice imperatives, and while there is no single solution — or even a single definition of homelessness — data-driven research, policy and practice are key to addressing housing security issues and ending homelessness in America. The Center for Housing and Homelessness Research (CHHR) provides information and expertise to communities, policymakers and practitioners to transform the lives of people experiencing poverty, housing insecurity and homelessness by improving access to resources and increasing opportunities and choices.
2021 Annual Report
Addressing Housing Security
Denver Tiny Home Village
We evaluated Denver’s first tiny homes community for people experiencing homelessness, finding that neighbors reported few issues with the village and no increase in crime associated with its introduction.
Grand Challenge to End Homelessness
Our Grand Challenges for Social Work workshop brought together local community leaders and national scholars to discuss how issues of homelessness play out locally and affect particular populations.
New Approaches to Housing & Homelessness
We brought together a wide array of community members to learn about innovative approaches to housing and homelessness, including empty-home taxes, universal basic incomes and accessory dwelling units.
A Partner in Community Change
We work collaboratively with organizations and communities statewide to understand each community’s unique strengths and challenges and recommend data-driven approaches and evidence-based strategies to address poverty, housing insecurity and homelessness. We assist our community partners with research, program evaluation, community assessments and policy analysis to help address homelessness and issues related to housing security.
We can help you better understand poverty and homelessness in your community.
Cross-Campus Collaboration
In addition to collaborating in the community, we work with a range of University of Denver faculty and programs to leverage specialized expertise in areas such as law and real estate. We also serve as a training lab for students through internships, work-study positions and volunteer opportunities.
Recent Collaborative Projects
Collective Impact Cohort
CHHR Executive Director Daniel Brisson is co-leading a campus-wide, cross-disciplinary student and faculty cohort working to create measurable change in housing and food insecurity that improves daily living in our communities.
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Traumatic Brain Injuries and Homelessness
CHHR and University of Denver Graduate School of Professional Psychology researchers are assessing the cause-and-effect relationship between traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and homelessness and identifying effective interventions for people experiencing homelessness with a history of TBI.
Students can work with the CHHR to address issues related to housing security.
Related Stories
A Novel Research Method
With her dissertation research, PhD grad Jennifer Wilson has developed a new way to rapidly study social innovations like tiny home villages for people experiencing homelessness, identifying priority specifications to successfully replicate and scale the intervention.
Collective Community-Building
Former faculty member Jean East and MSW alumna Renata Heberton are transforming the community through Angelica Village, an intentional community serving refugee youths and people exiting homelessness.
