Johnston Coalesces Support from Community Leaders Behind His Plan to Address Homelessness, Oppose Arresting Those Who Need Help
Today, nearly twenty housing and homelessness advocates announced their endorsement of Mike Johnston for Denver Mayor, citing his bold, compassionate plan to address Denver’s homelessness crisis.
“We support Mike Johnston for Mayor because he will house people experiencing homelessness, not arrest them, and invest in their well-being and safety to help all Denver residents thrive,” the group said in a letter. “As people connected with health, human service and housing organizations, we applaud Mike’s commitment to addressing the needs of people experiencing homelessness as his top priority. We agree with Mike that, by providing housing and services like mental health support, substance use disorder treatment and job training, we can help our unhoused neighbors and make Denver more livable and affordable for all residents.”
Mike believes that Denver has a moral obligation to make sure everyone has a safe, stable, dignified place to sleep at night. That’s why his homelessness plan calls for 10-20 micro-communities throughout the city for unsheltered Denverites, which will include wraparound services like mental health care, addiction support, and workforce training. He has committed to taking a compassionate approach to ending homelessness.
The following individuals announced their support for Mike today:
- Jon Parvensky, former CEO of Colorado Coalition for the Homeless
- Roxane White, former CEO of Urban Peak and former Chief of Staff to John Hickenlooper
- Hon. Rick Garcia, former City Councilman and U.S. HUD Region VIII Administrator
- Cole Chandler, former Executive Director, Colorado Village Collaborative
- Erin Brown, former Director, Denver Office of Children’s Affairs
- Rudy Gonzales, Community Leader
- Hon. Doug Linkhart, former City Councilman, and E.D., Denver Dept of Public Health & Environment
- Amanda Henderson, former Executive Director of Interfaith Alliance of Colorado
- Logan Robertson, Director, AfterHours Denver
- Jeff Hirota, former President, Community Foundation of Boulder County
- Ryan Taylor, Director, Network Ministries
- Nita Gonzales, President/CEO of Escuela Tlatelolco Centro de Estudios
- Josh Barocas, MD; Associate Professor of Medicine
- Brian Barhaugh, former Executive Director of Youthbiz and Project Voyce
- Mary Anne Harvey, Disability Advocate
- David Henninger, former Executive Director, Bayaud Enterprises
- Gary Sanford, former Executive Director, Urban Peak
- Ben Levek, Homeless Advocate
- David Burgess, Board Chair, Colorado Recovery
- Hon. Leslie Herod, State Representative and former board member, Urban Peak