According to the 2020 Point-in-Time (PIT) report, 427 people in Aurora are experiencing homelessness, and there are approximately only 150 emergency shelter beds to meet this need. To address the disparity, the City of Aurora, Radian, and multiple alternative housing solution groups held a community engagement event to inform and gather feedback from the Aurora community regarding alternative shelter options.
The alternative housing solutions and resources at the event included:
During the event, the City of Aurora captured feedback from the community through the in-person engagement event and an online interactive forum. With direction from the community survey, the City of Aurora moved forward with developing a Safe Outdoor Space.
In partnership with and on the land of Restoration Christian Fellowship, the Salvation Army, the City of Denver, and Project Moxie developed a Safe Outdoor Space in Aurora. Radian and Shopworks Architecture supported the project through site planning, volunteer engagement, construction, and city approval. The site is currently operational, supporting over 25 individuals per night.
