Sanderson Apartments is serving some of Denver’s most vulnerable homeless residents—those who are frequent users of the public safety net system, including the court system, jails, emergency rooms, and detox centers.
Developed by the Mental Health Center of Denver (MHCD), Sanderson provides 60 one-bedroom furnished apartments and wraparound services, which include case management, psychiatric treatment, medical treatment, and other services.
Completed in August, the project did a phased move-in process to help residents with a smoother transition and achieved 100% occupancy in December. The city and the state each have allocated 30 project-based vouchers to assist with rent.
Services are being funded through Denver’s innovative Social Impact Bond program, under which private entities invest funding in a coordinated approach to address chronic homelessness. Investors receive a return based on the initiative’s success of achieving housing stability and a reduction in the use of critical emergency services.
MHCD has seen positive results so far. “We saw people gain employment faster than we anticipated, and we saw the substance abuse decrease faster than we anticipated, so those are all great wins,” says Oriana Sanchez, former director of real estate and facilities at MHCD. “At six months after opening, we had half of the residents working in some capacity. They had gained employment, whether it was temporary, part-time, or full-time. We think that’s a huge success.”
The LEED Platinum-certified development also is one of the only buildings in the nation designed under the trauma-informed model, which focuses on a safe and open environment, open stairwells, natural light, and wider hallways so residents don’t feel confined. The building is equally split between the living space of the units and the community space, including a wellness center, a library, a community room with a TV and a kitchen, a community garden, and indoor and outdoor gathering areas.
The $15.7 million development was financed primarily with low-income housing tax credits.