2022 Annual Impact Report
Operating Highlights
CSPI, in coordination with local faith-based entities offers a safe, welcoming place to stay for people experiencing homelessness and sheltering in their vehicle. In addition to reliable safety at night, SafeLots provide access to basic needs such as hygiene and restroom stations, food, and healthcare. In 2022, Colorado Safe Parking Initiative (CSPI) increased the number of Denver metro area SafeLots to 11, serving 92 households per night, hired its first Executive Director and reached several key milestones.
Expanded Services
SafeLots are now operating in five of the seven Denver metro counties. Adams County opened its two SafeLots. Jefferson County, where demand for SafeLots has been extremely high, opened two additional lots, bringing their total to four. This increase in capacity is making a difference for many households, even as waiting lists remain full. To open one of these SafeLots, CSPI worked closely with Lakewood City Council, where sleeping overnight in parked vehicles was not legal. Following a collaborative and deliberative process, CSPI received a temporary victory when the City Council approved an emergency ordinance that allows faith organizations to establish SafeLots with approved city permits for a pilot period of two years. CSPI feels confident the pilot of these new Lakewood SafeLots will be successful, and the ordinance change will become permanent. At the end of 2022, CSPI opened its first SafeLot on commercial property in Commerce City, with a similar Aurora lot anticipated in 2023. These lots were possible through a partnership of the Urban Land Conservancy, a Denver-based steward of real estate assets for community benefit. Utilizing commercial or government property expands CSPI’s abiity to further meet the growing need of families sheltering in their vehicles. CSPI has hired a paid employee to operate the commercial property SafeLot, filling the position with a current guest.
New Leadership
Terrell Curtis came on board in May 2022 as CSPI’s first Executive Director. She is working to continue the expansion of programs and to expand understanding and support of the needs of people sheltering in their vehicles and how CPSI meets those needs. Ms. Curtis’ prior experience is extensive, most recently serving 11 years as the executive director for The Delores Project, a high impact shelter and housing service provider for women and transgender individuals. Awarded the prestigious Livingston Fellowship by the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation in 2016, Ms. Curtis brings the experience of her 20+ year professional career as an advocate and leader to the helm of CSPI. Under her leadership, CSPI continues to expand service and provide case managers for guests at every SafeLot.
Financial Highlights
CSPI’s budget almost doubled in 2022, mostly due to the support of local governments eager to being safe parking onboard to help meet their own homeless crises. These partnerships allowed CSPI to offer more case management support and to reached a milestone in hiring its first Executive Director, Terrell Curtis. At the end of 2022, with the benefit of being highlighted by Kyle Clark’s Word of Thanks, segment on 9News/Next, individual giving soared with generous donations from almost 3,000 people who believe in CSPI’s mission.
Increasing Need
Homelessness continues to rise in the Denver area, as it is around the country. CSPI received 2,197 inquiries in 2022. With a budget almost double what it was in 2021, CSPI continues to explore opening additional SafeLots to try and address this need. The growth in funding is in part due to expanded support from local governments, who grapple with growing unhoused populations and recognize the effectiveness of CPSI’s SafeLot model. And these issues aren’t unique to the Denver metro area. Several communities along the Front Range and throughout Colorado have reached out to learn about CSPI’s SafeLot program as a model as they develop their own local programs. Currently, CSPI is working with communities in Larimer and El Paso counties.
SafeLots are not just places to park a vehicle, but rather small communities, lending a hand and a warm meal, and keeping our unhoused neighbors within a community-based safety net while they seek a long term housing solution. Through collaborative partnerships with a variety of faith-based, government, and other nonprofits, SafeLot guests are offered personalized support that can include connections to critical social services such as medical care, job placement, and a path to stable housing.
Since January 1, 2022, CSPI SafeLots have provided reliable overnight safety for 190 households representing 262 individuals. Of the 187 guests that left SafeLot services during 2022, 35% (65 people) secured temporary or permanent housing.
The increase in individual donors provides CSPI with a strong foothold to deepen services in 2023. To build community and offer guests amenties such as meals, while supporting operations overall, CSPI will explore developing a robust community volunteer program. Over the next year CSPI will expand internal capacity by hiring its first part-time admin, a donor relations manager, a full-time AmeriCorps volunteer, and bring on paid interns from the social work and nonprofit management programs at the University of Denver and Metro State University of Denver. CSPI is also looking forward to working with the City of Denver to codify emergency zoning, so that programs like SafeLots can continue.
