Sun Valley, a central neighborhood in the metro Denver region, is home to some of the city’s most vulnerable residents. Today, 94 percent of the neighborhood’s housing market is subsidized, with only 5 percent of the homes occupied by their owners. Additionally, over 80 percent of the population is living below the poverty line. Sun Valley residents represent over 33 different cultural backgrounds, speak more than 28 languages, and 25 percent identify as first-generation immigrants, 4 percent as second-generation immigrants, and 20 percent as refugees. In Sun Valley, Denver Housing Authority is poised to create a new model of community transformation with equity, environmental justice, and public health as its driving forces.

In addition to housing developments, the Sun Valley Riverfront Park is a planned 11-acre regional park running the length of the South Platte River. Developed in response to the priority health issues in the neighborhood, the park creates a safe space that celebrates the diversity of the neighborhood, promotes physical activity and healthy eating, provides spaces for mental restoration, and ensures all Sun Valley residents have access to quality open space.

Since its founding in 1984, Colorado Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) has worked to serve people experiencing homelessness through housing, health care, and supportive services. One of the most significant struggles for CCH clients has been the difficulty in maintaining health following release from hospitals and other facilities, safely recovering from recent medical or clinical procedures, and other recovery needs that cannot be safely met in shelters or on the streets. The new John Parvensky Stout Street Recuperative Care Center (JPSSRCC) exponentially increases the Coalition’s ability to serve these clients.

The facility treats clients with a variety of needs, including healing from postsurgical procedures, wound care, respiratory or heart issues, oxygen needs, chemotherapy treatment, and more. In addition to medical assistance for acute conditions, clients are provided with the opportunity to receive care onsite and ongoing integrated health care at the adjacent Stout Street Health Center including behavioral health support, pharmacy access, substance use treatment, peer support, and job training. Clients also can work with integrated case managers and housing counseling staff to identify long-term housing options, thereby providing them the opportunity to successfully transition out of homelessness to a long-term residence upon discharge.

The interior design of the building was selected through a trauma-informed process, and donated art warms the space. The Coalition believes that energy efficiency and environmentally friendly construction should be the standard for affordable housing. The building is designed and constructed to meet or exceed Enterprise Green Communities guidelines. These standards deliver greater energy and water efficiencies, better indoor air quality and space use that will be sustainable over time—ultimately resulting in lower utility costs. Architectural services for the mixed-use project, which is designed as attractively as market-rate housing in the Arapahoe Square neighborhood, were provided by Christopher Carvell Architects, and construction was provided by Milender White.

Spread across an entire city block, Clara Brown Commons includes an impressive offering of 61 apartments, 17 townhomes, and inviting communal areas for shared experiences. Nestled at the intersection of 37th Avenue and York Street in northeast Denver, the location offers unrivaled proximity to essential amenities, convenient transit options, reputable schools, and a plethora of engaging activities. Each residence is dedicated to providing enduring affordability for individuals with incomes below the area median income, and an on-site team actively fosters a dynamic community experience, uniting residents, volunteers, and caring neighbors to nurture a lively communal atmosphere day in and day out. Clara Brown Commons offers a comprehensive approach to affordable housing.

Located in Denver’s historic Five Points neighborhood and inspired by the legendary musician Charles Burrell, The Burrell offers luxury living at an affordable price. The Burrell offers 49 permanently affordable condos for one-, two-, and three-bedroom units in the heart of a vibrant Denver neighborhood with a rich cultural history unlike any other in the city. Known as the “Harlem of the West,” the Five Points neighborhood is a cultural hub with a rich and diverse history, with roots deeply intertwined with the African American community and the golden age of jazz. As a center for artistic expression, creativity, and resilience, the neighborhood’s history is reflected in The Burrel.