Welcome to Homelessness 101, an explainer series breaking down homelessness in Boulder County and beyond. Here, we’ll explore the demographics, causes and solutions to homelessness through expert interviews, peer-reviewed research and, most importantly, input from people with lived experience. Their perspective is incorporated throughout the series and has been specifically highlighted in some places.

The problem

Family homelessness with EFAA
COVID-era rent increases erasing decade of decreasing family homelessness, school district data shows

Youth homelessness with TGTHR
Boulder County has good system, but inflow from child welfare, juvenile justice systems never stops

Who, What, Where, When
Who is homeless in Boulder, and why is it so hard to get good data?

Are Boulder’s homeless “from here?” and other frequently asked questions
What causes homelessness? What do drugs and mental illness have to do with it? Do unhoused people come to Boulder for services? And more

Common barriers to ending homelessness
Publishing Fall 2023

Systemic, universal barriers to ending homelessness
Publishing Fall 2023

The solutions

What Boulder can learn from 3 places that have “zero” homelessness
Centralization, coordination and “aggressive” housing are key

What Boulder does well
Publishing Fall 2023

What Boulder can do better
Publishing Fall 2023