New Denver initiative will reduce evictions for nonpayment to keep nearly 500 families housed

Greenlight Fund Denver prompts collaboration with Mile High United Way and Denver Housing Authority to prevent homelessness

Denver, CO – April 15, 2025 – A new Denver nonprofit collaborative will prevent homelessness by assisting hundreds of families facing eviction for not paying rent – all while saving landlords money.
The announcement comes as Denver reports record numbers of eviction cases in the first quarter of 2025 – 4,037 eviction cases filed in Denver County Court compared to 3,944 cases in the same three-month period last year, according to Denverite.

Nonprofit funder GreenLight Fund Denver today announced its first investment locally, bringing the Renew Collaborative here to address rising eviction rates caused by the ongoing housing crisis.

The Renew Collaborative is an evidence-based program, developed by Boston-based nonprofit HomeStart, that works to prevent homelessness by directly assisting families facing non-payment evictions.

The program expects to assist nearly 500 Denver families over the next four years, providing eviction prevention services to keep families housed long-term. Research shows it costs a property owner three to five times more to evict a tenant compared to keeping the tenant housed.

The Denver Housing Authority (DHA), the largest landlord in Denver, is the first landlord to sign on to work with the Renew Collaborative in Denver to decrease nonpayment evictions.

After engaging with the nonprofit community, Mile High United Way was chosen to implement the program locally, complementing the diverse suite of programs Mile High United Way already offers.

GreenLight Denver launched in 2024 and began a year-long process to identify, select, and invest in an evidence-based nonprofit that could significantly remove barriers to economic mobility.

Hundreds of Denver residents, nonprofits, and community leaders provided feedback and contributed to the selection process, including a local Selection Advisory Council, which brings together a diverse group of leaders representing a cross-section of the community.

“Our community was very clear that we need more strategies to address the eviction crisis”, said GreenLight Fund Denver Founding Executive Director Rebecca Gorrell. “The Renew Collaborative is proven to both stop evictions and move tenants into long-term housing stability. The program bridges traditional divides by bringing landlords into the effort and unlocking new financial resources. We are thrilled to convene trusted partners like DHA and the Mile High United Way in this effort, and our four-year investment in the Renew Collaborative will make a tangible and meaningful impact in Denver.”

Matt Prichard, Executive Director of HomeStart, added: “At HomeStart, we are committed to preventing homelessness before it begins. Bringing the Renew Collaborative to Denver is an opportunity to put that commitment into action in a new city. We’re grateful to work alongside GreenLight Fund Denver and local partners who share our belief that keeping families stably housed is both urgent and possible. This program works within many contexts and for many types of property owners.”

Joaquin Cintron Vega, Chief Executive Officer of the Denver Housing Authority, said: “At the Denver Housing Authority, we believe safe, stable housing is a fundamental right and we’re relentless in our pursuit to make that a reality for every individual and family in our city. That’s why we’re proud to partner with GreenLight Fund Denver to bring the Renew Collaborative to our community. This initiative is a bold extension of our mission to prevent displacement and secure long-term housing stability. We witness every day how eviction prevention transforms lives and builds for the resilience and vitality of entire neighborhoods. This partnership is a powerful step toward a more stable, equitable, and connected Denver.”

Christine Benero, President & Chief Executive Officer of Mile High United Way, said, “For nearly 138 years, Mile High United Way has been dedicated to creating opportunities for all Coloradans. We believe everyone deserves a safe, stable place to call home, so families can move toward economic success and thrive. When GreenLight Fund Denver introduced us to HomeStart’s Renew Collaborative, we saw a chance to create lasting impact for generations. This program offers an evidence-based solution to prevent eviction before it happens, and we are proud to help bring it to Denver to support families in our community. We’re so excited to collaborate with these organizations. This is a true example of a community united.”

HomeStart has scaled the program across Massachusetts and in Cincinnati. A 2020 evaluation completed by Abt Associates showed households in the Boston program were 44% less likely to be evicted than peer households and paid their back rent 23% faster than a control group. Four years after intervention, 87% of program participants maintained housing in their Boston Housing Authority unit, and 95% had avoided non-payment eviction. The cost savings have been calculated at over $42 million to property owners since 2003 in Boston.

GreenLight expects similar or even stronger results in Denver, beginning with DHA and expanding to partnerships with landlords of all types.

The cost-benefit of eviction prevention is so compelling that property owners can save money by financially supporting the Renew Collaborative eviction prevention program.

GreenLight Fund supported the Renew Collaborative’s expansion to Cincinnati in 2022, where the initiative has already supported 236 families with housing stability. GreenLight Denver was launched locally with support from a diverse coalition of investors committed to supporting community-driven change.