DENVER – As the price of renting in Denver keeps going up, many people are feeling the pain and some families are finding they just can’t afford it.
In 2013, it cost around $990 to rent a one-bedroom apartment in Denver. Today, the median price is more than $1,400. That’s a 40-percent increase over the past four years.
A move to Denver was needed for Carla Williams and her family, who came for her husband’s cancer treatment. They were looking to move to the Congress Park neighborhood, but the cost ended up being double what they saved.
“[That’s] just to get a two-bedroom apartment…normally we’re used to living in a four-bedroom,” Williams said.
Williams is now staying at the Samaritan House, a shelter for those experiencing homelessness. The shelter also helps people find affordable housing and more families are turning to them to find a place to stay.
“The number’s gone up considerably,” said executive director Michael Malloy.
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Malloy said Samaritan House is seeing more senior citizens seeking help, as well as people who have been kicked out of their homes because they can no longer afford rent.
“The biggest reasons why people are experiencing homelessness in Denver is lack of affordable housing and lack of income that can help them afford, or employment that can help them afford housing,” Malloy said.
Williams said she and her family were able to find a three-bedroom apartment for $1,600 a month, thanks to the shelter.
Denver has a list of resources for the homeless on its website here.