A nonprofit in Denver lowered its age of entry to help more homeless youths access housing and connect with services as rates of homelessness continue to rise.

Step Denver, a residential men’s peer recovery program, announced this month that it will start serving men as young as 18 instead of waiting until they are 21.

The announcement happened at a time when youth homelessness continues to increase in Denver and across the U.S. The latest snapshot data shows there were 373 unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness in Denver, and about one-quarter of whom were unsheltered. That total represents an increase of about 90% since 2019, accounting for about 177 people in all.

Denver’s schools are also seeing an increasing number of homeless students on campus. As of 2024, more than 2,200 students in Denver were identified as homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act. That represents more than a 20-fold increase since the 2020-2021 school year, according to Colorado Department of Education data.

Against that backdrop, Step Denver leaders said the organization felt it could no longer wait until young men turned 21 to offer support.

“The reality is kids are growing up much faster now,” explained Meghan Shay, Step Denver’s chief executive officer. “They are getting introduced to substances at much younger ages, and the substances they’re using are leading to a more rapid progression in addiction and consequences. So, it felt appropriate to help as many young men as we possibly can, starting at 18.”

How This Denver Nonprofit Addresses Homelessness

Founded in 1983, Step Denver’s Housing First model helps hundreds of men each year by providing services that prioritize sobriety, full-time work, community-building, and accountability. In this context, accountability means an individual takes responsibility for their circumstances and puts in the effort to make them better, Shay explained.

Shay added that most men that Step Denver serves are experiencing homelessness, but there are some who are unstably housed. About 3% of the people Step Denver served last year were on the verge of homelessness, which is up from 1% in 2024, she said.

Read the full article about Step Denver by Robert Davis at Invisible People.