Johnston Proposes $4.5M for Rental Aid as Council Pushes for More

Mayor Mike Johnston's administration has proposed setting aside $4.5 million for Denver's Temporary Rental and Utility Assistance Program in the 2027 budget, a figure that has drawn opposition from a council supermajority seeking more than double that amount.

The proposed figure marks a decrease from the $15 million the city plans to spend on the program this year. Laura Swartz, a spokeswoman for the city's Department of Finance, said the drop is partly because 2027 will be the first year since the pandemic without federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars to help cover costs.

Council members sent a letter to the mayor earlier this month requesting additional investment in the program. Councilwoman Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez said the program is one of several approaches to housing stability. "There are multiple ways to address the issue that people are facing with affordability and with access to stable housing. This is just one of those tools. So we have to make sure it's well-funded," she said.

The mayor's office declined the request, noting that the city is working with Harvard University to study the program. Officials said the budgeted amount will cover the program's needs through the first half of next year. Jon Ewing, a spokesman for the mayor's office, said the city faces a tight budget environment. "We can't just look at TRUA as the only way to prevent eviction; it's an emergency assistance program," Ewing said. "We're looking for the dollars for it without also hurting other city priorities."

Gonzales-Gutierrez plans to bring an amendment at Monday's meeting with Councilwomen Flor Alvidrez and Shontel Lewis to allocate an additional $5.5 million to the program. "It's evident that the need is there," Gonzales-Gutierrez said. "It's wild to me that we're like, 'Let's wait for this Ivy League institution to tell us that we need to help people with rental assistance.'" The group is still discussing funding sources but said it is likely to come from small amounts from other large city agencies.

The People Lab, under Harvard's graduate public policy school, has studied the program since January 2025. Researchers use a lottery system each month to randomly select which applicants receive aid, then collect surveys and data on eviction risk, homelessness service use, and socioeconomic outcomes. Early results are expected by spring of 2027. The program, which has existed since 2017, served 1,600 households in 2025 and plans to help about 1,400 people this year. Eligibility requires proof of an active eviction case and no other housing options. Aid can cover rent back pay, current or future rent, utility costs, and relocation expenses.

Nearly 11,700 eviction cases have been filed in Denver County Court so far this year, according to a Colorado Judicial Branch dashboard. About 14,500 cases were filed last year, and the city expects similar numbers in 2027. Those figures do not include people who self-evict.

If the amendment passes, the mayor's office will decide by Friday whether to accept or veto it. The council can override a veto on Nov. 9, before the budget must be finalized. Denver's proposed 2027 budget includes $1.68 billion in spending.

In their letter, council members also asked Johnston to consider an analysis of the Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure's structure. Councilwoman Amanda Sawyer said, "The restructuring during the layoffs last year led to a situation where there is a very well-paid.. management team in DOTI and no implementers." Johnston's letter said the city is "deeply committed" to positioning DOTI to carry out its duties and invited the council to partner on any restructuring. Johnston accepted other council requests, including $2 million more for Denver Health, $2 million for a business grant program, 10 additional 911 operators, three new 311 call-takers, and two new park rangers.