Michael Hancock
Bottom line:
States that as mayor he would use his “own life lessons to continue to address homelessness and ensure our residents have the resources, including access to affordable housing, education, job training, and health services, to lead healthy and productive lives.”
On his campaign website:
No mention of homelessness
In his campaign flyer:
No mention of homelessness
Issue-specific ideas or solutions presented at March 24 and April 6 events:
Stated one of his goals as mayor would be to increase the city’s awareness of and compassion for “those who aren’t seen.” Cited his experiences with homelessness and living in public housing as a child when at times he and his siblings were hungry or slept in the dark or in the cold.
Issue-related comments:
In a March Denver Voice article, Hancock was quoted as saying as mayor he would make sure all Denver residents have the resources they need to “lead healthy and productive lives,” including “access to affordable housing, education, job training, and health services.”
Hancock noted that the average age of the Denver homeless population is nine years old and that within Denver Public Schools 1,500 students are homeless. To address such issues, he promised to:
• maximize opportunities for city government to work with faith-based organizations, non-profits, and businesses to find creative and innovative solutions to support program services and communities in need
• work with stakeholders in Denver and regionally to provide cross-jurisdictional services and ensure struggling families and neighbors are connected with these services
• proactively address the various causes of homelessness
• address panhandling, overcrowded shelters, and a lack of affordable housing
• drive attention and resources to the issues and solutions surrounding homelessness
• continue to highlight the actions, goals, and partners of the Denver’s Road Home program
• gather feedback from the stakeholders and organizations involved.
At the Denver Mayoral Candidate Forum on Homelessness, Hancock stated the next mayor must have some sense of empathy for what brings people to the point of homelessness. He cited a relative who has benefitted from the Denver’s Road Home program and said Denver needs to:
• address all the populations who need such help, including victims of domestic violence and their children
• continue to engage with faith-based communities to address homelessness
• take a regional approach to maximize resources and make sure people coming to Denver for such services are being served not only in Denver but in their home communities
• find people good-paying jobs to stem the tide of foreclosures and homelessness
• build collaborative partnerships to be prepared to help those in need.
Experience Potentially Related to this Issue:
• City Councilman 2003-Present
--President 2006-2008
• Former CEO, Denver Urban League affiliate
• Experienced homelessness as a child