Watch CBS News

Church In Capitol Hill Breaks Ground On Housing For Homeless

By Kelly Werthmann

DENVER (CBS4) - A parking lot in the Capitol Hill neighborhood in Denver is now the site of a new beginning for the homeless.

St. John's Cathedral and the St. Francis Center broke ground for a new $10 million apartment complex Sunday morning. The St. Francis Apartments at Cathedral Square will be built just across from the cathedral at 14th Avenue and Washington Street with 50 units for those in need.

HOMELESS APARTMENTS 5PKG .tansfer
(credit: CBS)

"We certainly know that there are thousands of people in need of housing in Denver," Tom Luehrs, Executive Director of the St. Francis Center, told CBS4's Kelly Werthmann. "It will be primarily for single men, women and couples. Although the apartments are one bedroom so a family with a parent and child could be in the apartments as well."

Each unit will be about 500 square feet in size and fully-furnished with the help of donations. The joint project is funded primarily by the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program from the Colorado Housing and Finance Agency. The remaining $1,000,000 is from a housing development grant through the Colorado Division of Housing and from the Office of Economic Development in Denver.

HOMELESS APARTMENTS 5PKG .transfer
(credit: CBS)

With the rising costs of living in Denver, the permanent supportive housing complex aims to give those struggling on the street a safe place to call home.

"Many of the people we're working with are people who are working, but can't afford housing," Patrick Malloy, Dean of St. John's Cathedral, said. "This is actually a good first step to rehabilitating people and to improving life in Denver in general."

HOMELESS APARTMENTS 5PKG .tra-nsfer
(credit: CBS)

Organizers believe the complex will be up and running within the next year.

For more information on the project and how to donate, visit sjcathedral.org/saintfrancis.

Kelly Werthmann joined the CBS4 team in 2012 as the morning reporter, covering national stories like the Aurora Theater Shooting and devastating Colorado wildfires. She now reports for CBS4 News at 10 and is always open to story ideas. Connect with her on Facebook or Twitter @KellyCBS4.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.