There are two broad approaches to homelessness. Housing first prioritizes providing stable, permanent housing to individuals experiencing homelessness without preconditions such as sobriety, employment, or mental health treatment. The core idea is that housing is a basic human right, and that once a person has a secure place to live, they are better able to address other challenges like mental health, substance use, or unemployment.

The second approach is best described as intervention first or work first. Under this approach, providers use a tiered system of shelter, treatment, and training to build self-sufficiency. Housing is assumed to be the byproduct of self-governing behavior rather than a human right. Program residents must abide by sobriety rules, work or workforce training requirements, and potentially contribute portions of their pay to the program itself.

As homelessness has grown in Colorado and in the Denver metro area, some local and state leaders have championed housing first policies. Denver’s All In Mile High program embodies a housing first approach. Other cities have adopted work first policies, meanwhile, but these programs are generally unable to secure federal aid due to HUD’s housing first prioritization.

CSI has analyzed the trends associated with each approach to better understand outcomes and this podcast episode delves into the issue more deeply.

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The study: "No Place to Call Home: The Stark Reality of Homelessness in Colorado" can be found here.

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Our host DJ Summers, Director of Policy and Research for Common Sense Institute, delves deeper into CSI's recent report "Returning Government Employees to Work a Boon for Urban Economy" on this episode of Colorado Clarity. On January 20, 2025, the new presidential administration indicated a desire to have all federal employees return to in-person work. The administration directed all executive branch departments and agencies to terminate remote work arrangements and require employees to return to work in-person at their respective duty stations on a full-time basis. What could the impacts of such a move be? What trade-offs exist? What story do the numbers tell? All of that and more can be found in this episode of Colorado Clarity.

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Everybody wants cleaner energy – but not everybody is going to be happy about how much clean energy is going to cost them.

Our host DJ Summers, Director of Policy and Research for Common Sense Institute, referencing CSI's recent report "The Future of Energy Prices in Colorado," breaks down the state’s emission reduction laws which require zero carbon emissions from the electric sector by 2040, the increase in electrification for buildings, and the accelerated retirement of coal and natural gas plants. Ambitious carbon reduction goals are a noble pursuit, but how much will it cost businesses and consumers? The total numbers are likely to shock you. Find out how much you'll be paying on this episode of Colorado Clarity.

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