The Denver City Council will consider spending up to $17.2 million to lease a new hotel and contract with service providers for the city’s homeless micro-communities at its last meeting of the year on Monday.

Mayor Mike Johnston has vowed to house 1,000 homeless people by year’s end. The city needs to house 450 more people to reach his ambitious goal, according to the city’s homeless housing dashboard on Sunday.

Mayor Mike Johnston sees 'path' to getting 1,000 homeless people off of Denver's streets by Dec. 31

The council on Monday expects to vote on a $10.4 million, one-year lease agreement for the 220-room Radisson Hotel at 4849 Bannock St. to house the homeless.

Also on the agenda is a $2 million service provider contract with Denver-based nonprofit Bayaud Enterprises to operate and provide programming at the hotel.

The Radisson hotel includes a restaurant and ballroom/meeting space, which will be used to provide services, according to the city’s proposed lease agreement.

Denver may lease 220-room hotel to house homeless

The council will also consider a $3.1 million contract with The Saint Francis Center for operational services at the previously acquired 136-unit Comfort Inn & Suites at 4685 Quebec St. and a $1.7 million contract with The Salvation Army to provide meals at the first three homeless micro-community sites being built in Denver. 

The contracts with service providers would last until the end of 2024. 

Denver plans to sweep 7 more homeless encampments before Dec. 31

Also on the agenda Monday:

Contracts and Resolutions

• An agreement with Mental Health Center of Denver adding $2.1 million for a new contract total of $6 million and 13 months to operate the Crisis Intervention Response Unit pairing mental health clinicians with police officers responding to mental health needs.
• An agreement with Downtown Denver Partnership for $1.15 million until the end of 2025 to leverage the reconstruction and reopening of 16th Street Mall.
• A proclamation introducing the 118th National Western Stock Show, Rodeo and Horse Show to Denver starting Jan. 6.
• A contract with Denver Health and Hospital Authority for $1.4 million to provide medical services to the child welfare department until the end of 2024.