Colorado Safe Parking Initiative: Expansion Continues

The Colorado Safe Parking Initiative (CSPI) is the latest safe-community-space organization to join the Barton Institute under a fiscal sponsorship agreement. CSPI is a citizen-run group advocating for and providing safe parking to people living in their vehicles in Metro Denver.

In January 2020, there were no safe parking lots in Metro Denver, and now there are eight: in Arvada, Golden, Broomfield, and Longmont. Lots are set to open in Boulder and Denver this spring. This growth is driven by a dynamic partnership of volunteers, nonprofit providers, and religious communities. A team of faculty, staff, and students from the University of Denver’s Grand Challenges Program has helped CSPI with communications, evaluation, and legal support.

Recognizing the potential of the safe parking model, the Barton Institute provided funding for CSPI to hire a program development consultant and a fundraising consultant to build toward sustainability. Through emergency support funding from the state of Colorado, CSPI is hiring an outreach and engagement coordinator to connect people living in their vehicles with available safe lot spaces.

For more information, visit colosafeparking.org