The Promise of Safe Parking

No one should have to live in their vehicle, but for those who must, providing a safe, legal place to sleep provides stability on the path toward more permanent housing.

The Colorado Safe Parking Initiative is a citizen-led organization working to encourage and allow safe, legal parking locations for individuals and families experiencing homelessness who are living in vehicles in Colorado.

The Barton Institute’s Rebecca Arno connected with the Safe Parking Initiative while at the University of Denver. We were invited to join in a cross-disciplinary cohort focusing on food and housing insecurity that chose the Safe Parking Initiative as one of its key projects. The Barton Institute recognized that the Initiative, launched by volunteers and people who understand and have experienced homelessness, aligns with our mission to support people as they face the challenges in their communities.

The Barton Institute contributes staff and communications support to the Colorado Safe Parking Initiative, as it seeks to encourage local communities, municipalities, and organizations to create safe, legal overnight parking spaces throughout Metro Denver. Several publications have recently published pieces about safe parking, you can read more in The Colorado Sun here, and to find Westword’s piece, see here.

Click here to view a recording of our recent webinar, The Promise of Safe Parking.