Denver mayor outlines housing and citywide goals for 2026

Mayor Mike Johnston announced 2026 priorities that include adding affordable housing, reducing street homelessness and cutting gun-related violence, and he cited past progress such as 5,600 affordable units added since taking office.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston laid out his administration's top goals for 2026 at a news conference. He highlighted housing, reducing street homelessness, public safety, child care and clean energy as priorities. Johnston cited previous progress on affordable housing and measures of street homelessness and crime as context for the new goals. The announcements included numerical targets across housing, safety and climate initiatives. Key reported facts: - Johnston said the city has added 5,600 affordable housing units since he took office. - He reported a roughly 45% reduction in street homelessness since 2023 and stated a goal to reach a 75% reduction since 2023. - Johnston said the city has seen a 57% drop in homicides and a 55% drop in auto theft, and he set 2026 targets to decrease gun-related homicides by 10% and reduce shootings in high-risk areas by 20%. - The mayor outlined housing and development targets including adding 2,500 more affordable units, permitting 5,000 other units, aiming to fill 3 million square feet of downtown vacant space, and installing 5,000 clean energy systems such as solar panels or EV chargers. Summary: Johnston presented these goals as part of a broader effort to make Denver safer, more affordable and more child-friendly while continuing work on clean energy. Undetermined at this time.