Elevated Denver

In this second episode of our special series, we sit down again with Gwen Battis, Program Manager for the Denver Basic Income Project (DBIP), to explore what guaranteed income can mean for the future of Denver, and the country.

We dig into:

• The civil rights roots of guaranteed income
• Why cash offers dignity, choice, and real agency
• How DBIP became the first major pilot studying direct cash for people experiencing homelessness
• The growing participant-led movement shaping state and national cash policy
• What critics misunderstand—and why outcomes must be understood in context
• How AI and shifting labor markets make basic income increasingly essential
• A preview of DBIP’s upcoming documentary and the powerful stories featured in it

You’ll also hear reflections from DBIP participants and founder Mark Donovan, offering an honest look at the impact of trust, flexibility, and unconditional support.

If this conversation resonated with you, please consider supporting Elevated Denver this Colorado Gives Day. Your gifts keep this podcast, our storytelling work, and our community-centered education efforts going strong: https://www.coloradogives.org/story/Elevatedenver.

In this special two-part series, we explore one of the most talked-about ideas in the national conversation on poverty and homelessness: basic income. This episode features Gwen Battis, Project Manager at the Denver Basic Income Project (DBIP) about what happens when we trust people, and give them the financial foundation they need to rebuild their lives.

Gwen talks about DBIP's upcoming documentary, what they hope viewers take away, and why telling this story right now matters more than ever. We also hear from Mark Donovan, DBIP’s founder, about the origins of the pilot and the remarkable outcomes they've seen.

Throughout the conversation, we unpack:

• Why direct, unconditional cash works and what the data shows
• How stereotypes about homelessness and basic income break down when we listen to real stories
• The connection between dignity, agency, stability, and opportunity
• What it truly costs to keep someone in crisis vs. supporting financial stability
• Why cash cannot replace the safety net, but can strengthen it
• How basic income might help us reimagine systems that are failing individuals and families today

Links & Resources:

• Denver Basic Income Project — https://www.denverbasicincomeproject.org
• Follow DBIP on Instagram/TikTok: @denverbasicincomeproject
• Denver VOICE — https://denvervoice.org
• Elevated Denver — https://elevateddenver.co
• Donate to Support our work — https://www.coloradogives.org/story/Elevatedenver

Thank you for listening. If this conversation moved you, share the episode and join us for Part 2, where we explore shifting mindsets, what DBIP’s documentary reveals, and what it takes to build systems rooted in dignity and equity.

In the final episode of our special series on the Collaboratory and solutions to homelessness, we dive into the transformative solution that emerged from our work: Resource Connection Hubs. These Hubs, designed by those with lived experience, aim to address a critical gap in the homelessness response system—helping people find the resources they need before they experience homelessness or fall into chronic homelessness.

You'll hear from Collaboratory co-designers, champions, and national experts on:

🔹 Why peer-led support is key to making the system more effective.

🔹 How these hubs differ from existing resource centers.

🔹 The power of community-driven solutions in preventing homelessness.

🔹 What’s next for piloting and scaling this initiative.

Featured Voices:

🎙 Jennifer Speight (National homelessness advocate) on the urgency of early intervention.

🎙 Jeff Olivet (Federal homelessness expert) on the importance of local solutions.

🎙 Collaboratory co-designers & champions on how the Hubs will reshape Denver’s response system.

🎙 Jamie Morgan (Collaboratory facilitator) on what makes the Collaboratory model work.

Join the Movement: 🚀 Visit https://elevateddenver.co/ to learn more and sign up for our newsletter. 📢 Follow us on Instagram & LinkedIn (@ElevatedDenver.co) to stay updated. 💡 Help us spread the word—share this episode and be part of reimagining systems that work for everyone. 💙 Support this work! Make a donation to help us pilot and scale peer-led hubs: elevateddenver.co/donate

Special Thanks: This series is made possible by the support of Don & Lynn Burnes, Sal & Mimi Tripodi, and the incredible Collaboratory participants who co-designed this groundbreaking solution.

With true collaboration, homelessness is solvable. Let’s build a more just, connected Denver—together.

In this special episode we take a deep dive into why homelessness is a systemic issue—one driven by decades of policy decisions, economic shifts, and social inequities rather than individual choices.

We hear from Don Burnes, co-founder of the Burnes Institute for Poverty Research at the Colorado Center on Law and Policy. From deinstitutionalization and urban renewal to the failures of the housing market and the widening wage gap, Don lays out the systemic factors that have fueled the homelessness crisis in Denver and nationwide.

We also feature insights from Jeff Olivet, former director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, who argues that homelessness results from the breakdown of multiple systems—housing, healthcare, criminal justice, education, and social safety nets—not personal failures.

This episode challenges the stereotypes surrounding homelessness and calls for solutions that shift power to those with lived experience. We highlight Elevated Denver’s Collaboratory and the resultant community-driven solution to make services more accessible and responsive.

🔗 Learn more and stay engaged: elevateddenver.co

📣 Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn: https://www.instagram.com/elevateddenver.co/ | https://www.linkedin.com/company/elevated-denver/

📩 Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to hear about the Collaboratory issue brief and toolkit: http://eepurl.com/hNjyk1

Homelessness isn’t inevitable—it’s a failure of systems, not people. In this special three-part podcast series, we take you behind the scenes of Elevated Denver’s Collaboratory, where lived experts, service providers, policymakers, and business leaders came together to co-design solutions to systemic breakdowns.

In Episode 1, we introduce the Collaboratory model—a groundbreaking approach centering those with lived experience to design better systems. Hear from co-designers Elise, Myra, Betsy, Jessie, and Lindi, as well as facilitator Jamie and Elevated Denver team members about the challenges, breakthroughs, and how trust-building led to the Peer-Led Resource Connection Hub.

🔗 Learn more & get involved: elevateddenver.co

Be the first to read the Collaboratory Issue Brief: http://eepurl.com/hNjyk1

📢 Follow us on LinkedIn & Instagram at @ElevatedDenver.co

🎧 Produced by: The Elevated Denver team 🎵 Editing & Sound Design: Jesse Boynton, Olympic Recording Studio

Stay tuned for Episode 2, where we dive into why tackling homelessness at the systems level is so critical.

Welcome to a special series of the Elevated Denver Podcast! In this teaser episode, we’re giving you a glimpse into the incredible journey of the Elevated Denver Collaboratory. Between May and August 2024, ten individuals—including lived experts, service providers, government leaders, and business professionals—came together to tackle a critical challenge: helping people experiencing housing insecurity navigate resources.

Over six sessions, the group delved deep into the problem, brainstormed solutions, and landed on something transformative: Peer-Led Resource Connection Hubs. These hubs aim to connect individuals in crisis with peers who have firsthand experience navigating the system, providing early intervention and human connection to prevent homelessness or make it brief and temporary.

Tune in to this special episode series, coming in early 2025, to hear highlights of the process, the breakthroughs, and the solution that’s inspiring a new way forward.

Links & Resources:

• Learn more about Elevated Denver: https://elevateddenver.co/
• Support our work: https://elevateddenver.co/donate/
• Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/elevateddenver.co/ | https://www.facebook.com/elevateddenver.co | https://www.linkedin.com/company/elevated-denver

🎧 Don’t miss this powerful journey toward equity-driven solutions!

In this special bonus episode of the Elevated Denver Podcast, we interview Don Burns and Kevin F. Adler, co-authors of the book "When We Walk By," a profound exploration of America's homelessness crisis. Kevin, an award-winning social entrepreneur and Founder of Miracle Messages, and Don, an expert on homelessness, discuss the book's focus on both the policy and human perspectives of homelessness, emphasizing the crucial role of relational poverty—loneliness, isolation, and stigma. They highlight the intersectionality of housing insecurity with foster care, criminal justice, and systems of oppression, urging a shift in societal perspectives. The authors stress the need for empathetic connections, dispelling negative stereotypes, and share insights into practical solutions, weaving personal narratives and systemic analysis into a call for collective action and compassion.

Find the book here.

Watch the unedited interview on YouTube.

Get involved in Miracle Message.

In this episode, the last of the season, we dig into the housing and homelessness system, as well as the other systems that intersect homelessness. We also dive into the many factors that are contributing to our current homelessness crisis, highlighting a few of the stories you have heard through the season. We touch on the wage-cost of living disparity, the cliff effect, racial disparities, and the need for more responsive housing and supports. You will hear from Dr. Jamie Rife, the newly appointed head of the Office of Housing Stability (HOST), Britta Fisher, former head of HOST and current CEO of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, and many others. They will talk about homelessness prevention, and solutions steeped in collaboration and informed by the users of the system--those experiencing homelessness. It's a jam-packed episode. Enjoy!

In this compelling episode, we delve into Cuica Montoya's inspiring journey from her early life in central Denver to her personal battle with loss, homelessness, and healing, culminating in her remarkable leadership of the Safe Outdoor Spaces (SOS) program. We explore how SOS offers shelter, hygiene services, and crucial support for people facing homelessness. We also hear from Randall, a resident at an SOS site, who shares his own journey and aspirations for the future. Cuica emphasizes the importance of community, belonging, and dignity in the lives of those experiencing homelessness, showcasing the potential of SOS sites to serve as stepping stones to brighter futures.

In this episode, we delve into the critical issue of veteran homelessness, sharing the compelling stories of two veterans, Ben and Dustin. They highlight the challenges veterans face, such as health issues, wrongful terminations, and the difficulties in obtaining disability benefits. The episode explores the Built for Zero initiative from Community Solutions, emphasizing its data-driven and person-centered approach to addressing homelessness. The local Built for Zero initiative with veterans is discussed, showcasing a 21% reduction in veteran homelessness in the past year. Ben and Dustin, despite finding housing, shed light on ongoing challenges and emphasize the need for support and trust.Learn more about community solutions and Built for Zero here: https://community.solutions/built-for-zero/the-movement/

Read another veteran story and learn about local resources to support veterans with housing and other needs: https://elevateddenver.co/aveteransperspective/