Thank YOU!

This spotlight goes to all our incredible individual supporters – we simply cannot do this work without each and every one of you. And you really came through at the end of last year!

Through the Colorado Gives Day campaign alone, 92 of you donated almost $10,000 to help us meet the needs of the SafeLot program and parking guests served every night of the year. All donations of any amount go toward supporting people living in their vehicles as they work their way back to being rehoused. Recurring donations help sustain all our important work, and give us confidence to continue building our program.

If you’re interested in finding out how to become a monthly, quarterly or annual donor, don’t hesitate to contact us directly at: info@colosafeparking.org and arrange for a regularly scheduled donation. 

Safelot Guest Spotlight

Donte returned to Colorado after some time in Texas once he completed 7 years of military service. After trying out various rooming arrangements with some challenging situations involving landlords, he eventually ended up living in his car at a truck stop with 40 other people and Door-Dashing to earn money. This lasted almost a year until they kicked everyone out of the truck stop, putting Donte back in limbo. Luckily, he found out about CSPI and entered one of the SafeLots. The community at the SafeLot was welcoming and the support offered was more than he expected.

Still Door-Dashing and doing delivery work Dante relies on his car for his income, but this wasn’t enough to do much maintenance work on his car. While at SafeLot, his case manager was able to arrange for the auto repair work to be done at no cost to him so that he could continue working. This is the sort of thing that makes a difference in peoples’ lives and demonstrates why it is better to be in a SafeLot with connections than trying to stay hidden by parking alone on a side street or hunkering down at a truck stop where it’s everyone for themselves. Community makes the difference.



If you need a safe place to park overnight, please complete the request form at https://www.colosafeparking.org/request-a-parking-permit

Notes from the Executive Director

As loyal and valued supporters of Colorado Safe Parking Initiative, I wanted to personally update you regarding local government funding for Denver SafeLots.

In June 2023 the city of Denver requested CSPI expand its services and offered a $600,000 grant to do so through December 2025, quadrupling the previous funding. They were pleased with what the pilot program had accomplished since opening the first SafeLot in 2020 and saw the need to grow the program to meet the increased need. CSPI entered into a contract with Denver and began work to add two additional SafeLots, per our contract. Read More

Program Update

With 2023 wrapping up, CSPI is pleased to now have 13 SafeLots operating across 5 Denver metro counties, with an ability to accommodate 110 households per night. In 2023 nearly 300 adults and people in families stayed in a SafeLot; over 40% of those who left went on to stable housing accomodations. While CSPI’s focus in 2023 remains ensuring sustainability of our ongoing work, we know the need is still growing and we remain committed to helping communities meet that need. In addition to our ongoing partnerships with area faith communities and commercial lot owners such as Urban Land Conservancy, CSPI fosters the replication of SafeLot programs throughout the state, helping communities beyond the Metro Denver area start safe parking programs of their own.



If you need a safe place to park overnight, please complete the request form at: https://www.colosafeparking.org/request-a-parking-permit

In the News

In case you missed our Executive Director Terrell’s January NPR interview with Chandra Thomas Whitfield, getting the word out about the how CSPI is people living in their cars find a safe place to park, you can listen to the full story here.

Current Needs



The freezing temperatures we have been experiencing are an inconvenience for some of us, but downright dangerous for people sleeping in their vehicles. Although CSPI provides a safe place to park, at this time of year we try to offer options to keep SafeLot guest parkers warm in their cars or motel vouchers for our guests with medical conditions or during dangerously low temperatures. Your donation to CSPI can help us meet the most urgent needs, in the moment. You can also check the Current Needs list below and purchase seasonal items most useful at this time of year. As always, your support is crucial.  

Winter/Spring Needs (Order through CSPI's Amazon Wish List here.)

• Sleeping Bags
• Space Blankets
• In-Car Heaters

Gift Cards from:

• Gas Stations
• King Soopers
• Grease Monkey
• Big O Tires

Purchase cards then mail to:

CSPI

c/o Barton Institute

1114 W 7th Avenue, Suite 215

Denver, CO 80204