Cole Chandler Appointed as Executive Director of Housing Stability

Cole Chandler Appointed as Executive Director of Housing Stability

Published on April 08, 2026

Today, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston announced the appointment of Cole Chandler as Executive Director of the Department of Housing Stability (HOST), bringing a proven leader in homelessness resolution and housing innovation to guide the city's ongoing efforts to ensure every Denverite has a safe and stable place to live.

"Cole Chandler has been instrumental in turning our vision into reality," said Mayor Mike Johnston. "His leadership, urgency and deep commitment to service have helped us make historic progress. There is no one better to lead HOST as we build on this momentum and continue delivering results for our city."

Chandler has served as Senior Advisor for Homelessness Resolution to Mayor Johnston since July 2023. In this role, he led the implementation of the House1000 initiative and the All In Mile High (AIMH) effort, transformational programs that have reshaped Denver's response to unsheltered homelessness and helped 8,000 people transition into interim housing, through hotel shelters and micro-communities, and helped more than 5,500 people exit homelessness entirely. The efforts also permanently closed 250 blocks to camping.

"I'm honored to step into this role and continue serving the people of Denver alongside the very passionate and talented people who make up the HOST team," said Chandler. "We've shown that when we act with urgency and compassion, we can achieve real, measurable progress. I'm excited to continue working toward a future where homelessness is rare, brief and non-recurring, and everyone who wants to can afford to call Denver their home."

As Denver continues advancing the Mayor's vision to end street homelessness, AIMH has evolved into a coordinated, system-wide approach. This includes intentional coordination and partnership with HOST, proactive citywide efforts to engage individuals before encampments form and targeted strategies to support families experiencing homelessness.

Under Chandler's leadership, the All In Mile High initiative has also driven measurable impact, including a 98% reduction in large unsheltered encampments, according to a report by the Urban Institute. Working alongside Mayor Johnston, Chandler helped develop a nationally recognized model for addressing unsheltered homelessness - one that cities across the country are now looking to as a roadmap for scalable, compassionate and effective solutions.

"Cole is an outstanding choice to lead HOST. He brings thoughtful leadership, deep understanding of effective solutions, and an unwavering commitment to the life-saving work of ending homelessness," said Jeff Olivet, Former Executive Director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.

During his tenure in the Mayor's Office, Chandler coordinated efforts across city agencies and the Emergency Operations Center, overseeing a cross-functional team dedicated to executing the Mayor's emergency declaration on homelessness. His work has emphasized collaboration, accountability and rapid implementation of proven strategies.

"Denver has made incredible strides in reducing unsheltered homelessness, and Cole Chandler is no small part of the reason why," said Rosanne Haggerty, CEO of Community Solutions. "He is an effective, creative, values-driven leader and an outstanding choice to lead HOST in its next chapter."

Prior to joining the Mayor's Office, Chandler served as the first Director of Homelessness Initiatives at the Colorado Department of Human Services, where he oversaw statewide efforts to address homelessness. He also co-founded and led the Colorado Village Collaborative (CVC), which launched Denver's first tiny home villages directly in partnership with people experiencing homelessness.

Earlier in his career, Chandler was a live-in volunteer at the Denver Catholic Worker House, where he gained firsthand experience living alongside individuals transitioning out of homelessness. He holds a Master of Divinity from Baylor University and has dedicated more than a decade to advancing housing stability and social change.

Chandler lives in North Denver with his wife and two young sons. Outside of work, Cole is an avid mountain athlete who enjoys cycling, skiing and running.

Molly Urbina, who supported as interim Executive Director of HOST, will return to her full-time role as Deputy Chief Operating Officer for the Mayor's Office to coordinate and support departments across the city.

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