Denver CARES, the city's detox center, faces a funding gap and an old court ruling

Denver CARES, the detox and sobering center run by Denver Health, is at the center of two problems at once: who pays for it, and how people end up there. A Denver Gazette investigation published Oct. 23 lays out both.

It matters to residents because police drop-offs make up more than half of the program's admissions, according to hospital documents cited by the Gazette. When CARES can't take someone, the alternatives are the jail or the emergency room.

The money

The Gazette reported that Denver Health estimates CARES costs about $12 million a year. The city provided no CARES money in its 2026 budget, which the Gazette said was the first time in five decades. Mayor Mike Johnston's proposed 2027 budget did not include any either, but Johnston agreed to $2 million during negotiations with the Council, the Gazette reported. CBS Colorado also reported the $2 million added for Denver Health in the mayor's response.

In an Oct. 15 letter, Denver Health warned that without enough funding it may reduce or end CARES services in 2027, the Gazette reported. Denver Health CEO Donna Lynne told the paper she wants to keep the service but not "on the backs of other services."

The court case

A federal jury in 2024 found that Denver CARES violated two people's Fourth Amendment rights and awarded them $660,000, according to the Gazette. The plaintiffs' lawyers alleged the facility detained people who had been drinking but did not consent. CARES' lawyers argued that staff were not constitutionally required to second-guess police decisions to bring someone in, the Gazette reported. Another case is pending before the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Denver Health declined to describe changes since the verdict, saying its policies have "evolved over the years."

What our records add

Council members raised CARES during budget hearings. At the Sept. 21 hearing with Denver Health, Council member Paul Kashmann asked what CARES does. The hospital's answer: roughly 10,300 patients and about 25,000 visits this year, many brought by police (video at 36:40). Later that day, Council member Amanda Sawyer asked why CARES is not funded through its own contract instead of inside the Denver Health operating agreement (video at 46:26).

On Sept. 23, Council member Jamie Torres asked the Department of Safety, which she called the program's biggest user, whether it could cover some of the cost. A Safety official said that was under discussion but could not be covered in that budget (video at 26:07).

This isn't the first time CARES money moved. In December 2023 the Council passed 23-1806, sponsored by former Council member Sarah Parady and Shontel Lewis, which rescinded unspent 2023 money from the CARES and public health clinic lines and moved it to Denver Health's payment for uninsured patients. It passed 13-0.

The 2027 budget is a single Council record, 26-1547.

What's next

• Monday, Oct. 26: The required public hearing on the 2027 budget at City Council (agenda; schedule).
• Nov. 9: The final budget vote, as listed on the Council's pending items. Council members can propose amendments before then.

For the rest of the budget fight, read Johnston said no to most of the Council's budget asks.