In April 2026, Mayor Johnston announced the appointment of Cole Chandler as Chief Housing Officer and Executive Director of the Department of Housing Stability. 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.
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.
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.
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.