Addressing the Hidden Crisis in Higher Education
For many, the college experience is defined by late-night study sessions and campus life. However, for a significant number of students, the reality is far more precarious. Depaul USA is working to change that narrative with the opening of its fifth Dax House in Denver, a facility specifically designed to provide stable housing for college students navigating homelessness.
The new Denver location, which held a ribbon-cutting ceremony in September 2026, accommodates up to 15 students aged 18 to 25. By partnering with institutions like Regis University and MSU Denver, the program ensures that students have a secure place to live, removing the immediate threat of displacement so they can focus on their academic and professional goals.
Beyond Just a Roof: The Dax Model
Established in 2015, the Dax Program is more than just emergency housing; it is a holistic support system. Recognizing that homelessness impacts every aspect of a student's life, the program integrates several layers of assistance:
- Case management and mental health support referrals.
- Financial literacy, budgeting, and life skills workshops.
- Employment assistance and career counseling.
- Essential needs support, including food, clothing, and hygiene supplies.
- Academic resources such as book stipends and tutoring.
Residents of the Denver house pay a nominal rent of $200 per month, a structure designed to provide stability while preparing students for independent living. This comprehensive approach is rooted in the belief that graduation and reduced student debt are the primary gateways to long-term professional success and personal stability.
The theory of change that animates the Dax Program is that graduation and limited student debt are gateways to future independence.
— SchoolHouse Connection
Scaling Impact Across the Country
The Denver site joins a growing network of Dax Houses across the United States. Since its inception in Chicago, the program has successfully expanded into cities including Philadelphia, New York, and Los Angeles. By housing students from 15 local universities, Depaul USA is creating a blueprint for how nonprofits and educational institutions can work together to combat the rising tide of student housing insecurity.
As the program continues to grow, it remains committed to its core mission: ensuring that a lack of stable housing does not become a barrier to earning a degree. For the students moving into the Denver Dax House, this means the difference between dropping out due to economic instability and walking across the stage at graduation.