DENVER, September 25, 2024 – Today, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, Denver Human Services (DHS), and Gary Community Ventures announced a new collaboration to improve access to essential services for Denver residents through a transformative online tool called MyFriendBen. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to breaking down barriers and making vital services more accessible to everyone in Denver.
MyFriendBen is a single website designed to reduce the confusion many residents face when seeking assistance. It allows users to quickly input their information and easily understand which government benefits, programs, and tax credits they may qualify for. The new program screens for more than 50 public benefits, including the Denver Recycling and Trash Rebate, Denver Preschool Program, Denver Property Tax Program, MySpark Denver, SNAP to Success, Temporary Rental and Utility Assistance, health insurance and healthcare, discounts on public transit, and more. Through this program, Denver has the opportunity to distribute millions of additional dollars to support our residents without increasing the city budget.
“One in three Denverites utilize public benefits, from trash rebates to food assistance to health care and more,” said Mayor Johnston. “But we know that actually accessing those benefits can be incredibly complicated and time-consuming, leaving hundreds of millions of dollars in public support on the table each year. In Denver, we’re committed to delivering great government for our residents, and this innovative new partnership will simplify and unify the application process to ensure residents know exactly which support programs they’re entitled to and exponentially increase the benefits they can access.”
More than one-third of Denver residents access services and benefits through Denver Human Services, but many Denverites often struggle to navigate complicated systems and multiple websites to find support. With MyFriendBen, community members can answer a few simple questions and in about 6 minutes receive an estimate of the cash value and programs they might be eligible for. They can then decide which programs are right for them.
“At Denver Human Services, we recognize that many residents are unaware of the services available to them or think that applying for benefits is too complicated and time-consuming,” said DHS Economic Resilience Director Dana Niemela. “MyFriendBen aims to bridge that gap. We are excited to introduce this tool to our 1,300 team members, empowering them to assist customers in using this tool to determine their eligibility for government benefits and tax credits.”
“We are proud to collaborate with Denver on this important initiative,” said Santhosh Ramdoss, president and chief executive officer at Gary Community Ventures. “We believe that providing this benefits screener to all Denver residents is an important first step in making our city a national leader in benefits access and safety net protection for the most vulnerable Denverites.”
To ensure Denver residents know about this new tool, the City and County of Denver will work to share information about this program in all public-facing offices, including through community engagement and outreach workers, and will continue to explore partnerships with community organizations who work directly with residents.
It’s important to note that MyFriendBen provides estimates and not definitive eligibility determinations. Final eligibility and benefit amounts must be confirmed with the appropriate government agency.
Denver residents are encouraged to explore MyFriendBen and take the first step toward accessing the benefits they may be eligible for. Residents can visit myfriendben.org to learn more. Watch the full press conference.
