Agreed.  This is a silly initiative, and a silly story.  All a landlord needs to do is tightly word a large "Late Fee" (say, 25%-50% of 1 month's rent) clause into the Lease contract, and evict whenever the contract is not followed to the letter.   Non-negotiable, no "mediation".   As long as a landlord doesn't waffle on collection for Late Fees or other breaches, and follows thru during the court eviction process (which sometimes takes a few weeks to get service and a court date), The City of Denver really has no say in the matter-- the tenant becomes guilty of unlawful detainer.    Once that happens, the tenant's stuff can go to the curb as soon as the sheriff processes the judgement, per state statute.  

If the City simply agrees to give rent money to a dead-beat tenant before the monthly rent is due, that sounds like it would be the taxpayer's problem, and ripe for graft.