Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at 03:56PM When one of our vendors reaches a personal goal, we love to share! Today, I'll tell you about Steve Szloboda, or maybe you already know?! Steve was featured in the April issue of the Denver VOICE. The profile is below.
But why am I talking about him today?
In a year, Steve has moved from being homeless, to getting housing and a "new" car.
Congrats Steve!
Profile, Denver VOICE, April 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at 02:11PM The Denver VOICE has partnered with KGNU to present at least one story a month on both KGNU and in the VOICE! Check out the latest piece: an interview with Susan Becker about the Maria Rogers Oral History Program at Boulder Public Library. Read it in the VOICE. Listen to the KGNU recording here!
Tuesday, May 29, 2012 at 12:43PM by Diana Kurniawan
No doubt there are more challenges to being homeless today, largely due to the recent ordinance making camping illegal that was approved May 14. The ordinance will prohibit unauthorized camping on public and private property in Denver. Mayor Hancock signed the bill into law, as reported by the Denver Post, to ensure the highest level of health and safety for Denver.
However, during the city public hearing on the ordinance, there were heated arguments, and I questions whether or not those arguments were taken into account.
“Sweeping them out of the public view will prolong the societal impetus to correct this egregious situation,” said Jaime Lewis, of Colorado Cross Disability Coalition.
In light of Scott Russell’s Denver VOICE-supported art show, Concrete and Cardboard, and last month’s public hearing, it is a surprise to see Denver converted to a no-camping zone. It's largely understood that Denver became a target of the ordinance because of the influx of local Occupy Wall Street protesters, and there were the complaints from local businesses that view the homeless as unsanitary and unsafe. However, it has been a difficult path to gain funding for the resources, and now Denver's Police will have to make sure the criminalization will not impede on the progress for homeless care.
“If someone is arrested for this [camping outside], they will either get a fine they cannot pay or some other condition that they cannot meet [forced treatment, forced sheltering, etc.], creating a new criminal record making it that much more difficult to obtain permanent housing,” said Lewis during the public hearing on April 30.
Other critics of the ordinance posted on Denver VOICE blog.
Perhaps this is where creativity such as Russell’s will come in handy—a means to increase awareness and resources to care for the homeless population. It’s not a difficult concept to grasp—for the masses to increase involvement and awareness for the homeless. When Denver wanted a new baseball and football stadium, taxpayers voted to raise the sales tax. We'll pay to house sports teams but not our own human neighbors?
Why not get more people to invest for safe housing and creative solutions to care for the people in Colorado? Maybe not by raising taxes but by collaboration with more corporations and the home building industry. Even $1 million will go a long way for homeless care. But how will we raise the money, volunteerism and opportunity?
More and more organizations such as Habitat for Humanity will be an example of a great organization to approach, especially with regards to the homelessness issue. As reported in the New York Times, in the eastside of Portland, Ore., this spring, there are 22 homes being built, part of the largest Habitat project in Oregon’s history. All are built on land purchased inexpensively because of the economic downturn. In other states such as Nevada and Florida, Habitat stopped new construction and focused on buying abandoned properties with high foreclosure rates, then renovating them.
This might be the impetus of a new relationship for Colorado to make with Habitat and other home-builder organizations to harness the wind of the ordinance supporters did not take into account. Currently, Habitat of Metro Denver runs a homeownership program for low-income families, but maybe there is room for remodeling and renovating homes that are foreclosed or on abandoned lots just as other state programs are doing.
What can you do? Habitat is always looking for volunteers, and they have an Annual Breakfast on May 31—a great opportunity for Denverites to join in the cause for homelessness and poverty through the organization.
Friday, May 25, 2012 at 12:06PM By Rebekah Hanish
Buzzing with clanking dishes, calling orders and the hum of small talk, Café 180 serves up lunch to their customers. Known for their “pay-as-you-can” system, the kitchen of Café 180 is filled with volunteers. Though the volunteers work for their food, for some, it’s still not enough. That’s why Cathy Miller, owner of Café 180, has decided to partner with the Denver VOICE. 
“I heard about the VOICE, and I loved the idea,” Miller said. “It dovetails perfectly with what Café 180 is about, helping people be self-sufficient. I know a lot of people who are homeless and don’t want to be. They’re hard workers, and they want to work.”
Born and raised in Denver, volunteer Bobby will begin vending the VOICE in Englewood as soon as he completes his orientation. Having volunteered at Café 180 for almost a year now, he expresses his appreciation to Miller for coordinating the partnership with the VOICE.
“Nobody is willing to hire ex-cons. I like working, but I can’t find a job for nothing,” Bobby says. “Cathy, she’s doing what she can to help me up out of that.”
Living in fear of the camping ban, Bobby hopes to make enough money vending the VOICE to obtain an apartment as soon as possible. But his eyes cloud with a hardness when he looks at me and asks, “Am I going to make enough money to get me out of here?”
Quickly changing the subject, Bobby calls over his friend, another volunteer for Café 180 and future vendor for the VOICE, Ellie May. Though Ellie May is petite and unassuming, no one would dare overlook her with her bright eyes and beaming smile. Ellie May claims she is a little nervous to talk to strangers, but it doesn’t take her long to open up.
“I’m shy, but I’m not shy. I’m fabulous,” Ellie May says.
After washing dishes at Café 180 for about five months, Ellie May is also excited to begin vending the Denver VOICE.
“They keep telling me I’ll do great,” Ellie May says. “But I’m nervous to be in front of a lot of people.”
It’s easy to see that Ellie May’s coworkers are right. She will do great as a vendor. With a passion for making people’s days, Ellie May’s favorite thing is to get others to smile. Whether it’s complimenting an outfit, a hairdo or eye color, she makes it a point to make someone smile every day.
“I love people,” Ellie May says. “Everybody’s fabulous. They just need to be told they’re fabulous.”
Though sad to be spending less time with her “family” at Café 180, Ellie May hopes vending the VOICE will provide her with some much needed income.
Look for the VOICE’s new vendors in Englewood as early as next week directly outside Café 180, Wellspring Church and TNL Church at the Gothic Theater.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at 01:29PM First linked to Westword blog
The Training Form, including a chart of action (see bottom of the document)
