The Need

In 2008 before the current economic crisis had really begun, more than 10,000 people across metropolitan Denver[1] were estimated to be homeless on any given night.[2] The most recent homeless count in the Denver Metro area in January of 2009 shows an increase to over 11,000 people and just about half of those are newly homeless. Many service providers including the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless recently reported that this estimate is now outdated, as the rate of homelessness has already increased by 20% in 2009.[3] Perhaps more significantly in the last two years Denver City and County has seen a 44 percent increase in homelessness from 3,954 people to 6,656. The majority of homeless individuals report that the loss of a job and/or high housing costs as the main reasons they found themselves without stable housing.  As the jobless recovery continues, the number of Denver area residents who find themselves homeless continues to increase.

Some homeless individuals sleep in their cars or in the spare rooms of family or friends, others are in shelters or literally on the streets. While various local initiatives have helped to reduce the number of chronically homeless, the number of “newly homeless” individuals in the Denver metro area has continued to increase. Complicating the situation, nearly 50% of homeless individuals struggle with a disabling condition. [4]

Our Jobs Program provides homeless and/or impoverished individuals with a chance to take their first steps towards a more stable life. The mental health issues, substance abuse and other disabilities that often underlie homelessness tend to make it very difficult for a homeless individual to obtain and keep a regular job. The combination of income-earning opportunities, job-flexibility and job-training offered by our Jobs Program offer a struggling individual the chance to work when he/she feels able, learn (or re-learn) workplace expectations, and earn sufficient income to move off the street. When one of our former vendors or journalists/artists is ready to move on to a more stable future, work for the VOICE can be listed as a recent work experience on job applications.

[1] Metropolitan Denver is defined as including the Front Range counties of Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson.

[2] 2008 Metropolitan Denver Homeless Initiative Point-in-Time Survey.

[3] South Platte homeless ousted: shelters at capacity, The Denver Post, September 15, 2009.

[4] 2008 Metropolitan Denver Homeless Initiative Point-in-Time Survey.