By Matt Davidson, VOICE vendor
Just the other day, on a very chilly morning, I was out of money and out of newspapers. It was a Sunday, so I couldn’t go get more papers, and I was cold. My jacket was doing its job by keeping my arms and chest warm, but my ears and head were cold, as I didn’t have a cap.
What does homelessness look like?
When you picture homelessness, you might get a mental image of the people waiting outside the Denver Rescue Mission’s Lawrence Street Shelter. Maybe you picture a man, 40-60 years old, bearded, and in dirty or disheveled clothing. That’s certainly what many people still picture when they think of homelessness.
By Linette Hidalgo | Photo by Sarah Harvey
JJ Jones is a bright spot along the stretch of Broadway where he regularly sells the Denver VOICE. With his yellow baseball cap and wide smile, he exudes a childlike happiness and enthusiasm. Though primarily wheelchair-bound, JJ has a positive attitude and undeniable work ethic.
By Danielle Krolewicz
Last year, Colorado state legislature passed HB 14-1061, a law banning debtor’s prison practices by mandating due process protections to prevent courts from jailing individuals who cannot pay court fines and fees.
Research and Questions by Sonia Christensen
Much of what we think we know about homelessness is based on misinformation and stereotypes. Can you separate fact from fiction?
By Jamie Swinnerton | Photos by Giles Clasen
Families with children are the largest group of people experiencing homelessness in the Denver metro area. They are often considered to be the “hidden” homeless.
There is a misconception today that homelessness in non-urban areas does not exist because it cannot be easily spotted. Homelessness in many suburban and rural areas exists—but it is often hidden.
By Danielle Krolewicz | Photos by Giles Clasen
In a five-story former military barracks on the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Comitis Crisis Center (CCC) has 139 beds for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. It is the only place in Aurora to offer 24/7 emergency shelter.
Photo and Text by Linette Hidalgo
Ann Bitela does not typically draw much attention to herself. She has a noticeably gentle and unassuming nature, yet a brilliant flicker of strength and determination is evident in her character upon meeting her. Her bright eyes and kind smile reveal compassion and sincerity. Ann’s sense of gratitude and perseverance make her stand out among Denver VOICE vendors.
By Brian Dibley, VOICE vendor
As winds blew all around,
The sounds of the city—
By Nancy Layne
It’s a sunny day in downtown Denver as Fatima Kiass rides her bicycle from her apartment to Metropolitan State University where she is getting a Bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in human services. For the past two years, she has also been a client at Urban Peak.
By Sarah Harvey | Art By Book Williams, Jr. | Photos by Giles Clasen
This month the Denver Public Library will put on a free early morning concert for the folks in line waiting for the library to open. The idea is to brighten the day of anyone who happens to be waiting outside the library’s Central branch on Sept. 8—including people experiencing homelessness and poverty.
By Danielle Krolewicz
Renaissance at Northern Colorado Station by Colorado Coalition for the Homeless (CCH)
Set to open this fall is a new affordable housing apartment complex located on 1.63 acres near the RTD FasTracks station at 40th Ave. and Colorado Blvd.
By Robert Lee Payne, VOICE vendor
Invisible walls created by people.
Labels verbally spoken to pull you down.
Attitudes to discourage you or upset you.
Selling a street paper can be a lonely job. Some vendors find that having a four (and in one case, three) legged friend can be a vital source of companionship and mutual support. Big Issue North vendors in the U.K. introduce their canine friends and explain what an important part their pets play in their lives.
By Christian Lisseman
Courtesy of INSP News Service www.INSP.ngo / Big Issue North
Edited by Denver VOICE
I visited Seattle’s Tent City 3 in June with a group of editors from other street papers.
Before I saw Tent City 3, I thought of tent cities as necessary evils, not viable shelter options. For me, they were a grim reminder of income inequality and a symbol of the lack of affordable housing. I was picturing a refuge camp—and because some tent encampments look that way, I took it for granted that Tent City 3 would be a chaotic, depressing place.
By Linette Hidalgo | Photo by Sarah Harvey
Derek Stokely is a more recent initiate into the Denver VOICE vendor program, having transplanted from Virginia just last October. His approachable, friendly nature and native Virginian accent make him a pleasant presence in the office. Derek often pulls double duty as both a VOICE vendor and part-time cook; his work ethic and positive attitude make him a standout vendor.
By Jamie Swinnerton
Last May the cost of booking and housing Denver’s most frequent petty offenders prompted the creation of a city-funded program called Recovery Court. The idea behind the program was to look at solutions to the underlying causes that keep sending these petty offenders back to jail. Now, a little over a year after it was implemented, evaluation of Recovery Court shows vast improvement for those utilizing it.
By Gary Davis, Voice vendor
I have been homeless off an on since 1999 due to a 30-year struggle with alcoholism. I’ve been in and out of jails, prisons, detox programs, treatment centers, and hospitals over the years. I became involved in Recovery Court for a charge of trespassing on RTD property in October 2014.
Let me describe how it works upon entering Recovery Court: each person works with a case worker at Mental Health Center of Denver (MHCD) to develop a plan that sets attainable, short-term goals with clearly defined action steps. There are four phases to this program.
By Laura Smith | Edited for length by Denver VOICE
Courtesy of INSP News Service www.INSP.ngo
Despite the national flag hanging limply at the entrance to Seattle’s Tent City 3, residents here aren’t exactly living the American Dream. But for most, staying in one of the city’s authorized homeless encampments is their best option.
“What this is all about is survival,” said long-time resident Lantz Roland. “Get people out of the bushes, get people off the streets, get people safe and sheltered.”