Recently, Colorado passed HB1100, a bill which sought to make it easier for “unaccompanied homeless youth” (those unaccompanied by a parent or adult) to get in-state college tuition. Previously, the difficulty of obtaining the necessary documentation, and the requirement that in-state tuition be determined by the number of years a parent had lived in Colorado, made it prohibitive to do so, just one more obstacle faced by homeless young people on the road to a post-secondary education. Here, we look at the challenges faced by the growing number of homeless youth in Colorado. As a demographic, they have some of the lowest high-school graduation rates, highest dropout rates, and the most significant mobility rates (moving from school to school).
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For many Coloradans, camping is a rite of summer. For VOICE vendors Ann and Armand, it became a way of life when they ran out of options.
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This summer you’ll find no shortage of guides to the best patios, burgers, and events in Denver. These kinds of lists are fun. They help us define a place—this is the best of Denver, here are the spots for locals, these are the things visitors must try before they leave. But there are as many layers to Denver as there are people living in it. These best-of lists and tours, while fun, often only show one side of a city.
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“Life’s a rollercoaster, man.” To most people, this is an ineffectual witticism. To Armand (pronounced Ar-min) Casazza, it belies a difficult life stalwartly lived. The son of an alcoholic and a drug addict, Armand started off a challenging life in Illinois. When he was four, his father, an army veteran, took the family to California where Armand spent his formative years.
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The “Ask a Vendor” column allows us to share the thoughts and wisdom of the diverse group of people who make up the Denver VOICE vendor pool. Do you have a question for VOICE vendors? See below for more information on how to submit it.
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Music In Bathrooms Keeps Homeless Out
By Sarah Ford
In Grand Junction, city officials are implementing a unique new tactic to keep the homeless from staying in public bathrooms: blasting children’s tunes inside the restrooms.
Rob Schoeber, Director of Grand Junction Parks and Recreation, told local NBC affiliate KKCO 11 that the city is seeking to keep the homeless and transitory from spending too long in public restrooms as a way to escape inclement weather or unfavorable conditions.
Raelene Johnson, top-selling female Denver VOICE vendor, loves her city and wants to share it with you. The following are Raelene’s personal landmarks and favorite spots.
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Vendor David Gordon spends a lot of time on South Broadway, and knows the area and surrounding businesses well.
He likes the neighborhood because he thinks he is treated better there than in other parts of Denver. “A lot of those businesses know that they’re not going to get rich off of the few dollars that I can spend, but my business is valued. That’s why I like Broadway so much.”
By Justin Lee, VOICE vendor
I feel like happiness doesn’t know where to find me
Gotta move forward, I’m leaving my past behind me
Photographer Robert James Campbell took the photo of Chuck Berry that appears on the cover of this issue. In the 1950s and 1960s, Campbell took hundreds of photos of jazz and folk musicians.
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By Sarah Harvey
Lando Allen describes himself as a man of God, a nice guy, and a little bit of a loner. And though he has a soft voice and gentle demeanor, it’s not uncommon for Lando to break into song at the Denver VOICE office.
A California native, Lando moved to Milwaukee when he was 12. As the middle child of five, he was often the odd man out, even though he had a big family.
The “Ask a Vendor” column allows us to share the thoughts and wisdom of the diverse group of people who make up the Denver VOICE vendor pool. Do you have a question for VOICE vendors? See below for more information on how to submit it.
Do you or have you ever kept a notebook for recording your thoughts and experiences? Why (or why not)?
By Justin Lee, VOICE vendor
Wandering hopelessly, knowing there’s no hope for me
My broken dreams are bottled up inside me like a coke machine
By Sarah Harvey | Photos by Giles Clasen and Sarah Harvey
Hard Times Writing Workshop is the newest addition to the lineup of services at Denver Public Library, proving once again that DPL strives to serve all people who call this city home.
“People have needs beyond just food stamps and housing,” says Simone Groene-Nieto, librarian in the Denver Public Library’s community technology center.
By Sonia Christensen
Denver’s social impact bond program will help finance new housing for people experiencing homelessness—and may end up saving the city some money too.
In February 2016, a new housing development opened its doors.
Denver's Social Impact Bond Program
By Sarah Harvey
Joe Osckel has been vending the Denver VOICE with style since 2007. A sharp dresser, Joe takes pride in his appearance.
“There’s no sense in being all dirty,” said Joe, who is especially good at finding bargains at Goodwill and Ross.
Joe is part of a population that is increasingly difficult to find in the Mile High City: he’s a Colorado native, born in Denver in 1958. Joe’s family lived in the Curtis Park neighborhood; his grandmother owned a house near 30th Ave. and Downing St.
It has been two months since Denver cleaned up homeless encampments near downtown and along the Platte. While some of the people who were cleared out during the sweeps have decided to take refuge in the city’s homeless shelters, others want to stay outside.
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The “Ask a Vendor” column allows us to share the thoughts and wisdom of the diverse group of people who make up the Denver VOICE vendor pool. Do you have a question for VOICE vendors? See below for more information on how to submit it.
Have you ever chosen to sleep outside instead of staying in an emergency shelter? Why (or why not)?
By Vicki Tenney, VOICE vendor
I can feel the mountain air blowing.
I can smell the fresh flowers blooming.
It is such a pleasant feeling!
Can you feel the mountain air?