$ 2 SUGGESTED DONATION @DenverVOICE Vendor Profi le: RV LIVING ON THE ROAD TO HOUSING FOR SOME, AN RV IS THE ONLY OPTION. PAGE 5 USING THOUGHTFUL DESIGN FOR NEW HOUSING MODEL SEATTLE DESIGN FESTIVAL SHOWCASES WHAT SUSTAINABLE HOUSING COULD LOOK LIKE. PAGE 8 BACK ON THE STREETS NO LONGER ABLE TO AFFORD HIS RENT, VOICE VENDOR BRIAN AUGUSTINE HAS RETURNED TO LIVING ON THE STREETS. PAGE 11 VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITY PAGES 3, 4, 11, 12 EVENTS / PUZZLES PAGE 13 RESOURCES PAGE 15 OCTOBER 2022 | Vol.27 Issue 10 SINCE 1997, WE HAVE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO WORK. DONATE TODAY TO ENSURE OUR VENDORS CONTINUE TO HAVE JOBS. (DENVERVOICE.ORG) ALBERT BLAND FROM YOUR VENDOR: “THIS RV SAVED US. IT WAS THE LUCKIEST THING FOR US, OR MAYBE THE BEST BLESSING. I DON’T KNOW WHERE WE WOULD BE WITHOUT IT,” CORNELIUS JENKINS SAID. CREDIT: GILES CLASEN
EDITOR’S NOTE ELISABETH MONAGHAN MANAGING EDITOR IN SEPTEMBER, I attended the INSP Global Street Paper Summit in Milan, Italy. For nearly 30 years, INSP, which is short for International Network of Street Papers, has provided support for street papers, the vendors that distribute them, and the people who manage the vendor programs and editorial content. In addition to organizing a biennial summit, INSP also has a comprehensive website for its members, with a variety of tools for anyone working with the papers. For example, those involved with vendor relationships, fundraising, or administration, can find documented processes, and resources that other street papers have either helped create or successfully implemented. For the editorial side, INSP has a news service, where street papers share articles about their vendors or updates on important THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS GILES CLASEN is a freelance photographer who regularly contributes his work to the VOICE for editorial projects, fundraisers, and events. He has also served on the VOICE’s Board of Directors. BRIAN AUGUSTINE has been a Denver VOICE vendor for12 years and is happy to have an opportunity to share his experiences in his “Back to the Streets” column for the VOICE. SEPTEMBER 2022: GROUP SHOT OF STREET PAPERS FROM AROUND AT INSP GLOBAL SUMMIT IN MILAN, ITALY. CREDIT: ANDREA CHERCHI, INSP stories affecting them. This helps papers like the VOICE stay current on what is happening within the INSP community. It also allows us to download content from our fellow papers, or upload articles that we previously published in ours. Connecting with our peers in real life, after more than two years of meeting via Zoom, was the elixir so many of us needed. It was inspiring to hear what other street papers and their vendors are doing to address the issue of homelessness. It was also a great reminder that none of us in the street paper movement is alone in our work, and the only way we’re going to find a solution is to continue to work together. ■ DENVERVOICE.ORG CE.ORG @deeOCE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR John Golden MANAGING EDITOR Elisabeth Monaghan PROGRAM COORDINATOR Lara Keith GRAPHIC DESIGNER Hannah Bragg VOLUNTEER COPY EDITORS Aaron Sullivan Laura Wing ARTISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Giles Clasen Gigi Galen WHAT WE DO The Denver VOICE empowers homeless, impoverished, and transient individuals by creating job opportunities through our vendor program. We give our vendors a job and help them tell their stories; this creates a space for them to be part of a community again. Vendors purchase copies of the VOICE for 50 cents each at our distribution center. This money pays for a portion of our production costs. Vendors can buy as many papers as they want; they then sell those papers to the public for a suggested $2 donation. The difference in cost ($1.50) is theirs to keep. WHO WE ARE The Denver VOICE is a nonprofit that publishes a monthly street newspaper. Our vendors are men and women in the Denver metro area experiencing homelessness and poverty. Since 2007, we have put more than 4,600 vendors to work. Our mission is to facilitate a dialogue addressing the roots of homelessness by telling stories of people whose lives are impacted by poverty and homelessness and to offer economic, educational, and empowerment opportunities for the impoverished community. We are an award-winning publication, a member of the International Network of Street Papers and the Colorado Press Association, and we abide by the Society of Professional Journalists code of ethics. WRITERS Lando Allen Brian Augustine Albert Bland Giles Clasen Raelene Johnson Jerry Rosen BOARD OF DIRECTORS Nikki Lawson, President Chris Boulanger, Vice President Jeff Cuneo, Treasurer Zephyr Wilkins, Secretary Donovan Cordova Raelene Johnson Julia Watson Cabal Yarne EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT editor@denvervoice.org VENDOR PROGRAM program@denvervoice.org • (720) 320-2155 ADVERTISING ads@denvervoice.org MAILING ADDRESS PO Box 1931, Denver CO 80201 VENDOR OFFICE 989 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, CO 80204 With the money they make selling the VOICE, vendors are able to pay for their basic needs. Our program provides vendors with an immediate income and a support group of dedicated staff members and volunteers. Vendors are independent contractors who receive no base pay. OFFICE HOURS: Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. Orientation is held every day we are open, but prospective vendors must arrive by 10:00 a.m. 2 DENVER VOICE October 2022 STAFF CONTRIBUTORS BOARD CONTACT US
FEATURED VENDOR DON’T LET THE LOOKS FOOL YOU BY ALBERT BLAND People have this misperception that if a person looks clean, wears clean clothes, and gives off an air of confidence, the person could not possibly be homeless. This is something Denver VOICE Vendor Albert Bland has discovered since he first became a vendor 20+ years ago. Consistently among the top VOICE vendors every month, Bland recently shared his thoughts about how people react to him when they see him vending because he takes pride in looking sharp, clean, and put together. For this vendor profile, Bland explains why people should not be fooled into thinking that just because someone looks good they aren’t in need. “PEOPLE THINK IF YOU LOOK CLEAN, you don’t probably don’t need any help. The thing is, just because you are low-income or may be homeless, it doesn’t mean you have to look, act, or smell like you’re homeless. Any person that has a dignity about themselves likes to keep themselves up and be presentable. That’s not to say that I don’t have sympathy for those who can’t maintain [themselves] It’s just that for those who are CREDIT: JESSE BORRELL aware of themselves, had a good upbringing, and know right from wrong, they shouldn’t have to feel like they have to belittle themselves to look the part or be able to ask for help. I try not to be so judgmental. Things happen, so when you look at a person and see something like a hole in their clothes or stain on their shirt, or even if they’re dressed ‘too clean,’ they shouldn’t have to be uncomfortable. I used to worry about what people thought of me when I first started vending, wondering if I was dressed too nice. But it’s not even about that. It’s about being who you are and being sincere. People want to donate regardless of how you look. It’s all in how you present yourself. The other day, I saw a guy in my neighborhood. I’ve seen him around, but when I ran into him at the gas station, he asked me for money. I gave him a few bucks because he happened to catch me at the right time. If I have the money and can afford to give it to someone, I’ll help out regardless of what the person looks like. It’s about being a humanitarian. It makes a difference that he had the decency to ask me for money, was sincere, and got right to the point without wasting my time. I don’t need a sob story or to hear someone play the blame game. It’s to a point now where I don’t care what people think. I’m very aware of myself and my capabilities. People compliment me regularly on how I’m dressed and present myself. Some have asked what I’m doing vending the VOICE and tell me I should be selling cars, but that’s not what I want to do. Not only that, I’m just very comfortable vending the VOICE. I’ve been doing the VOICE for years now, and I know what people like to hear and are interested in what I have to say. I’m not just out there vending the VOICE, I’m promoting myself. You just never know. You may come across that one person who may ask, ‘How would you feel about doing this job for me...?’ If someone is not familiar with the VOICE or our vendors and happens to walk past me, I know I have only a few seconds to grab their attention and get my point across quickly. I tell them why I’m here, and what the paper is about. I explain that the paper provides a service to the public. It creates lots of jobs, and the content is written by actual reporters. Vendors also contribute and get paid for their work. The vendor program accepts anyone. There is meaningful work for volunteers, and paid work for the journalists and photographers. Also, the program gives people an opportunity without discriminating against anyone.” ■ HOW TO HELP The money we take in from vendors helps us cover a portion of our printing costs, but we depend largely on donations from individuals, businesses, and foundations to help us pay our rent and keep the lights on. 1 4 GET THE WORD OUT We rely on grassroots marketing to get the word out about what we do. Talk to people about our organization and share us with your network. Support us on DONATE Donations to the Denver VOICE are tax-deductible. Go to denvervoice.org to give a one-time or recurring donation. You can also mail a check to: Denver VOICE | P.O. Box 193 | Denver, CO 80201 3 VOLUNTEER We need volunteers to help with everything from newspaper distribution to event planning and management. Contact program@denvervoice.org for volunteering information. 5 SUBSCRIBE If you are unable to regularly purchase a newspaper from our vendors, please consider a subscription. We ask subscribers to support our program with a 12-month pledge to give $10 a month, or a one-time donation of $120. Subscriptions help us cover our costs AND provide an amazing opportunity to those who need it most. Go to denvervoice.org/subscriptions for more information. @denverVOICE 2 ADVERTISE Our readership is loyal, well-educated, and socially concerned. Readers view purchasing the paper as a way to immediately help a person who is poor or homeless while supporting long-term solutions to end poverty. If you are interested in placing an ad or sponsoring a section of the paper, please contact us about rates at ads@denvervoice.org. October 2022 DENVER VOICE 3
AUTUMN WISH LIST With the weather beginning to change, we have updated our list. NEW ITEMS NEEDED: Socks Sunscreen, toiletries (individual or travel-size) Toothpaste, deodorant, chapstick Bottled water Paper products for the office GENTLY-USED ITEMS NEEDED: Men’s shoes or boots (sizes 8-12) Men’s jackets/shorts (sizes L, XL, XXL) Women’s jackets/shorts (sizes M, L, XL) Backpacks Carrier bags USB-C charging cables LANDO ALLEN Most people don’t carry cash anymore, so if someone wants a paper but says they don’t have cash, make sure you tell people that you take Venmo. (It will probably help your income increase, too.) ALBERT BLAND Just because a customer doesn’t have cash doesn’t mean they can’t get a paper. Inform them that you don’t need cash to get a paper and that the Denver VOICE has an option to donate via Venmo or Square. In most cases, by letting them know, you’ll see your sales numbers go up! JERRY ROSEN Most people pay in cash, but some pay in Venmo. I would tell vendors to make sure they write their name and badge number on the front cover of the paper [in the upper-lefthand section, where the Venmo QR code is]. Also, make sure sure anyone paying through Venmo adds the vendor’s name in the comments section when they submit the payment via Venmo. BRIAN AUGUSTINE If the person is making the payment via Venmo right there, I tell them to put my first name and last initial in the comments section of the Venmo form. DENVERVOICE.ORG/VENDOR-NEEDS Drop-offs are accepted Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. or schedule a drop-off by emailing program@denvervoice.org. 4 DENVER VOICE October 2022 What do YOU want to ask? If you have a question or issue you would like vendors to discuss, please email community@denvervoice.org. ASK A VENDOR THIS COLUMN IS A PLACE FOR DENVER VOICE VENDORS TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS FROM OUR READERS AND STAFF. THIS MONTH’S QUESTION WAS SUGGESTED BY VOICE VENDOR RAELENE JOHNSON. Q What is your suggestion to make sure Denver VOICE vendors receive the donations/payments made to them through Venmo? A
LOCAL FEATURE LANDIS HAS ACCUMULATED SEVERAL PARKING TICKETS, DUE TO A LAW REQUIRING HIM TO MOVE HIS CAMPER EVERY 72 HOURS. “WHEN I CAN’T PAY THE TICKET EVERYTHING GETS MESSIER AND HARDER FOR ME,” LANDIS SAID. LANDIS LOOKS FOR A TICKET FROM A CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WHO HAS HARASSED HIM REGULARLY. THE ROAD TO HOUSING MAY BE PAVED WITH RVS For some, an RV offers more security, more costs, and is the only option. PHOTOS AND STORY BY GILES CLASEN THE FIRST NIGHT, homeless in a camper, was not easy for Devine Carter. “It was scary,” Carter said. “It doesn’t sound too bad until you stay outside and you hear the noise of people walking past, talking, and chattering. It was a little unnerving.” There has been a rise in the use of RVs by those experiencing homelessness in Denver. Cars and other vehicles are often the last resort for individuals who become homeless, but RVs are unique because they stand out when parked in Denver neighborhoods. Denver does not have an accurate count of how many individuals are living in vehicles. Carter and her partner Cornelius Jenkins have been living CARTER AND JENKINS RECEIVED PARKING TICKETS BEFORE A FRIEND OFFERED TO LET THEM PARK THEIR RV ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. in their 22-foot trailer for over 18 months. They have had to navigate Denver’s parking laws, deal with a hit-and-run, and respond to Denver’s weather extremes. Still, their trailer has become a home they worked hard to build. Continued on page 6 October 2022 DENVER VOICE 5
LOCAL FEATURE DEVINE CARTER AND CORNELIUS JENKINS BECAME HOMELESS WHEN THEIR SON LOST HIS HOUSING DUE TO A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. THEY HAD MOVED IN WITH THEIR SON, WHO WAS DIAGNOSED WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA, TO HELP HIM. Carter and Jenkins lost their housing when their son was arrested. Carter and Jenkins moved in with their son in 2020 to provide support when their son began exhibiting chaotic behavior, trespassing at businesses, and eventually, was arrested. Their son lost his publicly supported housing in the process leaving Carter and Jenkins homeless. “We moved in with our son to help him,” Jenkins said. “When he lost his housing, we lost ours. We sacrificed for him but lost everything ourselves.” When her son was arrested, Carter lost her job, as well. Before then, she had been working to care for her son under Colorado’s Family Caregiver Act and was employed through the Mental Health Center of Denver, now Wellpower. Jenkins had his own handyman and construction company but struggled to find work in the early days of the pandemic. “It happened so fast we couldn’t react,” Jenkins said. “We did the best we could, and it led us here.” After their eviction, Jenkins and Carter lived in hotels trying desperately to find a foothold and get another apartment. Instead, the cost of hotels depleted their savings. The saving grace was that Jenkins did some construction work for a woman who had an old RV in her yard. The RV needed new tires but was mechanically sound. “This RV saved us. It was the luckiest thing for us, or maybe, the best blessing. I don’t know where we would be without it,” Jenkins said. OFFERING SECURITY Lisa Barczak, a peer support specialist with Stout Street Health Center, understands why individuals would try to live in a camper when homeless. Stout Street Health Center is a program of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless that provides medical, dental, and vision services. As Barczak pointed out, RVs are safer than sleeping on the sidewalk and have extra storage space, which is a precious commodity when most shelters don’t have storage. Barczak, who does outreach to unhoused individuals throughout the Metro area, was homeless herself. She often slept on sidewalks without any shelter and had people pee and pour beer on her while sleeping. She even woke to men masturbating, she said. “I do feel like having an RV would be worth it for having that peace of mind and having that safe place to sleep,” Barczak said. “[An RV] would be valuable to be able to actually sleep when you want to go to sleep, to lock the door and feel safe. When you’re sleeping outside on the street you really couldn’t be more vulnerable.” RUNNING AFOUL OF THE LAW The added security of an RV comes with a unique cost. According to an email sent to Denver VOICE from the Denver Police Department’s Media Relations Unit, RVs longer than 22 feet that are parked on Denver’s streets must be moved 100 ft every 72 hours. For the first few months in their camper, Carter and Jenkins spent their time trying to avoid the police. They moved their RV every few days and tried to stay under the radar. It didn’t matter. The two still accumulated their share of tickets. Jeff Landis, another individual living in an RV, has also lived with this threat. He said the biggest hassle he faces is police and code enforcement. “The cops want to run us off and call that the solution,” Landis said. “It is obvious the powers that be don’t want to help us. They want to run us off and move us one block away. But the problem isn’t solved, we don’t get help. It is just one big shell game.” Landis would like to find stable housing. As he explained in an interview with Denver VOICE, he is tired of living in an RV. He is connected with services through the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless and works with a case manager who helps him apply for housing. But the wait for housing is long. Landis has tried to find work but has not been successful. “I can’t find a job in the best job market of my life,” he said. “And it isn’t because I’m not trying. It isn’t because I don’t want a job. When you’re homeless, you can’t find a job. It is discrimination because you don’t have clean clothes and you don’t have a shower. Who is going to hire you?” Additionally, Landis has an injury he sustained after working in construction for 30 years, and that limits his options. He recently applied for SSDI. Landis said he will continue to try and hide from police or parking enforcement until he can get an apartment or other housing. “Sometimes. they find me and give me a ticket,” Landis said. “When I can’t pay the ticket, everything gets messier and harder for me. The next ticket or the ticket after that may mean I get booted or towed. and then, I’ve lost my last bit of shelter. That added cost [of moving the camper every day] means it is even harder for me to get out of this mess.” According to Landis, the higher gas prices have hurt him, making the possibility of getting housing even less likely. “With inflation, I’ve got nothing,” Landis said. “I need to panhandle $50 a day to get 10 or so gallons of gas. And 10 gallons don’t move a camper far.” 6 DENVER VOICE October 2022
LOCAL FEATURE FINDING OFF-STREET PARKING To avoid parking tickets, Jenkins and Carter explored renting space at an RV park. The cheapest they could find was $900 a month, but Jenkins felt it was a “shady” deal. He said a decent one costs $1,400 a month, which was outside of their budget. Eventually, they were lucky to receive an invitation from a friend to park on private property in Northeast Denver. This has ended their run-ins with law enforcement, and now, the two consider the RV their tiny home. “I love living in our RV,” Carter said. “We had to simplify our lives to make it work. We had to get rid of almost everything because there is [little] storage, but it works for us.” ALWAYS A RISK OF LOSING A HOME In addition to the stress and ticket fees, RV owners experiencing homelessness face other costs like licensing and insurance, which can put housing even further out of reach. “A lot of these vehicles don’t run, and the ones that do are in constant need of repairs and money to fix them.” Barczak said. And leaving a vehicle, even if it’s to get services or health care, can result in a vehicle being towed. When an RV is unattended, it could be considered an abandoned vehicle. As the Denver Police Department media relations unit explained, if a vehicle has been determined to be abandoned, they issue a Notice of Abandoned Vehicle and route the information to the Denver Sheriff’s Department Impound, Abandoned Vehicle Unit. The department does not track how many complaints come in about RVs on Denver streets because there is not a specific nature code in the dispatch system, they added. According to Barczak, the threat of being towed prevents some individuals from coming to Stout Street Health Clinic for medical care or other services. “I’ve had clients whose vehicles were towed while they were meeting with me for two hours at the clinic,” Barczak said. “They come back, and their vehicle is gone. [They lose] that last little bit of safety and privacy.” RV LIVING AND LOST OPPORTUNITIES The requirement to move a vehicle every 72 hours can cause Barczak and the Coalition to lose track of individuals. “[When individuals move their campers] it makes it very difficult for people to access services. By being forced to move every couple of days, they have to keep starting over, and starting over, and starting over,” Barczak said. “We have people every day that qualify for housing vouchers. We have maybe two weeks to find them, or the voucher goes on to someone else, and they lose this opportunity because they’re having to constantly move around.” According to the DPD media relations unit, DPD officers can request the Support Team Assisted Response (STAR) unit to engage unhoused individuals living in RVs, rather than directly engaging and issuing citations. The STAR program is a specially trained unit that sends mental health specialists or paramedics to respond to nonviolent situations. The unit, founded in 2020, is designed to “engage individuals experiencing crises related to mental health issues, poverty, homelessness, and substance abuse,” according to its website. During several months of conducting research and interviewing individuals at multiple RV camping locations for this article, none of the individuals who spoke to Denver VOICE had been contacted by the STAR unit. Instead, many of these individuals reported being harassed by on-duty officers Jeff Landis said he had been heavily monitored and harassed by one specific officer but did not want to give the officer’s name for fear of future retaliation. Not all interactions with officers were negative, though. Josh, who asked to be identified by only his first name for DEVINE CARTER AND HER PARTNER CORNELIUS JENKINS HAVE BEEN LIVING IN THEIR 22-FOOT TRAILER FOR OVER 18 MONTHS. “Each lot has a lot of autonomy [to decide who can park and for how long],” CSPI Executive Director Terrell Curtis said. “Right now, they only operate overnight and the vehicles leave in the morning, and that makes it a lot harder with an RV.” Curtis said it is unreasonable to expect unhoused individuals to get off the street on their own, and this expectation comes from a level of ‘privilege’ that is out of touch with the realities of homelessness. “We need to shift our systems and lower barriers to accessing housing,” Curtis said. “There are shelters and affordable housing that you can’t go to if you have some sort of criminal background or drug offense. Most shelters also don’t allow pets. We need to be realistic about the needs. You’re going to be lucky if you can get into housing.” CSPI does not currently have a lot dedicated to RVs, and not all lots allow RVs to utilize the service. October 2022 DENVER VOICE 7 LANDIS HAS USED MANY CREATIVE APPROACHES TO REPAIR HIS CAMPER OVER TIME. Carter spends many nights on the phone with her mother who has dementia. It isn’t uncommon for them to have the same conversation multiple times in an hour. Carter is glad she can be there for her mom and plans to remain in Denver as long as her mom needs her. Eventually, Jenkins and Carter are hoping to find a permanent home – one without wheels. They just don’t think it will be in Denver. Jenkins’ job allows him to transfer to other locations throughout the country. They are looking at Detroit, or possibly Arizona. Someplace with lower housing costs. Jenkins and Carter worry that leaving Denver will make it harder for them to help their children and Carter’s mother. “We got the same problems as people in a house,” Carter said. “We just do it in a smaller place.” ■ privacy reasons, said a DPD officer helped him when he was unable to start his RV. The police officer had Josh’s camper towed to another location at no charge. According to Josh, the officer thought the new location would be a safe place to park while the vehicle was being repaired. TRYING TO REBUILD Jenkins is proud of what he has accomplished. He carries around a black binder with all the licenses and credentials he earned while running his small construction company. It even has letters from the days he worked for Marriott Hotels, including one offering him a job with a six-figure salary to oversee the maintenance of multiple hotels. He has misgivings about not taking the security that comes with a corporate job. He had been told all his life that true prosperity came through owning a small business. Jenkins thought his finances were improving, but then, the pandemic hit, and his son’s mental health became a bigger issue. “I always say I have been rich twice and I have been poor twice. But I don’t know if there is any coming back from this,” Jenkins said. Jenkins now works full-time for a car parts company. Carter works full time, too, but their combined income isn’t enough to come up with a deposit and pay rent. SEEKING A NEW OPTION One organization working towards a solution for individuals living in RVs is the Colorado Safe Parking Initiative, which offers overnight parking for individuals living in vehicles throughout the front range. The organization partners with faith-based organizations and businesses to provide overnight parking at 12 different locations throughout the metro area. Every vehicle must move in the morning because the current lots are used by the host locations for business or programming purposes. “We want to [open a parking lot specifically for RVs] because there is such a high need,” Curtis said. “The City of Denver zoning allows it, but it falls under an ordinance [governing] trailer parks. If we provide for several RV-type vehicles together in a space, it is considered a trailer park, and we have to provide dump stations, electric hookups, and all this other stuff that we’re not in a position to do right now.” CSPI was awarded a $150,000 contract from the city to operate a parking site and to explore providing an RVspecific lot. But the unique requirements of zoning laws for mobile homes and trailers may not make a lot dedicated to RVs feasible. Many of those who park at CSPI have jobs and are experiencing homelessness for the first time. Most are trying to work while actively seeking permanent housing – all while trying to stay safe without running afoul of the law. “There is trauma that comes with the uncertainty when you’re living on the edge,” Curtis said. “You’re trying to stay warm; you’re trying to stay cool, and you’re trying to get to work and not look like you spent the night in your car. That level of anxiety wears on you. Living in a heightened state over time is damaging. Even just one night would be traumatic, especially over time. It can impact folks’ reslience.” Individuals staying in a safe parking lot do have the security of being in the same place every evening. This makes accessing case managers from different service providers easier. FOCUSING ON FAMILY Carter and Jenkins are the hub of a big family. From time to time, Carter and Jenkins’s children and grandchildren come by. “We don’t want anyone to treat us any differently,” Jenkins said. “When the grandkids come by, they go straight for the fridge looking for treats.” “They clean us out,” Carter said laughing.
NATIONAL STORY SEATTLE DESIGN FESTIVAL FILLED LAKE UNION PARK, AUG. 20, FOR THE BLOCK PARTY THAT OPENED A WEEK OF EVENTS CELEBRATING THE THEME OF “CONNECTION” THROUGH DESIGN. CREDIT: TREVOR DYKSTRA/FLICKR. MODELING A NEW HOUSING METHOD, WITH THOUGHTFUL DESIGN BY ASHLEY ARCHIBALD ON A CLEAR DAY LOOKING OUT FROM THE PARK at the southern end of South Lake Union with its low, arching water feature and the gleaming former naval warehouse that is now the Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI), you’ll see the impressions of the Cascades, made hazy by their deceptive distance. On one such day, a sunny August weekend that had attracted the usual crowd of kayak practitioners, dog walkers, and wooden boat fans, Denise Henrikson stood next to a model of a terraced hillside set with small, wood boxes representing homes and handmade cardboard trees. It was pointed across the lake and toward the mountains: If proportionally tiny denizens lived there, theoretically, they could enjoy the view. Henrikson and the model were there for the Seattle Design Festival, a celebration of innovative ideas and a future that could be. She and the organization she cofounded, EcoTHRIVE, have had a place at the Design Festival for the past two years. In fact, several of the design professionals who have since joined or otherwise worked with EcoTHRIVE discovered the organization there. During that time, Henrikson and co-founder Susan Russell, a former Real Change vendor, conceived of, planned, and began the slow work of creating the community represented by the model: a sustainable, intentional village in the truest sense, born out of a sense of joint responsibility and legal ownership. CREDIT: TREVOR DYKSTRA/FLICKR. 8 DENVER VOICE October 2022 This could be the year, however, that the village morphs from cardboard and paste animated by dreams into wood and nails, constructed by hands and framed by that gorgeous mountain view. By the end of the year, EcoTHRIVE hopes to purchase a plot of land in Burien. If it closes that deal, it will be the site of a village of 26 homes — ranging between 350 and 650 square feet — and shared communal spaces. Residents will have to make a percentage of the area median income (AMI) — hopefully close to 40-50% AMI, Henrikson said — and will buy a share in the limited equity co-operative, creating an affordable home ownership model that guarantees that the unit will continue to be affordable to the next potential purchasers in perpetuity. Unlike “traditional” affordable housing, residents must income qualify to enter, but not to stay. The ownership model means that if their life circumstances change, they aren’t forced to give up their home or relationships with neighbors. “If you own it, there is no disincentive. If you get a better job, you get a better job and you have more money,” she said. The idea began as an art project. Russell envisioned art as a way to break down barriers between housed and unhoused people and “to replace fear with love.”
NATIONAL STORY DONATE YOUR CAR! Need to get rid of your car, truck, or motorcycle? Consider donating it to Denver VOICE. Call (855) 500-7433, or go to: careasy.org/nonprofi t/denver-voice. Your donation helps Denver VOICE succeed in its mission to provide individuals experiencing homelessness or poverty the chance towards a more stable life. CREDIT: TREVOR DYKSTRA/FLICKR. Henrikson and Russell approached people — housed and unhoused — with a simple but profound question: What do you need to thrive? Hundreds of conversations later, they landed on the village concept and decided to make it a reality. “How hard could that be?” Henrikson said, recalling their early naiveté. Financing and building affordable housing differ from market-rate construction in critical ways that add complexity to a process that must already adapt to factors beyond any organization’s control, such as market conditions, supply chains, unit costs, and more. Land is one of the biggest costs associated with any development, especially in land-scarce areas like the Sound region. Affordable housing developers can sometimes get land transferred or sold below market rate by local governments or other organizations, but they may have to buy the property outright, which is what EcoTHRIVE is doing. Raising money for such a venture is challenging, especially when it comes to affordable homeownership models, which don’t necessarily qualify for the same sources of funding as more typical affordable rental housing. Even that isn’t simple. The Low Income Housing Institute once told Real Change that it can take as many as nine separate streams of funding to complete a typical project. Willowcrest, an affordable homeownership project in Renton that opened in 2021, required 11 sources of funding to create 12 townhomes, according to Homestead Community Land Trust. Affordable housing also comes with different and sometimes more onerous construction standards than typical market-rate housing. The realities of piecing together a project changed EcoTHRIVE’s target audience. The team wanted to create a community for people in the lowest income bracket — those making less than 30% AMI — but it ultimately didn’t seem doable. “The best we can do, and, what we’re shooting for now, is to cap it at 50%. Even that — with all of the increases in cost for labor and materials and land and debt — we’re going to do everything we can to cap it at 50% of area median income, but that’s $55,000 a year!” Henrickson said. The organization aims to raise $1.5 million to $2 million in order to close on the land sale in Burien before the end of 2022 and pay for early site improvements. It’s already sunk more than $150,000 into design and other “soft” costs, so there is a sense of urgency to get it done. But Henrikson remains positive not only for this project but also for the possibility of replicating the model elsewhere. “I think people are going to love living here. The thing that we heard the most is that people want community and that makes a big difference in people’s lives,” Henrikson said. ■ Courtesy of Real Change / International Network of Street Papers AT THE ECOTHRIVE EXHIBIT, VISITORS MANEUVERED WOOD BLOCKS AND HANDMADE TREES UPON A CARDBOARD HILL TO IMAGINE THE SUSTAINABLE VILLAGE THE ORGANIZATION HOPES TO BUILD IN BURIEN. CREDIT: TREVOR DYKSTRA/FLICKR. October 2022 DENVER VOICE 9 The Denver VOICE empowers homeless, impoverished, and transient individuals by creating job opportunities through our vendor program. We facilitate a dialogue addressing the roots of homelessness by telling stories of people whose lives are impacted by poverty and homelessness and to offer economic, educational, and empowerment opportunities for the impoverished community. VOLUNTEER WITH US! We are looking for volunteers to support our program coordination by helping with paper distribution and basic offi ce administration at the Denver VOICE offi ce (989 Santa Fe Dr.) from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. If you are interested and would like to know more, contact us at: program@denvervoice.org
INTERNATIONAL STORY LIFTING UP INDIGENOUS WOMEN ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ DAY AND EVERY DAY BY NIA TERO & AMPLIFIER WHILE PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD INCREASINGLY EXPERIENCE THE ALARMING EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, solutions to healing the planet have been right in front of us all along. Countless Indigenous peoples have lived in reciprocity with Earth since time immemorial. Despite centuries of colonization and ongoing threats to their sovereignty, Indigenous peoples collectively sustain 80% of the world’s HINALEIMOANA WONG-KALU (KANAKA MAOLI) is a Native Hawaiian teacher, cultural practitioner, and filmmaker who uses digital media to protect and perpetuate Indigenous languages and traditions. POSTER DESIGNED BY TRACIE CHING AND CINDY CHISCHILLY. COURTESY OF NIA TERO / AMPLIFIER remaining biodiversity today, including ecosystems essential to our global climate, fresh water, and food security. Indigenous practices offer a critical pathway to healing a planet in crisis, and a unique global art project is recognizing inspiring Indigenous women leaders upholding both Indigenous rights and guardianship of collective territories. ‘Thriving Peoples. Thriving Places.’ is the latest in a series of collaborations between Nia Tero, a global non-profit working in solidarity with Indigenous peoples to strengthen guardianship of Earth and all beings, and Amplifier, a nonprofit design lab that makes art and media experiments to amplify the most important social movements of our time. Expanding upon the 12 portraits commissioned in 2021, this year’s four new portraits are a collaboration between illustrators Tracie Ching (Kanaka Maoli) and Cindy Chischilly (Diné). The art will be available digitally and at public art events in cities including Seattle (USA), Auckland (Aotearoa), and Manila (Philippines). The project celebrates the vibrant and ever-present leadership of Indigenous women in protecting biodiversity and leading grassroots movements to drive action for the health of the planet. This year’s activation launches on 10 October 2022, Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Turtle Island (North America). Like International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples in August, activities on this day recognize the harm of colonialism and the importance of Indigenous land sovereignty. The Indigenous women being honored with portraits this year are activists, educators, and climate experts working not for personal gain but for collective thriving, rooted FLOR PALMAR (WAYUU IIPUANA) is a leading figure in Venezuela’s effort to develop bilingual, multicultural education for the nation’s diverse Indigenous peoples. In addition to having worked in Venezuela’s Ministry of Education as coordinator of Programs in the Office of Bilingual Intercultural Education and serving as a member of the National Commission on Curriculum within the Ministry of Education, she has authored and co-authored international publications related to the history and practice of Indigenous education. ALISHA “DIINASHII” CARLSON (NEETS’AII GWICH’IN) follows in the footsteps of her Ancestor’s creativity and imagination. In addition to her filmmaking endeavors, she works for the Arctic Village Tribal Council and is a mother to her two children. She has her AAS degrees in Accounting and Business. She has always been active in ensuring that Gwich’in dance and songs continue for generations to come. She looks forward to making more films in the Gwich’in language that uplift her beautiful culture. POSTER DESIGNED BY TRACIE CHING AND CINDY CHISCHILLY. COURTESY OF NIA TERO / AMPLIFIER POSTER DESIGNED BY TRACIE CHING AND CINDY CHISCHILLY. COURTESY OF NIA TERO / AMPLIFIER NATALIE BALL (BLACK, MODOC, KLAMATH) was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Ethnic Studies in 2005, furthered her education in New Zealand, at Massey University, where she attained her master’s degree in Maori Visual Arts, and earned her MFA from Yale University School of Art in painting and printmaking in 2018. She currently resides with her three children on the Klamath Tribes former reservation, Chiloquin, Oregon where she works for the Klamath Tribes. Natalie Ball is an Indigenous artist who examines internal and external discourses that shape Indian identity through contemporary installation art. POSTER DESIGNED BY TRACIE CHING AND CINDY CHISCHILLY. COURTESY OF NIA TERO / AMPLIFIER 10 DENVER VOICE October 2022
INTERNATIONAL STORY in their ancestral homelands across Turtle Island, Africa, and the Global South. Each carries forward traditional knowledge honoring their ancestors while shining a path for future generations. “THE SOLUTION TO HEALING THE PLANET IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF US” As we head toward the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP27) in Sharm ElSheikh, Egypt, and United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in Montreal, Canada, it is crucial to remember that climate solution conversations don’t just happen during state-led meetings. The women honored in this initiative and many more like them are driving change daily and weekly, locally and regionally, and across cohesive networks of Earth guardians. The organic and ceaseless ways in which Indigenous knowledge is conveyed are not unlike the street paper network bringing this story to you today: purposeful, vigilant, community-led, and future-focused. This year’s ‘Thriving Peoples. Thriving Places.’ campaign continues to elevate the importance of women in movements toward Indigenous sovereignty and participation in climate solutions. Despite facing gender-based violence, educational barriers, and economic hardships, unfailingly show up, inspiring action and creating change. The Indigenous leaders recognized here are reticent to put themselves in the spotlight. Instead, they work tirelessly and in reciprocity with the planet and the communities around them. Their work never stops – and nor should our support of them. This Indigenous Peoples’ Day – and every day – is a good time to ask: “How can I support what these dedicated women are doing? And how can I create a brighter future for my community and Mother Earth alongside them?” ■ To learn more about this year’s ‘Thriving Peoples. Thriving Places.’ campaign and see the portraits, go to: NiaTero.org/ThrivingPeoples Courtesy of the INSP / Nia Tero / Amplifier Indigenous women HINDOU OUMAROU IBRAHIM (MBORORO) is a member of the Mbororo pastoralist people in Chad. She is an expert in the adaptation and mitigation of Indigenous peoples to climate change. Oumarou Ibrahim serves as a Member of the United Nations Permanent Forum for Indigenous Issues and was one of 15 women highlighted for championing action on climate change by Time Magazine in 2019. BACK ON THE STREETS BY BRIAN AUGUSTINE POSTER DESIGNED BY TRACIE CHING AND CINDY CHISCHILLY. COURTESY OF NIA TERO / AMPLIFIER Editor’s Note: In May the Denver VOICE published a story that Brian Augustine wrote as part of the International Network of Street Paper’s “Housing for the People” series. In that story, Augustine explained how circumstances led to him losing the house he called home over a decade ago. Recently, the rent on Augustine’s apartment went up significantly. No longer able to afford it, Augustine has returned to living on the streets. We asked Augustine to write about his experience and share the experiences of others in similar situations. Following are the reactions he’s documented leading up to his move, along with the health issues that landed him in the hospital four days after he moved out. This is the first in a new column he is writing for the VOICE called “Back on the Streets.” PACKING UP After over 11 years, I’m losing my place to live. The landlord has raised my rent again, and I cannot afford the rent any longer. I’m not making the income I did before the pandemic, and all my savings have been depleted. Not even a dollar to back me up. I’m nervous. The streets I am returning to are not the ROSA MARINA FLORES CRUZ (AFRO-BINNIZÁ/ AFRO-ZAPOTEC) is from Juchitán, Mexico, an Indigenous town in the state of Oaxaca. She is an activist empowering Indigenous peoples, and her focus is on women’s rights, land rights, agrarian rights, and environmental education. POSTER DESIGNED BY TRACIE CHING AND CINDY CHISCHILLY. COURTESY OF NIA TERO / AMPLIFIER same streets I left so many years ago. More people being homeless means fewer resources to go around. And they’re harder to get. The friends I had then are either housed, live in the suburbs, or have passed away. No matter when you live on the street, homelessness is a hard bed to sleep in. As I pack up my belongings, I’m so happy remembering that many of them are gifts from so many of you. Those gifts are going into storage because when I find a new place, I don’t want to start from scratch again. I will continue to vend the Denver VOICE. I would be lost without seeing all of you. I will also keep you posted through this, my new column. FACING HOMELESSNESS When facing homelessness, there’s the decision of whether to sleep in the shelter system or bag it on the street. The shelter system gives a higher level of security, but it comes with a higher risk of becoming sick while sleeping outside comes with the fear of thieves or even getting a beating. But, on the streets, becoming sick is less likely. I started my first time homeless in the shelter system but moved to bagging it. I did this for health reasons. The best thing that happened to me was the Denver VOICE. It has given me so much – from an income to helping me discover my talent for writing. I have also been able to hang around people who enjoy vending the Denver VOICE as much as I do. FOUR DAYS IN I didn’t see this coming so quickly. Only four days into my second time being homeless, and I’ve been hospitalized. I woke up not being able to move my right leg. I still have feeling in my leg, but my brain signals aren’t reaching the nerves. Not a stroke. I’ve had CAT scans, an ultrasound, and four MRIs. I’ve also seen 10 neurologists. (I feel really taken care of. Everyone has more than shown their compassion.) I’ll be going into a rehab facility for about two weeks because my spine is deteriorating. By the time you read this, I should be back to greet you in the mornings at my regular vending spot. ■ October 2022 DENVER VOICE 11
IN YOUR OWN WORDS GUESS WHAT, SELF? WHEN YOU LET PAIN GO, YOU’LL SEE A CHANGE! BY RAELENE JOHNSON, VOICE VENDOR WHICH SHOULD MATTER MOST TO CHRISTIANS: LOVE OR HATE? BY BRIAN AUGUSTINE, VOICE VENDOR Now, I’ve learned to love everybody equally and can’t find hatred in my heart – not for Putin for his killing of innocent people for no better reason than to gain more land for his people – not for Hitler and the mass murders he was responsible for. Not for the person who has done bad things against me. The last book of the Bible, Revelations, says that everyone will stand before God and will be separated from His followers and all the others. It says that some will call out His name. “We are here, Lord.” And He will say, “I know you not.” I believe those people will be the ones that hate. Whether it is for color, sex, or, religious reasons, hate will block your path in life. So, I’ll end with this thought: No matter if we haven’t met, or, if we never do, you have my innocent and truly unconditional love. ■ BRIAN AUGUSTINE. CREDIT: JESSE BORRELL THE DEFINITION OF CHRISTIANITY IS “ follower of the teachings of Jesus.” That comes from the New Testament of the Bible. I am a Christian. It upsets me when I hear these so-called Christian groups spew hate-filled words out of their mouths. RAELENE JOHNSON. CREDIT: CORTNEY TABERNA GUESS WHAT, SELF? Life is good because we got it together. Life, for many years, was hard because Self couldn’t love Self. Things change once we learn to love Self. We learn to put Self first because if we are happy then we make others happy. When that happens, we make life great for others and Self. Guess what? When you feel pain and do not let it go, it keeps you in pain. Pain makes bad choices when Self is hurting. You have the power to do good or bad. The choice is within you. Guess what, Self? Once you let go of the pain, things change. When you start to think of good things, good will come to you. Funny how it works. Holding onto bad things keeps bad coming your way. Flip your way of thinking. If you think of good coming your way, it will. Guess what, Self? At some point, you have to choose. Hold on tight to pain, and you’ll keep calling pain to you. Or, say you can’t change the past, but tell yourself, “I choose to let go of the pain. I choose to live and love Self and others. “ When you do that, you will end up in a life you never thought would happen, and that will be the best for you. Let go, Self. With love. ■ I’ve read the Bible several times, and nowhere, did I come across anything that said, “ Love thy neighbor – as long as they are the same color as you, believe as you do, or have committed the same sins as you.” I remember reading “Love the sinner. Hate the sin.” Nowhere does the Bible give the right for one human to hate another. Even if you believe you are free of all sin, you are guilty of the sin of false pride. My saying is don’t complain about the weeds in your neighbor’s yard when you’ve got even one weed in yours. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not some great Christian. I struggle every day with my problems. (The thorns in my side, so to speak.) I saw a man just the other day take off his shoes and give them to a guy who had none. I felt humbled by this action. And it gave me the knowledge of how far I need to go in my path. For me, that is what it takes to be a good Christian. When I became a Christian. I still had my anger and hatred issues. And my self-esteem was bad. But, I learned by reading the Bible to walk the walk. I’ve never been a chapter-and-verse guy. But, one thing Jesus said changed my self-esteem, “Love thy neighbor as I have loved you.” ILLUSTRATION BY GIGI GALEN 12 DENVER VOICE October 2022
EVENTS COURTESY OF DEBORAH LASTOWKA PUZZLES DENVER WALKING TOURS Set out on this popular urban walking tour, while stopping to learn the history and stories behind the city’s top destinations and landmarks. Tour takes about 2 – 2.5 hours. WHEN: Daily at 10 a.m. COST: Pay-what-you-wish tipping model WHERE: Colorado State Capitol, 200 E. Colfax Ave. INFO: denverfreewalkingtours.com INTRO TO IMPROV: DROP-IN CLASS Curious to see if improv comedy is right for you? This drop-in workshop will allow you to sample RISE Comedy’s improv classes in a safe, supportive, and fun environment! WHEN: Oct 6, 13, 20, and 27, 6 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. COST: $10 WHERE: RISE Comedy, 1260 22nd St. INFO: risecomedy.com PUMPKIN HARVEST FESTIVAL Celebrate the arrival of fall at this annual family-friendly event. Guests can enjoy live music, seasonal treats, axe throwing, tractor rides, pioneer games, and crafts. WHEN: Oct. 8 and Oct. 9, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. COST: $10 - 18 per person; children 6 and under are free. WHERE: Four Mile Historic Park, 715 S. Forest Street INFO: fourmilepark.org GLOW AT THE GARDENS Start the spooky season off right by strolling through an illuminated gardens filled with carved jack-o’-lanterns. Performing artists add further theatrics at this enchanted and festive experience. WHEN: Oct. 18 - 23, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. COST: $19 - $25, free admission for children 2 and younger WHERE: Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York Street INFO: botanicgardens.org NERD NITE If you’re a fan of TED talks, the Discovery Channel, and/or Wikipedia binges, Nerd Nite is the show for you! Three experts will present on three different topics, while the audience drinks and thinks along. Be there and be square! WHEN: Oct 28, doors at 6:30 p.m., show at 7 p.m. COST: $8 in advance, $10 at the door WHERE: Bug Theatre, 3654 Navajo St. INFO: nerdnitedenver.com HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR It’s a spooktacular outing for all boys and ghouls! This family-favorite event features music from films, television, and more! Costumes are encouraged — the best of the bunch will be invited to show off their creations on stage for the whole crowd! WHEN: Oct 30, 2:30 p.m. COST: Tickets start at $27, $10 for children under 12 WHERE: Boettcher Concert Hall, 14th Ave. & Curtis St. INFO: coloradosymphony.org COURTESY OF STREETROOTS ANSWERS ARE ON PAGE 15 N Y S S A D B U C K E Y E P T M A Y A N A R G I L T D V I A F I R R P A L M E B A L M N C T I M B E R R B Y L X O Y E E P L A O R C A G G E U C E R R O E T R R A G V N N S U W Y H P X U E P T A I U E E S W Y C L E A F I A V B L P A T V N L A O R B P L E P I R K I T Y O R T T P E P P H A R U S A L V A L O E L A C M O S C B S M E D T V L K A M C B P H H B C S P E A R E A N M F D D A T E O U E A P D S U K O I B O X L R T B A L S A T T S U G A Q M B October 2022 DENVER VOICE 13 PUZZLE COURTESY OF STREET ROOTS, DENVER VOICE’S SISTER PAPER IN PORTLAND, OR PUZZLE COURTESY OF STREET ROOTS, DENVER VOICE’S SISTER PAPER IN PORTLAND, OR
DONOR LIST WE LOVE OUR DONORS! WHEN YOU SUPPORT THE DENVER VOICE, YOU ARE HELPING SUPPORT HUNDREDS OF HOMELESS AND IMPOVERISHED INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WORKING TO REALIZE SELF-SUFFICIENCY THROUGH EARNING A DIGNIFIED INCOME. YOUR GIFT MAKES A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS. HERE, WE LIST THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN $500 AND MORE IN THE LAST YEAR. DENVERVOICE.ORG/DONATE $25,000+ The NextFifty Initiative John & Laurie Mcwethy Charitable Fund $10,000+ Rose Community Foundation Max & Elaine Appel The Christian Foundation $5,000 - $9,999 Anschutz Family Foundation Cranaleith Foundation, Inc $1,000-$4,999 Meek-Cuneo Family Fund Walker Family Foundation Whole Foods Foundation Katherine Standiford Jill Haug Bright Funds Pivotal Energy Partners USA, Inc. Russell Peterson Sustainable Housing and Development Foundation Jerry Conover Sidney B and Caleb F Gates Fund Keyrenter Property Management Denver The Credit Union of Colorado Foundation Kroger Jana and Jim Cuneo Creating Healthier Communities Paul Manoogian Lori Holland Warren & Betty Kuehner Matthew Seashore Michael J. Fehn & Jan Monnier Gaspar Terrana Jim Ashe Courage and Community Foundation George Lichter Family Foundation $500-$999 John Gibson Michael Dino Fire on the Mountain Blackbaud Giving Fund Christopher Boulanger GivingFirst, Community First Foundation Sheryl Parker Maggie Holben Alistair Davidson Laura Saunders Costco Barbara & Robert Ells Cake Websites & More Edwina Salazar James Stegman Jennifer Stedron Jeremey Anderson Ridley, McGreevy & Winocur Stephen Saul WalMart SPONSORSHIP LEVELS THE DENVER VOICE’S ANNUAL SPONSORSHIP SUPPORT LEVELS PROVIDE BUSINESSES LIKE YOURS THE OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN WORK EMPOWERMENT, HOMELESS PREVENTION, THE CHALLENGING OF COMMUNITY PERCEPTIONS, AND TO BE A PART OF PROVIDING OUR COMMUNITY WITH QUALITY AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE THROUGH OUR WRITERS AND VENDORS – AN INVALUABLE PART OF DENVER’S COMMUNITY. YOUR INVOLVEMENT WILL HELP HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING POSITIVE ACTION TO COMBAT HOMELESSNESS AND IMPOVERISHMENT. AS A SPONSOR, YOU HAVE A WAY TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND GIVE SOMETHING BACK AT THE SAME TIME. ANNUAL SPONSORSHIPS BENEFITS INCLUDE YOUR LOGO LISTED ON OUR WEBSITE HOMEPAGE, MONTHLY AD SPACE IN OUR PAPER, AND SPECIAL EVENT PERKS FOR YOU AND YOUR EMPLOYEES ALL YEAR LONG. IT’S A GOOD DEAL FOR A GOOD CAUSE, AND YOUR GIFT IS 100% TAX-DEDUCTIBLE! ABOVE THE FOLD: $5,000 • One complimentary full page ad in the newspaper ($1,000 value) • Table of 10 and Sponsor recognition at annual Rise and Thrive Breakfast (200 attendees) • Sponsorship recognition at our annual Pints Fighting Poverty event (200 attendees) • Business logo highlighted on website homepage, and in the Above the Fold Sponsorship list • Logo highlighted in our annual report, along with logo in quarterly support feature of the paper GALLEY: $2,500 • One complimentary half page ad in the newspaper ($600 value) • Table of 10 and Sponsor recognition at annual Rise and Thrive Breakfast (200 attendees) • Sponsorship recognition at our annual Pints Fighting Poverty event (200 attendees) • Business logo highlighted on website homepage, and in the Galley Sponsorship list • Logo highlighted in our annual report, along with logo in quarterly support feature of the paper HONOR BOX: $1,000 • Table of 10 and Sponsor recognition at annual Rise and Thrive Breakfast (200 attendees) • Sponsorship recognition at our annual Pints Fighting Poverty event (200 attendees) • Business logo highlighted on website homepage, and in the Honor Box Sponsorship list • Logo highlighted in our annual report, along with logo in quarterly support feature of the paper FLY SHEET: $500 • Two complimentary tickets to our annual Pints Fighting Poverty event ($50 value) • Business logo highlighted on website homepage, and in the Fly Sheet Sponsorship list • Logo highlighted in our annual report, along with logo in quarterly support feature of the paper 14 DENVER VOICE October 2022
RESOURCE LIST FOR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS IN DENVER DENVERVOICE.ORG/RESOURCE-LIST DIAL 211 FOR A MORE COMPLETE LIST OF RESOURCES IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. PROVIDES INFORMATION FOR FOOD, MEDICAL CARE, SENIOR SERVICES, YOUTH PROGRAMS, COUNSELING, EDUCATION, SHELTERS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, HOLIDAY ASSISTANCE, AND MORE. EMAIL EDITOR@DENVERVOICE.ORG WITH CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS. FREE MEALS AGAPE CHRISTIAN CHURCH 2501 California St., Sat., 11am CAPITOL HEIGHTS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 1100 Fillmore St., Sat. lunch at 11:30am capitolheightspresbyterian.org CAPITOL HILL COMMUNITY SERVICES Go to mealsforpoor.org for meal locations CATHEDRAL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION 1530 Logan St.; sandwiches & coffee Mon.-Fri. 8:30am denvercathedral.org CHRIST’S BODY MINISTRIES 850 Lincoln; Mon. closed, Tues.-Thurs. 10am-3pm, Fri. 8am-11pm; groceries & hot meal on Sat. at 2pm (at 16th & York); Sun. church service at 6pm, dinner at 7pm. christsbody.org CHRIST IN THE CITY Home-cooked meal; Civic Center Park at Colfax & Lincoln at 1pm every Wed. & 2nd Sat. christinthecity.org CITYSQUARE DENVER 303-783-3777, 2575 S. Broadway; Food pantry Tues. 10am-6pm citysquare.org CAPITOL HILL COMMUNITY SERVICES Hot meals served at 1820 Broadway (in front of Trinity United Methodist Church), Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. 11:45-12:15 mealsforpoor.org DENVER INNER CITY PARISH 303-322-5733, 1212 Mariposa St., VOA Dining Center for Seniors, free 60 yrs and older, Wed.-Sat. 9am-12pm. Food Bank, Wed.-Fri., tickets at 9am, food bank open 10am-12pm. dicp.org DENVER RESCUE MISSION 1130 Park Avenue West, 3 meals 7 days/week: 5:30am, 12pm, 6pm 303-294-0157 denverrescuemission.org FATHER WOODY’S HAVEN OF HOPE 1101 W. 7th Ave. 303-607-0855. Mon.-Fri. 7am-1pm. Not open weekends. Breakfast is at 8am, and lunch is served at 11am frwoodyshavenofhope.org FEEDING DENVER’S HUNGRY Food service on the second and fourth Thurs. of each month; locations found at feedingdenvershungry.org/events.html FOOD NOT BOMBS Wed. 4pm/Civic Center Park facebook.com/ThePeoplesPicnic HARE KRISHNA TEMPLE 1400 Cherry St., free vegetarian feast on Sun., 6:45-7:30pm krishnadenver.com HIS LOVE FELLOWSHIP CHURCH 910 Kalamath, community dinner on Thurs., 6-6:45pm, men’s breakfast 1st Sat. of the Month, 8-10am, women’s breakfast 2nd Sat., 9-11am. hislovefellowship.org HOLY GHOST CATHOLIC CHURCH 1900 California St., sandwiches, Mon.-Sat., 10-10:30am holyghostchurch.org JORDAN AME CHURCH 29th and Milwaukee St., Tues. lunch 11:30am-1:00pm jordanamedenver.churchfoyer.com OPEN DOOR MINISTRIES 1567 Marion St., Sat. morning breakfast: 8am, Sun. dinner (required church attendance at 4:30pm) meal served at 6pm. 303-830-2201 odmdenver.org/home ST. CLARE’S MINISTRY AT ST. PETER AND ST. MARY 126 W. 2nd Ave., dinner at 4pm on Tues. Also offer a change of clothes, toiletries and sleeping bags when available. 303-722-8781 stpeterandmary.org ST. ELIZABETH’S Speer Blvd. & Arapahoe St. on Auraria campus, 7 days/week, 11:00am; food, coffee. stelizabethdenver.org ST. FRANCIS CENTER 2323 Curtis St., Wed. & Fri. 3-4:30pm (except third Wed. of each month). sfcdenver.org ST. PAUL’S LUTHERAN 1600 Grant St., Street Reach meal Mon. 1-4:30pm. Grocery room open at 11:30am every Mon. saintpauldenver.com SAME CAFÉ 2023 E. Colfax Ave. Restaurant serving mostly organic food—not free, but pay what you can or work off your meal in the kitchen: Open Mon.-Sat., 11am to 2pm, Closed Sun. & holidays, 720-530-6853 soallmayeat.org SENIOR SUPPORT SERVICES 846 E. 18th Ave. 3 meals, Mon.a-Fri. 7am-7pm; Sun. 11am-4pm. 55+ seniorsupportservices.org/programs URBAN OUTREACH DENVER 608 26th St., Thurs. dinners, 6pm-7pm lovedenver.org VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA 2877 Lawrence St., breakfast (8am), lunch (11:30am), dinner (5pm) Mon.-Thurs., 12pm on Fri., 1pm on Sun. Food & clothing bank 9:30am-4pm Mon.-Thurs. voacolorado.org/gethelp-denvermetro-foodnutrition-themission CAREER SERVICES COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CENTER Level 4, Denver Central Library, 14th Ave. & Broadway. 720-865-1706. Hours: Mon. & Tues. 10am-8pm; Wed., Thurs., Fri. 10am-6pm; Sat. 9am-5pm & Sun. 1-5pm; FREE services include computer/internet use, wifi, computer classes, job search/resume classes and one-on-one tech help appointments. denverlibrary.org/ctc THE WESTSIDE ONE-STOP CAREER CENTER Denver Department of Human Services, 1200 Federal Blvd., Mon.Fri., 7:30am-4:30pm; Services include: employment counseling, assisted job search, résumé preparation, job/applicant matching, phone bank for calling employers, access to computers, copiers, fax, etc. careercenteroffices.com/center/231/denver-westside-workforce-center MEDICAL & DENTAL SERVICES ACS COMMUNITY L.I.F.T. CareVan at Open Door Ministries, 1567 Marion St., Tues. 9am-12:30pm DENVER HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER 303-436-6000, 777 Bannock St. denverhealth.org DRUG REHAB USA Addiction hotline: 866-716-0142. Organizations that take Medicaid: https://drugrehabus.org/rehabs/treatment/medicaid/united-states/colorado/denver HARM REDUCTION ACTION CENTER 303-572-7800; 112 E. 8th Ave.; Mon.-Fri., 9am-12pm. HIV/Hep C/ Gonorrhea/ Chlamydia testing available. Our services are restricted to active IV Drug Users. Offers clean syringes to active users, as well as safety training on how to properly dispose of dirty syringes. harmreductionactioncenter.org LIVER HEALTH CONNECTION 1325 S. Colorado Blvd., Suite B302. Resources and support for those affected by Hep C. Free Hep C testing offered. 800-522-4372, info@hepc-connection.org, liverhealthconnection.org INNER CITY HEALTH CENTER 303-296-1767, 3800 York St. Mon., Wed.-Fri. 8am-5pm; Tues. 9am-5pm; Sat. 8am-2pm. Emergency walk-ins. SALUD CLINIC 6075 Parkway Drive, Ste. 160, Commerce City; Dental 303-286-6755. Medical 303-286-8900. Medical Hours: Mon.-Wed. 8am-9pm, Thurs.-Fri. 8am-5pm; Sat. (Urgent Care only) 8am-5pm; Dental Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8am-5pm; Pharmacy Hours: Mon.-Fri. 1-5pm; After Office Hours: 1-800-283-3221 saludclinic.org/commerce-city STOUT STREET CLINIC 303-293-2220, 2130 Stout St. Clinic hours for new and established patients: 7am-4pm Mon., Tues., Thurs., & Fri. The clinic is open Wed. 11am-7pm. coloradocoalition.org/healthcare SUNSHINE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (YOUTH SERVICES) Services for youth facing substance abuse, addiction, mental health disorders, or a combination of these conditions. 833-931-2484 sunshinebehavioralhealth.com VA MEDICAL CENTER 303-399-8020, 1700 N Wheeling St., Aurora va.gov/find-locations/facility/vha_554A5 WORKNOW 720-389-0999; job recruitment, skills training, and job placement work-now.org DROP-IN & DAYTIME CENTERS ATTENTION HOMES 303-447-1207; 3080 Broadway, Boulder; contactah@attentionhomes.org. Offers safe shelter, supportive programming, and other services to youth up to age 24 attentionhomes.org CITYSQUARE DENVER 303-783-3777; 2575 S. Broadway; Mon.-Thurs. 10am-2pm, Denver Works helps with employment, IDs, birth certs; mail services and lockers citysquare.org FATHER WOODY’S HAVEN OF HOPE 303-607-0855; 1101 W. 7th Ave.; Mon.-Fri. 7am-1pm. Six private showers & bathrooms, laundry, lunch & more thoh.org THE GATHERING PLACE 303-321-4198; 1535 High St.; Mon., Wed.-Fri. 8:30am-5pm, Tues. 8:30am-1:30pm. Daytime drop-in center for women, their children, and transgender individuals. Meals, computer lab, phones, food bank, clothing, art programs, GED tutoring, referrals to other services, and more. tgpdenver.org HARM REDUCTION ACTION CENTER 303-572-7800, 231 East Colfax; Mon.-Fri. 9am-12pm. Provides clean syringes, syringe disposal, harm-reduction counseling, safe materials, Hep C/HIV education, and health education classes. harmreductionactioncenter.org HOLY GHOST CATHOLIC CHURCH 1900 California St., help with lost IDs and birth certificates holyghostchurch.org HOPE PROGRAM 303-832-3354, 1555 Race St.; Mon.-Fri. 8am-4pm. For men and women with HIV. LAWRENCE STREET COMMUNITY CENTER 2222 Lawrence St.; 303-294-0157; day facility, laundry, showers, restrooms, access to services homelessassistance.us/li/lawrence-street-community-center OPEN DOOR MINISTRIES 1567 Marion St.; Mon.-Fri. 7am-5:30pm. Drop-in center: bathrooms, coffee/tea, snacks, resources, WIFI odmdenver.org ST. FRANCIS CENTER 303-297-1576; 2323 Curtis St. 6am-6pm daily. Storage for one bag (when space is available). Satellite Clinic hours- Mon., Tues., Thurs, Fri. 7:30am-3:30pm; Wed. 12:30-4:30pm sfcdenver.org SENIOR SUPPORT SERVICES 846 E. 18th Ave. For those 55 and older. TV room, bus tokens, mental/physical health outreach, and more. seniorsupportservices.org SOX PLACE (YOUTH SERVICES) 2017 Larimer St. Daytime drop-in shelter for youth 12-30 years old. Meals, socks, clothing bank, personal hygiene supplies, internet access, intentional mentoring and guidance, crisis intervention, referrals to other services. Tues.-Fri. 12-4pm & Sat. 11-2pm. soxplace.com THE SPOT AT URBAN PEAK (YOUTH SERVICES) 2100 Stout St. 303-291-0442. Drop-in hours Mon.-Fri. 8-11am. If you are a youth aged 15-20 in need of immediate overnight shelter services, please contact 303-974-2928 urbanpeak.org/denver/programs-and-services/drop-in-center URBAN PEAK (YOUTH SERVICES) Youth 14-24 in Denver and Colorado Springs. Overnight shelter, food, clothing, showers, case workers, job skills and training, ID and birth certificate assistance, GED assistance, counseling and housing. 730 21st St. 303-974-2900 urbanpeak.org October 2022 DENVER VOICE 15 N Y S S A D B U C K E Y E P T M A Y A N A R G I L T D V I A F I R R P A L M E B A L M N C T I M B E R R B Y L X O Y E E P L A O R C A G G E U C E R R O E T R R A G V N N S U W Y H P X U E P T A I U E E S W Y C L E A F I A V B L P A T V N L A O R B P L E P I R K I T Y O R T T P E P P H A R U S A L V A L O E L A C M O S C B S M E D T V L K A M C B P H H B C S P E A R E A N M F D D A T E O U E A P D S U K O I B O X L R T B A L S A T T S U G A Q M B DON’T LOOK NOW! PUZZLES ARE ON PAGE 13
WHAT DO WE DO TO HELP? Since 2007, the VOICE has provided jobs for more than 4,600 people experiencing homelessness. For every dollar we take in, we put $3.00 directly back into the pockets of those who need it most. WITH YOUR HELP, WE CAN DO MORE. SCAN THIS CODE TO SET UP YOUR DONATION TODAY! DENVERVOICE.ORG/DONATE
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