$ 2 SUGGESTED DONATION @DenverVOICE MORE THAN JUST A JOB FAIR-CHANCE HIRING ORGANIZATION OFFERS EMPLOYMENT TO THOSE FACING SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES. PAGE 6 VENDOR PROFILE: ZAKKAYAH BROOKS FACES OF HOMELESSNESS AUTHOR JEFFREY A. WOLIN EXPLAINS WHY CAPTURING ROUGH SLEEPERS IN THEIR MULTITUDES WAS AN IMPORTANT PROJECT TO TAKE ON. PAGE 8 YOUTH ON RECORD LOCAL ORGANIZATION PROVIDES YOUTH WITH EDUCATION AND ART AS TOOLS TOWARDS LIBERATION AND EQUITY. PAGE 10 VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITY PAGES 3, 5, 11, 12 EVENTS / PUZZLES PAGE 13 RESOURCES PAGE 15 MARCH 2022 | Vol.27 Issue 3 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) FROM YOUR VENDOR: PHOTO PROVIDED BY CSG
EDITOR’S NOTE WHEN ONE OF OUR VENDORS saw the Ask a Vendor question for this issue, he commented that people who purchase the paper from him already know how to prepare for colder weather. Most of us know how to layer ELISABETH MONAGHAN MANAGING EDITOR up or keep gloves in our coat pockets in case things cool down quickly. So, I understand the vendor’s point: asking for tips to help people stay warm during the colder months may seem irrelevant if we can select from a variety of clothes or outerwear that will keep us warm. However, it isn’t the question, but rather, the responses to the question that hold value for the unhoused community. Those who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability know to keep warm, but when it’s cold outside, they don’t always have access to everything they need to stay that way, and the pandemic has only compounded this issue. So, as you read the vendor tips on how to keep warm during the colder months, it may not be new information, but each of the vendors is sharing tips based on their own experiences with having to figure out where they can go or what they can do to stay warm. And while their suggestions may seem basic, at the very least, it gives us insight into what it takes for them to find the comfort and security that many of us so easily take for granted. ■ March CONTRIBUTORS ROBERT DAVIS is an award-winning freelance reporter for the Denver VOICE. His work has also appeared in Colorado Public Works Journal, Fansided, Colorado Journal, and Medium.com. DENVERVOICE.ORG CE.ORG HAVEN ENTERMAN is a Colorado native and has been a volunteer copy editor for the VOICE. While studying English and Journalism at CSU, she taught creative writing workshops for incarcerated men and women. Now, she’s proud to help facilitate the dialogue on homelessness in the Denver community. CAT EVANS is a Colorado native born and raised in the Baker neighborhood of Denver. She is a musician, poet, photographer, cinematographer, and free thought enthusiast. She is focused on translatable activism through visuals and sound. @deeOCE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jennifer Seybold MANAGING EDITOR Elisabeth Monaghan PROGRAM COORDINATOR Anthony Cornejo GRAPHIC DESIGNER Hannah Bragg VOLUNTEER COPY EDITORS Ashton Brown Kersten Jaeger Aaron Sullivan Laura Wing WRITERS 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. 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. 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 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. John Alexander Lando Allen Brian Augustine Stacie Booker Robert Davis Haven Enterman Cat Evans Habeel Harney Raelene Johnson Jacob Marsh 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 2 DENVER VOICE March 2022 STAFF CONTRIBUTORS BOARD CONTACT US
VENDOR PROFILE VOICE Vendor Profi le: ZAKKAYAH BROOKS BY ELISABETH MONOGHAN ZAKKAYAH BROOKS has been a Denver VOICE vendor since 2008, but like many of our vendors, her life was disrupted by the pandemic. While she has vended the VOICE since we reopened after a two-month shutdown in June of 2020, she’s supplemented her income with other work. This past September, Brooks began working as a subcontractor for a day labor company that sends her to clean new houses before they go on the market. There, she works with painters, electricians, and other contractors onsite to prepare the homes for sale. Recently, Brooks decided she wanted to launch her own soup and sandwich company, so with the assistance of the day labor company, which paid for her to get her business license and insurance, she began delivering sandwiches to the laborers working at the job sites. Because she is fine-tuning her recipes and working out details like pricing and everything she plans to serve, Brooks is giving the sandwiches to the contractors free of charge. That way, she gets feedback on what they like, and she’s getting her name out there for when she officially opens her ZAKKAYAH BROOKS. CREDIT: ELISABETH MONAGHAN business. Each package with the sandwiches includes a card with her business contact information. She also delivers free food to people in need, which has inspired her to explore making her business a nonprofit. With the money Brooks makes from vending the VOICE and working day labor jobs, she spends it on her four grandsons. Additionally, she sends a lot of her earnings to her daughter, who is studying business administration at a college in Dallas. ■ 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-deductable. 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. March 2022 DENVER VOICE 3
LOCAL NEWS DENVER SEEKS TO CAPITALIZE ON HOMEBUILDING ACTIVITY WITH NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING REGULATIONS BY ROBERT DAVIS DENVER OFFICIALS ARE HOPING TO CAPITALIZE on increased homebuilding activity with a new policy that seeks to ensure affordable units are included in new developments. The proposal would require new developments of 10 or more units to designate a certain amount of the units as affordable for households making up to 80% of the area median income. The units must remain affordable for a period of 99 years, regardless of whether the unit is rented or sold. In higher-cost areas such as downtown, the policy would require developers to provide more affordable units. Community Planning and Development (CPD), one of the agencies that is developing the plan, said the plan will require all units to be affordable to households making up to $84,000 per year. In addition, the plan calls for a gradual increase of Denver’s linkage fee, a fee that is assessed against new developments that funds future affordable housing development. Currently, the linkage fee ranges between $0.66 per sq. ft. in residential units up to $1.86 per sq. ft. in commercial and industrial contexts. If adopted, the plan CREDIT: COLIN LLOYD, UNSPLASH FREE HOT MEALS Capitol Hill Community Services at Trinity Church 1820 Broadway HOURS Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 11:45 – 12:30 11:45 – 12:30 closed 11:45 – 12:30 11:45 – 12:30 Closed on National Holidays YOU ARE WELCOME HERE 4 DENVER VOICE March 2022 would raise this fee to between $4 per sq. ft. and $8 per sq. ft. by July 2024. CPD said other cities across the U.S. have already implemented similar policies. The agency added that this tool became available to them after state lawmakers passed House Bill 21-1117 last year, which expanded local authority to regulate affordable housing development in Colorado. “Anyone who has been in Denver for some time can tell you how difficult it can be to find a place that’s affordable, especially if your income has not increased as much as rents and home prices have over the past decade,” said Laura Aldrete, executive director of CPD. “This proposal is a big step toward the city delivering on our commitment to help address housing affordability.” One reason why Denver officials are pushing for the policy now is that building activity in the Mile High City is accelerating. According to building permit data from CPD, the number of multi-unit and mixed-use permits skyrocketed between 2020 and 2021. The number of housing units built in multi-unit structures increased by 45% up to 6,585 last year while the number of mixed-use permits increased fourfold up to nearly 1,700. Overall, new development permits for multi-unit and mixed-use development filed with CPD last year carried a valuation of more than $1.4 billion compared to the more than $550 million worth of permits pulled in 2020. The policy could also help the city build more missingmiddle and workforce housing, two housing types that have been decimated over the last decade. According to a recent state report, Colorado’s homebuilding activity slowed by approximately 40% between 2010 and 2020. At the same time, the state’s population grew by 15%. This dislocation of supply and demand has sent home prices upward and eliminated more than 300,000 units that were once affordable to households making up to $45,000 per year. Data from the Department of Housing Stability (HOST), another agency involved with the policy proposal, shows that there are approximately 72,000 households in Denver make up to $45,000 per year but there are only 9,000 income-restricted units available to them. “One in three households in Denver struggles with housing costs, and 46,000 are paying more than half their incomes toward housing,” said Britta Fisher, HOST’s executive director. “These childcare providers, and social workers – the people who make our city run. This proposal helps ensure they cannot only work here but can afford to live here, too.” The proposed policy is available for public comment through March 14. Denver City Council is expected to take up the proposal later this spring. ■ are our restaurant workers,
ASK A VENDOR BRIAN AUGUSTINE Don’t be afraid of being a little cold because the cold will make your blood thicken, and that will help keep you warmer during the really cold days. LANDO ALLEN Dress for the cold, and if you are sleeping outside, avoid drinking, and try to stay off the ground. JACOB MARSH Layers, hand warmers, body warmers. Put newspaper or paper towels between layers. My suggestion would also be to get thermal pants, long-sleeved shirts, and thick, warm jackets to stay warm. JERRY ROSEN The best thing an individual could do is dress appropriately and wear the right clothing. If one does work outside, one should drink a lot of hot beverages and go inside occasionally to stay warm. JOHN ALEXANDER I grew up in St. Paul, Minn, where the temperatures could range from -10 to -60 degrees Fahrenheit. This doesn’t include the windchill, which was often between -60 and -80 Fahrenheit. It would snow – I mean it really snow! What other states considered severe storms were regular snow days for us. I lived well into my adult life thinking that it was supposed to snow one or two times per week. I’ve lived in other states during the winter, but in Minn, I learned winter survival, and one day, it was a real miracle, when I moved from Minnesota to Denver, Colo. And here I am. I would love to share some of the techniques I have learned for winter survival and keeping warm. Step 1: Let’s begin with the upper body. As you start your layers, you want a long-sleeve t-shirt, another shirt or thin sweater, and a heavier sweater or shirt. THIS COLUMN IS A PLACE FOR DENVER VOICE VENDORS TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS FROM OUR READERS AND STAFF. Q What is a tip you can share to help people stay warm during the colder months? A Next, between the layers, you’ll want hand warmers or foot warmers to wear in the middle of your chest. Consider placing hand warmers or foot warmers in the middle of your back between the layers. (Use a safety pin to keep them in place. These warmers should never come into contact with your skin.) Step 2: Tuck in your shirt to keep outside air from coming in through your open shirttails. Step 3: To keep your legs warm, wear two pairs of pants, or one pair made of thicker fabric, like corduroy. Step 4: Always wear two pairs of socks, plus foot warmers. One pair of socks is to keep your feet warm and the second protects your skin from getting burned by your foot warmers. Also, if your shoes aren’t waterproof, or the snow is deep enough to seep into your shoes, wear something like an empty bread bag as a layer over your socks. Step 5: For your hands, wear a pair of gloves, and a layer of hand warmers. (This is the only place it’s safe to have the warmers next to your skin but place them next to your palms.) Even better, put the hand warmers and gloves inside a mitten. (Keep an open package of hand warmers in your coat pockets. If your hands get cold, it will be much easier to warm them in your pockets than to warm cold hands in pockets that aren’t already warm. Step 6: Keeping your head warm is important, so you need a good hat. Hoodies work well when you pull them snug around your face and head. Wear earmuffs or an ear warmer headband to keep your ears and the lower part of your neck warm. Step 7: This last step is very important: Whenever you go to a store, restaurant, or anywhere else inside for more than 10 minutes, take off your jacket and loosen your shirt — or whatever upper layers you’re wearing to cool down your body. You do not want to go back outside with perspiration from being hot indoors, because no matter how many layers you have on, when the persperation on your skin cools down, it will make you cold. What do YOU want to ask? If you have a question or issue you would like vendors to discuss, please email community@denvervoice.org. March 2022 DENVER VOICE 5
COMMUNITY FEATURE PHOTO COURTESY OF CSG LINDA LENGYEL. PHOTO COURTESY OF CSG MORE THAN JUST A JOB: STABILITY AND DIGNITY WITCONSOLIDATED SERVICES GROUP BY HAVEN ENTERMAN TAMMY VAUGHN’S MORNINGS begin at the intersection of Colfax Ave. and Broadway St. Each workday, she sweeps the sidewalk, empties the garbage cans, and does her part to keep the Capitol Hill neighborhood clean and tidy. Her purple uniform is easy to spot, even amongst the hustle and bustle. Vaughn is employed by Consolidated Services Group (CSG), a fair-chance hiring organization providing employment to those facing significant life challenges. Some employees, like Vaughn, are experiencing homelessness. Others are in transitional living spaces or are trying to reenter the community after incarceration. A former night shift nurse, Vaughn could no longer afford Denver’s rising housing costs. “After spending my life here, I felt resentful about being priced out of a place I’d dedicated my life to,” Vaughn explained. “I consider myself a happy person, so that was out of character. [Working at CSG] has helped me feel less angry. I was happy to get the job, and it feels like forward progress.” Since 2014, the organization has partnered with local business improvement districts to help maintain Denver’s public spaces. CSG employees assist with services like trash removal, custodial maintenance, pressure washing, holiday decoration installation, and lighting repairs. “Clean is serious business,” said CSG Finance Director Linda Lengyel. “Studies have shown that cleaning has a great deal of power behind it. It creates not only an aesthetic, but the image of a community that cares for its own.” For employees like Vaughn, employment at CSG is a meaningful way to contribute to the greater good of the city. “I fancy myself somewhat of an ambassador,” Vaughn added. “I feel like I’m helping to keep the popular part of Denver, the part that’s shown to tourists, healthy and safe.” Lengyel stressed that CSG’s mission isn’t just about helping individuals find employment — it’s about giving them the tools for continued success. Like traditional employers, the organization offers a full benefits package including health insurance and paid time off. But, to help employees navigate their unique challenges, CSG provides additional support through on-site laundry machines, lockers, work phones, and EcoPasses for unlimited free rides on RTD buses and trains. Recently, they’ve hired a part-time social worker to supplement pre-existing training for life skills like time management and conflict de-escalation. This approach has proven to be effective. Those who have been with CSG for an extended period of time — in many cases, three years or longer — are dubbed “core employees.” Nelda Green, personnel and human resources director, estimates that the number of core employees is as high as 58%. Though they assist their team members however they can, CSG doesn’t provide overnight shelter. Partners like the Colorado Village Collaborative (CVC), which oversees a variety of Safe Outdoor Spaces and tiny home villages, add the final piece of the puzzle — a safe, warm place for CSG 6 DENVER VOICE March 2022
COMMUNITY FEATURE NELDA GREEN. PHOTO COURTESY OF CSG PHOTO COURTESY OF CSG employees to rest after a long day’s work. Cuica Montoya, director of the Safe Outdoor Spaces program, understands CSG’s mission better than most. Once unhoused herself, Montoya is acutely aware of the allencompassing instability homelessness can create. “When I was experiencing homelessness, there was so much going on in my life that employment seemed so far away,” Montoya said. “By providing people with a place to call home, knowing that their stuff isn’t going to get thrown away and swept, they can start planning for the future. With partners like CSG, it makes that so much easier. We know they’re not going to be judged for their living situation or for their gaps in employment.” Vaughn herself is a CVC resident. Since December of 2020, she has been a mainstay at the women’s tiny home village. With money in her pocket and a roof over her head, Vaughn is excited for what the coming years may hold. She’s currently laying the groundwork for a business of her own. “I want to revamp an old herbal products line my first husband and I started,” she said. “I made salves, hair and scalp tonics, medicinals, that sort of thing. Now, what I want to do is something more along the lines of health and beauty aids. It’s a retirement business, and I want to make it fun.” ■ PHOTO COURTESY OF CSG March 2022 DENVER VOICE 7
NATIONAL FEATURE IN HIS NEW BOOK FACES OF HOMELESSNESS, JEFFREY A. WOLIN WANTS TO GIVE VOICES TO THE PEOPLE HE PHOTOGRAPHS BY JEFFREY A. WOLIN Homelessness takes many forms beyond living on the streets. Factors besides mental illness and addiction contribute to the problem. There are homeless veterans; families who were evicted when their residences were foreclosed on; people with sudden medical expenses that insurance didn’t cover. Job loss, divorce, death of a spouse or parent, domestic violence, discrimination based on sexual orientation, lack of affordable housing, etc., all drive homelessness. There are working poor who live in vehicles or tents and work full-time jobs. Most people experiencing homelessness are invisible, living doubled up with friends or family, in shelters, hospitals, or Single Room Occupancy hotels. Jeffrey A. Wolin photographs and interviews a wide swath of this vulnerable population and includes their own words directly on their portraits to dispel our firmly-held stereotypes. Below, he shares what this project means to him. MY CURRENT PHOTO/TEXT SERIES, Faces of Homelessness, endeavors to show a wide range of individuals who are currently experiencing homelessness or have experienced it in the past. There’s been a considerable increase in awareness of this crisis as our society is moving in the direction of shredding our social safety net, making the lives of our most vulnerable fellow citizens that much harder. Like my previous long-term projects, I interview my subjects and include their stories in their own words directly on their portraits. This strategy gives voice to the people I photograph and allows audiences to directly connect stories with faces. Given the sensitive nature of this subject, I don’t just wander the streets to photograph. We don’t need more images of people sleeping on heating grates. Instead, I work with organizations that deal with homelessness every day. I’ve been partnering with the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, one of the nation’s most respected non-profits dealing with this crisis. CCH helped introduce me to individuals to photograph and interview, which helps with the issue of informed consent, an essential component of all my work. I strive to establish a relationship of trust with the people I photograph and to portray them with dignity. I’ve learned from CCH and other organizations such as Venice Community Housing and Safe Place for Youth in L.A., that homelessness takes many more forms than living on the streets and that the popular image of all homeless as mentally ill and/or drug addicts is simplistic and often incorrect. It’s important to dispel these stereotypes if solutions to this widespread problem are to be found. In fact, most people experiencing homelessness are invisible: living doubled up with friends and family (around 16,000 kids in Chicago Public Schools lack a permanent address); in short or long-term shelters; in hospitals or SRO’s (Single Room Occupancy hotels). There are homeless veterans; individuals and families who were evicted when their residences were foreclosed on; people who had sudden medical expenses that insurance didn’t cover. Job loss, divorce, death of a spouse or parent, domestic violence, coming out as gay, leaving foster care, lack of affordable housing, etc., all drive homelessness. Several individuals I’ve photographed are working poor, living in their vehicles or in tents, and working full-time jobs. While I was engaged in this long-term series, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Needless to say, it had a rather negative impact on this vulnerable population. Accordingly, I added portraits and stories of several homeless individuals who came down with the virus and lived to tell the tale. I hope my images can contribute to the public discourse about causes and possible solutions to some of the difficult issues surrounding the worldwide homelessness crisis. For more information about Faces of Homelessness, visit https://www.kehrerverlag.com/en/jeffrey-a-wolin-facesof-homelessness-978-3-96900-057-1 ■ Courtesy of International Network of Street Papers I left home at 15 and was brought into Mercy Home for Boys & Girls. They had a rigid structure which has helped me. I take my academics more seriously. Kate, my advocate, always cheered me up; could turn my frown upside down. I had bad self-worth. I was overweight; didn’t want to change as a person; kept to myself; didn’t trust anyone. On May 19, 2018, I began my hormone treatment to transition from female to male and moved out of the group home. I came out in 2017 and everyone was supportive but wouldn’t allow me to get a legal name change or move to a boys’ home. I want to be a classical pop musician and be on Broadway. I enrolled in voice classes to develop my vocal range. I’m currently in Triton College as a freshman studying Arts & Music. My goal is to get a Bachelor’s in Musical Theatre and minor in Voice. I’m currently living at El Rascate, a transitional living shelter in the Puerto Rican Cultural Center. The residents range from 18-24; I’m the baby. Since moving there, I got to connect with really good case managers who helped with my legal name change and gender transition. I am a single mom of 2 boys. My oldest, his name is Juan; he is 4 years old and autistic, but not severe. My other son’s name is Francisco and he is 2. They are my world. I was living in a domestic violence relationship. I was unhappy for 5 or 6 years. I thank God for my kids and for opening my eyes to help me leave that life. Nothing is easy. I became homeless January 2, 2020. Me and my 2 kids sleep in the living room at my mom’s house; we don’t have anywhere else to go. My dad gave me an air mattress. Every night I have to pump it up; I have to put the covers and sheets on, give the kids pillows. Every morning I have to take the air out, fold it back up. My goal now is to go back to work and back to school to study child development. I want to work at day care , save money and get an apartment of my own. It’s been 2 months since I left my husband and moved to my parents’ house. Set new goals for your life, especially if you have kids, to show yourself and your kids that Mommy is able to do it. PHOTO AND TEXT COURTESY OF INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF STREET PAPERS PHOTO AND TEXT COURTESY OF INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF STREET PAPERS 8 DENVER VOICE March 2022
I was a troublemaker. I was a gangbanger, doing drugs, hanging with the wrong crowd. I hid it from my parents but my mom caught on. The night I left we had an argument. “What if you get us killed?” I didn’t want to cause any more damage to my family I love my mom and dad. Everyone got along but me. I was gonna commit suicide. I was hanging myself from a bedpost when my younger brother, Danny, came in, stopped me and hugged me. He said, “Don’t go!” I cried with him; took him back to his room. I packed up my stuff in the middle of the night. From that time I was homeless. I was 9. I chose to be a real gangbanger and street person. At the age of 18, I had a kid. I got out of the gang the next year. I told them, “I’m a family man. I’m done with gangbanging.” They whipped my ass. Pistol-whipped me, broke my nose, left me with scars. Most people think homeless live on the streets and are dirty. It doesn’t last forever unless you want it to. It’s beauty and struggle. It’s human. I want to become an advocate for the homeless. After working as an auto and bus mechanic for 20 years, 10 as a union mechanic, I returned to writing. I worked in the family business until it failed in 1992. I was 37. I started living in my car. 80% of my meals the past 20 years have come from dumpsters in part because I refuse to take money from the government because conservatives are always accusing poor people of taking handouts. So I only eat food that society throws away. I also organize 4 different “Food Not Bombs” collectives. They are a global anarchist movement. When I was a working class bus mechanic and a typical American consumer, I would go to a market and buy foods advertisers wanted us to eat and my health was not good. I wasn’t eating healthy food and my budget didn’t allow me to buy more nutritious organic foods rich people could afford. But as a homeless person I discovered eating form dumpsters of wealthy people’s markets like Whole Foods was healthier than the food marketed to the average American consumer. PHOTO AND TEXT COURTESY OF INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF STREET PAPERS BEING BEING PHOTO AND TEXT COURTESY OF INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF STREET PAPERS BEING HOMELESS DOESN’T DEFINE ME, SURVIVING IT DOES. HOMELESS DOESN’T DEFINE ME, SURVIVING IT DOES. HOMELESS DOESN’T DEFINE ME, SURVIVING IT DOES. PHOTO AND TEXT COURTESY OF INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF STREET PAPERS First time I was homeless I was 14 years old. I was kicked out of the house. There were 7 of us kids. I was the oldest. My dad died when I was 6, my mom when I was 12. My mom’s brother took us in but I wouldn’t obey the rules. I’ve had housing on and off since then. I’d heard about Uptown Tent City and I wanted to get totally involved. I got a propane stove and tank and I started cooking for the community. There were about 25 of us under Lawrence viaduct and about 20 under Wilson. We help each other. I got elected mayor of Tent City. I’m homeless but I’m happy. I’m doing what I enjoy doing: helping people. I was a Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class in the U.S. Navy and a 5th generation Native veteran. My great-grandfather served in “Big Red One”, 1st Infantry Division in WWI; he was from Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Tribe in Belcourt, ND. He wasn’t considered a citizen. The U.S. didn’t grant citizenship to Native Americans until 1924. My great-aunt was a WAC in WWII. My greatuncle served in Vietnam. I served at the tail end of Desert Storm/Desert Shield. I served in a confl ict zone in Haiti in 1998. Our family has been in every war since the Revolutionary War. I was sexually assaulted at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego after being roofi ed. I was taken back to my room and endured a trauma that changed my life forever. Everyone on the base started pointing at me— “She’s a liar! She deserved it!” I convinced them to transfer me to a different base. There was an altercation at a bar that triggered my PTSD, and I was wrongfully charged. The Innocence Project intervened, and the case was overturned. I got pregnant with my fi rst son right after I got home. I stayed in San Diego for 6 years after that. My husband was an abusive drunk who tried to kill me on multiple occasions. I moved back to Chicago in 2006. I got into another abusive relationship. Since 2008, we’ve had small bouts of homelessness. I wound up staying with my abusive boyfriend. When we were homeless, we stayed doubled up with friends and family. When I couldn’t stay with friends, I’d call my ex and ask for help with rent, food, rides. I know I shouldn’t have called him—he beat me, stalked me, and tried to kill me. I still have the scars as a reminder that I am not a victim but a survivor. I felt at the time I had no choice. I am a single mom of 3, and my son has special needs and required multiple therapies and tutoring. I fi nally got into the VA system last year. My family was placed in housing by Volunteers of America. Being homeless doesn’t defi ne me, surviving it does. I left New York when 9/11 happened. I wanted to see America. Went from NY to Vegas, started painting on the walls there with Magic Markers. A friend suggested I come to Venice Beach. I’ve drawn my whole life. Got into tattoos. Started to paint here in Venice. An oil painter on the boardwalk taught me painting techniques. I learned different techniques from different artists who shared brush strokes. I’ve slept everywhere from alleys to parking garages to sidewalks. I’ve stayed on friends’ sofas. The community takes care of me. They look at me as a resident who lives outside. Homeless has become a dirty word. It should be a hate crime to use that word. I don’t like the stereotype; we’re not all the same. I’m not a shitty homeless person. I’m an artist. I’ve earned that right. I have my art supplies and my bass guitar and that’s it. I don’t have piles of stuff. I’m not a hoarder. I get canvasses donated and I just paint over them. I paint a lot of clowns. They scare the shit out of kids. Scared me when I was a kid. If I had my own place I’d fi ll every square inch with murals because that’s what my life is: one big painting. PHOTO AND TEXT COURTESY OF INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF STREET PAPERS PHOTO AND TEXT COURTESY OF INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF STREET PAPERS March 2022 DENVER VOICE 9
COMMUNITY PROFILE PHOTO COURTESY OF YOUTH ON RECORD THE YOUTH IS ON RECORD BY CAT EVANS CREATIVE OUTLETS, ART, EXPRESSION, AND SOUL are a few underemphasized, necessary elements of our existence that not everyone has access to. Many are unfamiliar with how to engage with those elements of themselves whatsoever, as our society does not directly cater to or encourage those extracurriculars. Founded in 2008, Denver-based Youth on Record (YOR), a small nonprofit located at 1301 W. 10th Ave., is here to change that. There is little debate regarding the impact creativity has on the youth. In their “About Us” section on youthonrecord. org, YOR immediately informs visitors that “education and art, when integrated under the right framework, are powerful tools toward liberation and equity.” The mission is bigger than a moment. According to their website, YOR offers programs that are “intended to equip young people from historically under-resourced communities with the skills needed to find success in life by advancing their academic success, increasing their economic 10 DENVER VOICE March 2022 opportunities and career skills, and strengthening their community connections and networks.” At Youth on Record, social justice and music production come hand in hand. They teach things like creative writing, alongside historical classes. All classes are integrated into programs for schools with underprivileged students. When YOR started, there were only three staff members. Today, there are about 18. YOR also offers programs outside of school. “FEMpower” is a program for femme-identifying or non-identifying people. “It has a lot to do with social justice issues, how to be heard,” said Jelie Jones, a teacher at YOR. An artist and musician herself, Jones’ work is splashed all over the Denver music scene — performing live sets with collaborators, producing beats, running an educational YouTube channel on beat making — going so far as to have performed her own TedTalk. She is a specific type of creative who has found success in her own journey through collaboration and outreach. “Open Lab” is another of the many programs Youth on Record offers. As Jones explained, “Youth can get studio sessions, first come, first served. They really learn what it’s like to be in the booth.” According to Jones, self-mastery and control are key components in production rates and ability. The program teaches students how to mix and master their songs. The program also offers guitar lessons and access to Ableton, a complex, pricey tool considered a staple software in music production. Ableton Live retails at a base price of $749 for six months. “We do Ableton live workshops, how to make your drums bounce etc.,” said Jones. YOR also allows and encourages people to collaborate while they are working on their own forms of art. “They can PHOTO COURTESY OF YOUTH ON RECORD sit anywhere in the space and be cozy while they chill, vibe and get feedback from us directly,” said Jones. “There are always activities running simultaneously.” Schools initiate the contract with Youth on Record, and then they send a teaching artist out to middle schools or high schools two to three times per week. YOR has structures focused on podcasting, as well. Podcasting is a lot of different components, and Youth on Record helps with production, release, and recording, along with mixing/mastering the podcast audio. That is one of Jones’ specialties with the organization. There is a major internship focus through Denver Public Schools. Currently, there are four interns from CU Denver that work for Youth on Record. These are paid internships, and UCD interns are given a $500 stipend per month.
PAGE TITLE “Making sure everyone gets paid is what is important to having young people show up,” Jones emphasized. “When they hit 14, they’re able to go to work. It’s important that they can leave that job and contribute with us at Youth on Record as there is an opportunity to get paid there.” YOR pays young producers to use their beats non-exclusively on podcasts. Speaking about the staff, Jones noted there is little room for fault-finding or underwhelming passion with the curated lineup of staff members. “We have great teachers. A lot of teachers. We all learn from each other, and that’s the best part about a team. Sometimes there’s a weak link on the team – that’s not the case here. There are no weak links.” There is heavy emphasis on communication with children. Jones believes that to bridge gaps, adults need to work to engage with the youth. “A lot of teachers lose their cool, and the kids look at them funny for that. It’s a problem I noticed in school. The teachers didn’t know how to communicate with us. They showed their emotions in a negative way, and we knew they were there only for the money.” Jones is firm in her approach with the students and their need for genuine connection and comfort to create high-impact dynamics between teachers and students. Before they even begin any class, the teachers check in with the students to see where they are mentally and emotionally — using universally identifiable signs like emojis to show where they are emotionally on any given day. There are various tactics used by teachers to simply check on students to say how are you doing? A strategy YOR deems vital. A lot of times, the trust barrier between student and teacher is ignored. Youth on Record prioritizes transparency and ease to ensure each student is comfortable with the level of engagement for their chosen program. A student needs to be able to feel like they can express themselves. Shining a light on that barrier that can exist between students and authority figures, Jones explained, “It’s important for them to know [they can express themselves] because often, they are targets.” Jones teaches audio and anything to do with beat making. “I float around a lot. You want to learn to make beats? I can show you to make beats. Ableton, Pro Tools, Fruity Loops, and so on.” Additionally, she teaches podcasting, which involves mixing vocals. “It’s similar to hip hop but without the beat,” said Jones. She also teaches students how to record, edit, and distribute it. These programs exist, like any other regular class inside of schools, and are worth credits for graduation. YOR has found much success in integrating into these spaces filled with the next generation. To learn more about YOR, or their successes and motivations moving forward, visit their website youthonrecord.org. ■ HABEEL HARNEY EMPTY FRUSTRATION Fill me up with your hate to what consumes you Picking out the size of magnitude you want me to injest You place me infront of you like a prize possession you about to accomplish Find the right size hose to make sure no hate leaks out Connect them why dont you and fasten those bolts nice and tight Does everything look right in your line of sight Now double check and make sure I am the right one before you begin Conspire with all that will help keeping your obsession contained There you are ready turn your valves of succession on Fill my space with your hatred you adapted The hissing sound makes approval to your ears it’s working But the silence soon brings your disapproval That my space is filled with your hatred to soon for me to be you WRITING THROUGH HARD TIMES COURTESY OF DENVER PUBLIC LIBRARY AND LIGHTHOUSE WRITERS WORKSHOP STACY BOOKER HAIKU i’ve no emotions not sure why this is the case oops! some just slipped thru. The Hard Times Writing Workshop is a collaboration between Denver Public Library and Lighthouse Writers Workshop. It’s open to all members of the public, especially those experiencing homelessness. Each month, the Denver VOICE publishes a selection of writing from these workshops. Virtual workshops: lighthousewriters.org/workshop/denver-public-library-hard-times More writing by these featured poets: writedenver.org PHOTO COURTESY OF YOUTH ON RECORD March 2022 DENVER VOICE 11
IN YOUR OWN WORDS SELF, WHY DO THEY HOLD YOUR PAST AGAINST YOU? BY RAELENE JOHNSON, VOICE VENDOR NEW ITEMS NEEDED: Socks Foot warmers, hand warmers RAELENE JOHNSON. CREDIT: CORTNEY TABERNA SELF, why do they hold onto your past, just to make you look bad? They make you the joke of the party, but let me tell you, Self, they are the only ones to really suffer! Self, if you have truly changed, then you have your power. The power to know your higher power, who sees all. Self, you don’t have to argue with someone who just wants to hurt you. Other people in pain like to pass it on. So, Self, just pray for them when they attack you. Self, it doesn’t matter if it is family or a close friend. If you know Self’s true worth and work hard to find Self, then you will not let your past be used as a weapon against you. Let the knowledge of self-change be your strength. Self can choose how much time to spend around them. Self must always choose Self first. When others TRY and hurt you, you should become the bigger person and know they are just in pain. Don’t take on their pain, Self, you are stronger and better than that! So, Self, please think about it before you take on their ways of hurting you. Only you have the power to stop others from holding your past against you! Don’t let others stop you from your truth! You have changed, so claim it. ■ GENTLY-USED ITEMS NEEDED: 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. Men’s shoes or boots (sizes 8-12) Men’s jackets (sizes L, XL, XXL) Women’s jackets (sizes M, L, XL) Hats or beanies Blankets Gloves Toothpaste, deodorant, chapstick Paper products for the office SPRING WISH LIST FREE ADDICTION SUPPORT FOR DENVER RESIDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR FINANCIAL HARDSHIP (855) 539-9375 WeFaceItTogether.org 12 DENVER VOICE March 2022
EVENTS COURTESY OF DEBORAH LASTOWKA PUZZLES COLORADO DRAGON BOAT FILM FESTIVAL Founded in 2016, this four-day festival will feature in-person film screenings, community conversations, and special events celebrating the power of filmmaking within Asian communities. WHEN: Mar 3 – Mar 6 COST: $12 for Denver Film Society members; $15 for non-members. Prices for special events vary. WHERE: Sie FilmCenter, 2510 E. Colfax INFO: denverfilm.org COURTESY OF STREETROOTS ANSWERS ARE ON PAGE 15 COLFAX ART CRAWL: MARDI GRAS Join 40 West Arts District for a free, family-friendly Mardi Gras street party. Event to include a traveling brass band, DIY crafts, beads, face painting, new exhibitions, and more. Costumes are encouraged! WHEN: Mar 4, 6 – 9 p.m. WHERE: 40 West Arts District, 1560 Teller St. COST: Free INFO: 40westarts.org FRIDAY MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION A regular meditation practice can help you cultivate kindness and inner peace—two things we desperately need in these stressful times. Each class will include instruction on some mindfulness themes, followed by 30 minutes of practice. All are welcome! WHEN: Mar 4, 11, 18, 25, 10 – 10:45 a.m. WHERE: Online COST: Free; registration required INFO: denverlibrary.org/events/upcoming ACROSS 1. Close to closed 5. Accomplishment 9. Buck’s mate 12. Chops fi nely, as potatoes 14. Knight’s “suit” 16. Down with the fl u 17. Magic word 19. ___ City (computer game) MUSIC IN THE GALLERIES: EL SISTEMA COLORADO Complementing the Museum’s exhibition Clyfford Still, Art, and the Young Mind, this event will feature young musicians from El Sistema Colorado, an organization that empowers students from some of Denver’s lowest income communities by offering immersive music training and vital life skills. Performances will take place at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. WHEN: Mar 13, 1 – 3 p.m. COST: Free with museum admission, $6 – $10 WHERE: Clyfford Still Museum, 1250 Bannock St. INFO: clyffordstillmuseum.org LECTURE: INNOVATIVE PRINTS BY VIENNESE ARTISTS Early 20th century Austrian printmakers created some of the most innovative images of their era. While less famous than Gustav Klimt’s paintings and the commercial designs of Josef Hoffmann, the prints of these and other Secession artists were equally groundbreaking and infl uential to the world of printmaking. WHEN: Mar 23, 6 p.m. COST: $12 for members; $15 for non-members. Visit site for in-person option as well. WHERE: Online INFO: kirklandmuseum.org 20. On-call device 21. Scoundrels 23. Carbon compound 25. Lifesaver 26. Tear-secreting 30. Manatee 33. Have ___ at 34. Beast of burden 36. Steal 37. Zeals 39. Had a meal 40. Behind schedule 41. “Smart” ones 43. Glove material 46. Roofi ng material 47. ___ and Rescue 49. Divination 51. Medical breakthrough 52. “No problem!” 53. Belgrade residents 57. Yes or no follower 61. “Much ___ About Nothing” 62. ___ concertos 64. Neon, e.g. 65. English exam component, oft en 66. Forbidden 67. Mime pair 68. Cassette contents 69. More or ___ DOWN 1. Kuwaiti, e.g. 2. Be in accord 3. Farm division 4. Th e Grim ___ 5. Beanie Babies, e.g. 6. Notable times 7. Early pulpit 8. Synagogue scrolls 9. Become detached from one’s surroundings 10. Assortment 11. Shade trees 13. Picturesque 15. Indian queens (Var.) 18. Fragrance 22. Southern speech feature 24. Spiritual leaders 26. Volcanic outfl ows 27. Catlike 28. Stumble upon 29. Abate 31. Kind of nerve 32. Tiny 35. Lecherous looks 38. Use elbow grease 42. Manuscript copyist 44. Extinguish 45. Digital copy of a document 48. Newspaper publisher William Raldoph ___ 50. Kind of tea 53. Stuffi ng ingredient 54. Wax-coated cheese 55. Astronaut’s org. 56. Ginger cookie 58. Bumpkin 59. God of love 60. Th ey’re infl atable 63. Turn red, perhaps March 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+ Kenneth King Foundation Denver Foundation Max & Elaine Appel The Christian Foundation Rose Community Foundation - CMP $5,000 - $9,999 CHFA Direct Effect Anschutz Family Foundation $1,000-$4,999 Cranaleith Foundation, Inc BNSF Railway Foundation Jerry Conover Bright Funds Jill Haug Key Renter Property Management Meek-Cuneo Family Fund Matthew Seashore & Nikki Lawson Russell Peterson Phoenix Capital, Inc. Sustainable Housing and Development Foundation Mary Walker Walker Family Foundation Pivotal Energy Partners Whole Foods Foundation Signs by Tomorrow Michael Dino Energy Outreach Colorado SEI Giving Fund Colorado Credit Union Foundation Mr. Paul Manoogian Donald Weaver Josh Kauer Creating Healthier Communities Kroger Matthew Rezek Network for Good Charities Aid Foundation of America Gaspar Terrana Patrick Hagan Jim Ashe The Sidney B. & Caleb F. Gates Jr. Fund Patrick & Jan Rutty Megan Arellano Audrey Chumley Christopher Boulanger George Litcher Family Fund $500-$999 Betty & Warren Kuehner Lighthouse Writer’s Workshop, Inc. Community Health Charities Dave and Julia Watson Michelle Stapleton & James Thompson Fire on Mountain Paul Hoffman Michael J. Fehn & Jan Monnier Lori Holland Jill Haug Travis & Meggie Ramp Alistair Davidson Jim and Nancy Thomas Jennifer Seybold Sheryl and John H Parker Susan B. Jones Maggie Holben Elsbeth Williams Michael Vitco Catherine Hegedus Christine Muldoon and Pete Iannuzzi James Stegman 3M Foundation 10X Business Consultants SEMOptimize Laura Wing Eileen Di Benedetto Katherine Standiford Ridley Mcgreevey and Winocur Charles and Jennifer Thornton-Kolbe Jennifer Stedron Stephen Saul Matthew Deller Erin Bowers Laura Saunders Dana Rinderknecht Alexander Seavall Courage and Community Foundation 14 DENVER VOICE March 2022 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
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 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 March 2022 DENVER VOICE 15 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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