$ 2 SUGGESTED DONATION @DenverVOICE K ITCH M Motht er’s y Moth y o FOOD FROM ARTHUR INFANTE’S KITCHEN GIVES NEW IMMIGRANTS A T PAGE 4 AN UPDATE FROM DENVER BASIC INCOME PROJECT MARK DONOVAN DISCUSSES WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON FOR DBI. PAGE 6 GRAND JUNCTION: BETWEEN A TENT AND A HARD PLACE: “… IT JUST FEELS LIKE WE’RE CONSISTENTLY TRYING TO PUSH PEOPLE AROUND.” PAGE 11 VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITY PAGES 3, 7, 12 EVENTS / PUZZLES PAGE 13 RESOURCES PAGE 15 APRIL 2024 | Vol.29 Issue 4 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) y Mothe VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT WITH THE HELP OF CLARA ITCHE ITCHEN PATT, THE VOICE NOW HAS BILINGUAL MATERIALS FOR NEW VENDOR TRAINING AND ORIENTATION. PAGE 5 FROM YOUR VENDOR: CREDIT: GILES CLASEN
EDITOR’S NOTE ELISABETH MONAGHAN MANAGING EDITOR BECAUSE APRIL IS NATIONAL VOLUNTEER MONTH, we wanted to acknowledge Clara Patt, the volunteer project manager who oversaw the translation of our marketing materials and orientation videos from English to Spanish. The final product reflects Clara’s exceptional project management skills and her ability to assemble a dedicated team of Spanish-speaking volunteers. Additional volunteers I haven’t acknowledged in a while are the copy editors, who often don’t THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS GILES CLASEN is a freelance photojournalist who is a regular contributor to the VOICE. Several of the photos he’s taken for the VOICE have won national and international awards. He also served on the VOICE’s Board of Directors. ROBERT DAVIS is an awardwinning freelance reporter for the Denver VOICE. His work has also appeared in Colorado Newsline, Business Insider, Westword, the Colorado Sun, and Medium.com. JACOB RICHARDS is a long-time community organizer and writer on the western slope of Colorado. His columns have appeared across the West including The Denver Post, Salt Lake City Tribune, and The Daily Sentinel. When not working in the wilderness, Jacob is working on his project, “A People’s History of the Grand Valley,” which is an effort to research and reframe Grand Junction’s local history to include marginalized narratives and people’s movements for change. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR James Kay MANAGING EDITOR Elisabeth Monaghan PROGRAM COORDINATOR Connie Gaitan GRAPHIC DESIGNER Hannah Bragg VOLUNTEER COPY EDITORS Lanie Lee Cook Aaron Sullivan ARTISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Giles Clasen Gigi Galen Jacob Richards 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 Giles Clasen Robert Davis David Gordon Raelene Johnson James Letempt Gabriel Pearce Jacob Richards Jerry Rosen Charles Spring BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chris Boulanger, Vice President Jeff Cuneo, President Zephyr Wilkins, Secretary Antonio Diaz, Treasurer Michael Burkley Cassandria Carmouche Robert Davis Muhammad Khan Nikki Lawson Cabal Yarne have too much notice or turnaround time to review articles and get them back to finalize and send to our graphic designer Hannah Bragg to lay out. Aaron Sullivan has served as a volunteer copy editor since late 2019. He takes the time to explain his suggested edits, so the contributor understands why the corrections are necessary. Our other excellent volunteer copy editor, Lanie Lee Cook, has helped out at the Denver VOICE office and several of our fundraising events since 2020. I value the work Lanie Lee and Aaron put into copy editing and am so grateful to have their help. Whatever tasks our volunteers perform, they make it possible for us to provide the training and support VOICE vendors need to succeed. ■ DENVERVOICE.ORG E.ORG @deeOCE 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 2 p.m. Orientation is held every day we are open, but prospective vendors must arrive by 10:00 a.m. 2 DENVER VOICE April 2024 STAFF CONTRIBUTORS BOARD CONTACT US
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 DENVER VOICE VENDOR JERRY ROSEN. Q A What are your hobbies? DAVID GORDON My true hobby is following the NBA, NFL, and most sports played at the professional level. I also follow some isolated college teams. I don’t think I would have called this a hobby 20 years ago, but today, with the technology and advanced stats tracking, it’s fun watching and following sports. JAMES LETEMPT I love to draw. I also like to write poems. I love to do those two things. JERRY ROSEN I like to read and to do a lot of walking. I believe walking is very relaxing. You can see quite a lot of things when you walk. GABRIEL PEARCE I love to swim, do martial arts, draw, make friends, and help others. RAELENE JOHNSON My biggest hobby is traveling because I love to go to new places and experience new things. Until I get my car up and running again, my hobby right now is just healing from chemo and being patient with everything else going on. CHARLES SPRING My hobbies are poetry, collecting old coins and zippo lighters, art and painting, collecting Garbage Pail Kids and other stuff from the ‘80s, and walking in the park or just around. I also like to hunt and hope to go hunting soon. 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 1931 | 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. April 2024 DENVER VOICE 3
COMMUNITY PROFILE CREDIT: GILES CLASEN CREDIT: GILES CLASEN MY MOTHER’S KITCHEN BY GILES CLASEN HELPING OTHERS IS SECOND NATURE to Arthur Infante. He can’t imagine sitting by and doing nothing while others struggle. For years, Infante would take his children to help the unhoused community. “I never saw it as a handout,” Infante said. “We would ask people what they needed, give what we had, and ask for a story in return. It was a fair exchange. The individuals may receive clothes or food, or whatever, and me and my kids would get a story.” To Infante this trade was empowering to individuals who had little to give but a lot to offer. When the most recent wave of immigrants began arriving in Denver, Infante wanted to help. He wanted to create something that served the community. First, he volunteered to bring meals to individuals and families living in hotels. The meal trains were important to help people get by. But Infante also heard people asking for self-reliance. “Do you know what these people have been through to get here? They didn’t risk their lives for handouts. They want to work and build a life here. I don’t have a lot of people asking for money. I have people asking me, ‘Do you have a job?’” Infante said. He decided the best thing he could do to help Denver’s new guests was to give them a way to feed themselves. He began volunteering at an encampment under an overpass near N. Pecos Street and I-70. Infante could see that the new immigrants, most of who are in the United States legally and seeking asylum, wanted to take care of themselves. It occurred to him that one of the best things he could do was to build a portable, tent kitchen, so they could cook for themselves. An artist by training, Infante restores antiques. He specializes in rebuilding anything old and destroyed, including a crumbled sculpture of the goddess Nike, which he resurrected. He also has brought back to life many stainedglass windows and other pieces that withered with age. There isn’t a medium that Infante hasn’t dabbled in. To build a stove, Infante turned to scrap metal left over after building his son a go-cart. He cut three holes, attached propane burners, bought some cheap pans and a canopy, and delivered his creation to the camp. It was an immediate hit. The new immigrants, who are mostly from Venezuela, Columbia, and Peru, have their own culinary history. Food is a reminder of the home they love but were forced to leave. Some volunteers brought them Mexican food, but the Venezuelans found it too spicy and not to their liking. With Infante’s kitchen, they could prepare their own food, something that tasted like home. The kitchen was being used, but it wasn’t receiving he loving care he felt it deserved. Infante found it unclean at times, and that frustrated him. He needed to take one more step to get it just right. In an attempt to hold the individuals accountable, he put a picture of his mom on the prep table. “I called it ‘My Mother’s Kitchen’ and told them she was watching over them,” Infante said. When I [displayed] a picture, that meant so much, I saw some people make the sign of the cross... and held the picture and reverence for the space. You know the idea of a place to get together and talk and eat. My mom would be happy with that and think it was beautiful.” Some of the families who use the kitchen live in camps. Others walk miles to use the kitchen and make food before returning to the hotels rented by the City of Denver as temporary housing. Infante has moved the kitchen five times, when the police or park rangers forced a camp to relocate. He understands the draw is more than food. My Mother’s Kitchen is also a place for community. “Growing up, everyone gravitated to our kitchen. Friends, family, and anyone who came to our house would often leave the living room empty and crowd into the kitchen,” Infante said. “My mom made it a place to eat and drink and feel safe with others.” ■ CREDIT: GILES CLASEN CREDIT: GILES CLASEN 4 DENVER VOICE April 2024
VOLUNTEER PROFILE SPRING WISH LIST VOLUNTEER PROFILE: CLARA PATT BY ELISABETH MONAGHAN Drop-offs are accepted Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., or by appointment. PHOTO COURTESY OF CLARA PATT TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL VOLUNTEER MONTH, the VOICE has used the April issue to spotlight those whose help has allowed us to better meet the needs of our community. This year is no exception. As we began to see more new immigrants in the community sign up to be Denver VOICE vendors, Executive Director James Kay and Program Coordinator Connie Gaitan put the call out for volunteers to help with translating our marketing materials into Spanish. When she received a volunteer application from Clara Patt, Gaitan asked if she could help us track down Spanish speakers who could dub over our existing orientation videos. Patt who speaks a little Spanish but is not fluent, reached out to friends with whom she grew up while living on the border between Texas and Mexico. Three weeks later, Patt sent Gaitan the links to the fully translated videos that included the voices of five volunteers. Describing what the project has meant to her, Patt explained that it was important to her to do something to give back to the unhoused individuals who were her neighbors while she and her husband lived in Colorado. “For the past two and a half years, we’ve been living out of our RV by choice,” said Patt, who lost her job shortly after arriving in Colorado. According to Patt, her husband’s income as a roofer made it possible for them to get by financially until he was injured on the job. “I was at such a low point then, but our unhoused neighbors were so good to me and so consistently nice that I wanted to repay their kindness.” When she first learned about the Denver VOICE from vendor Rea Brown, Patt said she wanted to volunteer her services as a professional graphic designer or any other skills she could offer. “It was a few weeks after I sent in my application that Connie reached out to see if I could help with translating the VOICE’s program marketing materials into Spanish,” said Patt. To create a transcript for each of the videos, Patt first used a translation website. Next, she contacted several of her bilingual friends to record the Spanish voiceovers. According to Patt, it took about two hours per volunteer to record their parts for the video, while she spent about 10 hours overseeing the project and editing the videos. By the time the first new immigrants signed up to be Denver VOICE vendors, the two orientation videos and promotional materials for the vending program had been RICKY LLAMAS SAM LLAMAS SERGIO NUNEZ April 2024 DENVER VOICE 5 PHOTO COURTESY OF CLARA PATT translated into Spanish. When the first vendors who spoke Spanish as their first language signed up for the vendor program, Gaitan expressed her gratitude for Patt and her crew of fellow volunteers. “Being able to sign up Spanish speakers looking for income opportunities made me so overwhelmed with joy and pride to be part of this new journey,” said Gaitan. “They all did such a tremendous job, and we wouldn’t have been able to do this without Clara’s help.” Recently, Patt her husband, and their cat “Musko” relocated their RV to Bend, Ore. While her husband has gotten a fulltime job as a lighting technician for a theatre company, Patt works as a freelance graphic designer and can be contacted for project work through her website, ClaraPatt.com. The Denver VOICE team extends its heartfelt appreciation to Clara Patt for her stellar work overseeing this project, as well as Rickly Llamas, Sam Llamas, Sofia E Lizarraga, Leonal Hernandez, and Sergio Nunez, who provided the voiceovers. ■ NEW ITEMS NEEDED: Socks Toiletries (individual or travel-size) Toothpaste, deodorant Chapstick, sunscreen Hand warmers GENTLY-USED ITEMS NEEDED: Men’s shoes or boots (sizes 8-12) Men’s jackets (sizes L, XL, XXL) Women’s jackets (sizes M, L, XL) Backpacks, carrier bags USB-C charging cables VENMO YOUR VENDOR: If you would like to help out a specific vendor by donating a few extra dollars, scan the QR code below to make a payment through Venmo. Please be sure to write your vendor’s name in the comments. Thank you! @DenverVOICE
LOCAL STORY MARK DONOVAN OF THE DENVER BASIC INCOME PROJECT SPEAKS AT A RALLY TO SUPPORT BASIC INCOME IN 2023. CREDIT: ARMANDO GENEYRO/DENVER BASIC INCOME PROJECT IT’S BASIC: DENVER BASIC INCOME PROJECT’S MARK DONOVAN TALKS 2024 AND BEYOND BY ROBERT DAVIS IT’S BEEN A LITTLE MORE THAN 18 MONTHS since Mark Donovan launched the Denver Basic Income Project, a pilot program designed to help individuals experiencing homelessness address their basic needs, like accessing housing or medical care. Over that time, the program has delivered impressive results. People enrolled in the program reported feeling more hope about the future and less stress about their financial situation. Moreover, roughly 35% of all participants moved into housing within the first six months of the program, according to DBIP’s interim report. These successes are happening at a time when more than 30 cities, ranging from Atlanta, Georgia to Ithaca, New York, and New Orleans, Louisiana, are piloting their own basic income programs to address poverty and homelessness at the local level. More than two-thirds of the income gained from these programs has been spent on food and clothing, according to data from Stanford University’s Basic Income Lab. For comparison, less than 2% of the income has been spent on things like alcohol and drugs. “I hope that in five years, what we’re doing in Denver is happening in at least 200 cities across the country, so people can have proximity to it, so that they can see it in their own backyards,” Donovan said. Despite these successes, Donovan said there is still a lot of work to do to make basic income programs part of the mainstream. According to Donovan, there are still misconceptions about basic income, especially concerning how participants spend their money. Donovan said he also faces objections over whether the program is a good use of tax dollars. But these objections haven’t stopped Donovan or his small but mighty staff from working to expand the project. MARK DONOVAN OF THE DENVER BASIC INCOME PROJECT AT A STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHOP NEXT TO PARTICIPANT MORIAH RODRIGUEZ. CREDIT: ARMANDO GENEYRO/DENVER BASIC INCOME PROJECT “We’re building a playbook to share with other cities,” Donovan said. “We didn’t reinvent the wheel because we built on the successes of other programs like New Leaf and Michael Tubbs’ program in Stockton. But we want to build a playbook that shows how we got here and then support other cities as they stand up their own basic income pilots.” Denver VOICE spoke with Donovan about what he’s learned over the last year of operating the Denver Basic Income Project and where he thinks the program will go in 2024 and beyond. This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity. DENVER VOICE: DBIP has already accomplished so much. You’ve distributed nearly $7 million to more than 800 people experiencing homelessness in Denver, and those payments have been proven to reduce the number of days people spend on the streets, in hospitals, and in jail. Tell us a little about your goals for DBIP in 2024 and beyond. What else is left to do? DONOVAN: We had an amazing first year and have seen people accelerating towards safety, housing, and wellness. I’ve talked to people who said [if it weren’t for DBIP] they wouldn’t be alive at this point. Now, they’ve re-enrolled in school or they got a great job. Everyone’s path is different, but we’ve created a really strong community that has hope and optimism about the future. 6 DENVER VOICE April 2024
IN YOUR OWN WORDS What’s left to do is change people’s perceptions about basic income. A lot of people don’t understand it or don’t think it’s a good idea. So, we want to share our success stories and explain that basic income leads to safer, more thriving communities for everyone. It’s a win-win. We also want to expand our reach. Even though we’ve served more than 800 people, that’s a small sliver of the need here in Denver. We need to keep trusting and investing in people. When we do that, the results are exceptional. Are there any personal stories or experiences with participants from DBIP that stick out to you? There are numerous people [who] have told us that they are alive today or sober because of the Denver Basic Income Project and that they feel hope for the future. There was a woman who was fleeing domestic violence who applied and was put into our control group (meaning she received $50 per month). Of course, she was disappointed, but after she engaged with our service partners, she was put into a sober living home. She later came back and asked for help finding employment. Now she works at a job where she makes more money than the case manager who helped her. These kinds of stories are endless. What challenges have you run into while operating DBIP? How have you worked to overcome or solve those problems? The biggest challenge has been public perception. We haven’t had a groundswell of grassroots support and people donating to support this work. So, we have really worked hard to push back against those perceptions of poverty. The beauty of basic income is that it is simple. It’s a simple and efficient way to provide immediate relief and opportunity. We think of it as a preventative medicine for the economy, and cash as the currency of urgency. It’s a simple concept, but the difficult part is getting people to understand it, to believe in it, and to invest their tax dollars in it. Basic income is for everybody, and everybody’s lives improve when we create a more equitable and thriving economy. As you know, April is National Fair Housing Month. Can you tell us a little about how basic income programs like DBIP can improve fair housing outcomes for people in poverty or who are experiencing homelessness? Discrimination was built into our housing system, and so we built the Denver Basic Income Project through a racial equity lens. Our Black neighbors comprise about 10% of the city’s population yet account for between 20% and 25% of the people experiencing homelessness. We want to accelerate their pathways to housing. That is housing justice. Full stop. Why do you think it’s important for Denver, or any other city, to have a basic income program? We are the largest program in the country that is exploring the impact of basic income. I was just at a conference in San Francisco, and I got the sense that people across the country are watching us. Everyone is working on solutions to homelessness, and they’re spending a lot of money to do it. Are things getting better? In some places, they are, but the results haven’t materialized in a lot of other places. We’re also not investing in the programs that work the best. So, it’s important for Denver to invest in basic income because it works and we need to provide immediate relief for people who are suffering and sleeping on the streets. We’re trying to show the country what happens when you believe in people and invest in them. ■ LEAVE AND BECOME YOU AN ILLUSTRATION BY GIGI GALEN, VOICE VENDOR April 2024 DENVER VOICE 7
SPECIAL FEATURE NEW IMMIGRANTS ADAPT TO SHIFTING DENVER LANDSCAPE BY GILES CLASEN VOICE contributor Giles Clasen shares his latest photo essay on Denver’s new immigrant community. A WOMAN COOKS RICE AT AN IMMIGRANT ENCAMPMENT NEAR DOWNTOWN DENVER. CREDIT: GILES CLASEN IMMIGRANT FAMILIES WALK TO THEIR ENCAMPMENT NEAR DIA. CREDIT: GILES CLASEN 8 DENVER VOICE April 2024
SPECIAL FEATURE MARTHA PERDOMO PREPARES DINNER WITH HENRRI ALVAREZ AND VALENTINA PERDOMO, WHO ARE LIVING IN THEIR CAR, FOR NOW. CREDIT: GILES CLASEN CARMEN ABREU HAS WORRIED ABOUT HOW SHE WOULD HOUSE HER FAMILY, ONCE EVICTED FROM THEIR CITY-FUNDED HOTEL. CREDIT: GILES CLASEN ONE OF DENVER’S NEW GUESTS TRAVELED THOUSANDS OF MILES AND THROUGH 8 COUNTRIES BEFORE ARRIVING IN DENVER TO BUILD A NEW LIFE FOR HER AND HER FAMILY. CREDIT: GILES CLASEN “WE HAVE BROUGHT ON NON-PROFIT PARTNERS who have very successfully case managed and navigated those folks to connect them to work, to housing, to opportunity so we have not seen a significant increase of folks who ended up on the street,” Mayor Mike Johnston said in a press conference on Feb 28, 2024, announcing the closure of hotels used as temporary housing for the new immigrant community. “I heard the city say that [immigrants aren’t becoming homeless after being released from hotels]. It’s funny because every single day we have to add new tents to our encampment for migrants released from hotels,” said Kezia Lozano, who works with a Spanish-speaking BIPOC group called the Migrant Care Coalition that is actively supporting homeless immigrant encampments. Continued on page 10 JEAN CARLOS MONTILLA AND MARIA ANGEL WERE SET TO BE EVICTED FROM A HOTEL FUNDED BY THE CITY OF DENVER ON MARCH 9, 2024. CREDIT: GILES CLASEN April 2024 DENVER VOICE 9
SPECIAL FEATURE Continued from page 9 “The reality is that these people lack citizenship and work permits. They don’t have the paperwork to get apartments or jobs here in the city, conventionally. So, they’re relying on people doing things under the table for them. This leaves people vulnerable to exploitation,” Kezia Lozano said. “I am here with my son and husband to give my son a better future. Thank God Almighty for allowing me to be here in Denver. Above all I am grateful to the Mayor and Governor for providing for our expenses and giving us a roof over our head,” said Maria Angel, a Venezuelan who was able to secure a 42-day stay at a northeast Denver hotel before being evicted on March 9, 2024. Angel and her spouse have not been able to find work and were unsure where they would go after being released from the hotel. ■ ELIS APONTE, LOUIS DANIEL, CARMEN MUJICA, AND RICHAR RODRIGUEZ KEEP WARM WITH A PROPANE CAMP STOVE AT AN IMMIGRANT ENCAMPMENT. CREDIT: GILES CLASEN DANNYERLIS GUZMAN LAYS IN HER TENT. GUZMAN AND HER FAMILY SPENT TWO NIGHTS IN A TENT AFTER BEING EVICTED FROM A CITY HOTEL. CREDIT: GILES CLASEN MOST IMMIGRANTS LIVING IN TENTS WENT TO SHELTERS DURING THE MAJOR MARCH SNOWSTORM. SOME REFUSED TO LEAVE THEIR CAMPSITE NEAR ELITCH GARDENS FOR FEAR THE CAMP WOULD BE DISMANTLED. CREDIT: GILES CLASEN 10 DENVER VOICE April 2024
LOCAL STORY BRUSH REMOVAL NEAR BROADWAY BRIDGE, FEB. 20, 2024. CREDIT: COURTESY OF CHARLES QUIMBY. FENCE GOING UP AT EMERSON PARK, FEB. 26, 2024. CREDIT: JACOB RICHARDS GRAND JUNCTION: BETWEEN A TENT AND A HARD PLACE BY JACOB RICHARDS “ENDING HOMELESSNESS is something everyone can agree on,” said Tom Gomez, currently in transitional housing. “The problem is nobody agrees on how to make that happen.” Grand Junction is the largest city on Colorado’s western slope. With a population of 65,000, Grand Junction also boasts the highest rate of people experiencing homelessness of any city in Colorado, according to the Common Sense Institute. The city has no easy answers, as the community grapples with an estimated 2300 people experiencing homelessness. In the early morning of Feb. 26, contractors began fencing off Emerson Park near downtown Grand Junction. The park is being developed into a “destination skate park.” This closure was not a surprise, unlike the indefinite closure of Whitman Park in September. The park’s closure means that both downtown public parks are closed to the public. “We didn’t even want to be in this park,” said Jade, while repacking her belongings on the sidewalk across the street from Emerson Park. “We liked Whitman because there wasn’t a playground. We don’t want to bother families.” Jade wasn’t sure where she would relocate to. “They don’t want us to be anywhere but their tents,” she said about the recently opened Resource Center, a city-funded project between United Way of Mesa County and Homeward Bound of the Grand Valley. “But where are we supposed to sleep?” Jade produced three trespassing tickets she had received since December, including one for felony trespass. “They are clearing out all the brush below Broadway Bridge; where are all those people going to go?” The Resource Center was “intended to replace and to improve the options and to give that alternative for somebody who’s spending their day times in the park.” said Grand Junction Mayor Anna Stout. But outside of a few weekly events, like Mutual Aid Partners’ Distro Day and Solidarity Not Charity’s (SNC) “Feed,” the sprawling Center is largely underutilized. SNC is a grassroots non-profit that has fed people in parks since 2008, but the organization now feeds folks at the Resource Center. “We are excited to work with the Resource Center and explore its possibilities,” said SNC volunteer David Stuart. “I am so glad I found this place,” said Brandon James Miller. “It’s a lifesaver.” Miller, who is new to the area, said the Resource Center was able to direct him to local resources, including a shelter bed. On Feb. 21, the Grand Junction City Council voted down proposed park rule changes, which included language based on rules passed in Denver and other front range cities that banned setting up tents or structures in public parks. “As soon as we have a place for them to go, you know, I’ll probably support this,” said Grand Junction City Councilmember Scott Beilfuss “Why now?” asked Councilman Jason Nguyen. “If I was sitting as a lay person in the city, with the closure of Whitman, with what’s happening at Emerson—it just feels like we’re consistently on a regular basis trying to push people around,” he said. The “tent ban” was defeated in a 5-2 vote. A surprise to many, including Mayor Stout and Mayor Pro Tem Abe Herman, the only votes in favor of the ban. “We literally just stood up a Resource Center… for people to have an alternative, somewhere they can go… where they can be safe, where they can rest during the day,” said Mayor Stout. “Why did we just do this if that is not meant to be an alternative?” ■ PROTEST SIGN ATTACHED TO THE FENCE AFTER THE CLOSURE OF WHITMAN PARK, SEPT. 14, 2023. CREDIT: COURTESY OF NICOLE INMAN. April 2024 DENVER VOICE 11
IN YOUR OWN WORDS WHAT’S NEXT? BY RAELENE JOHNSON, VOICE VENDOR AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, I was in a car accident in February. When it happened, my face hit the airbag, and my car was totaled. (Oh by the way, when the wreck happened, I was on my way to my second chemo treatment.) My adrenaline kicked in, and 1½ hours after the crash, I was getting my treatment. When I went back for my third chemo, I found out that people at the center where I get my treatments had been talking about me. They said they couldn’t believe how strong I was. They couldn’t believe that I was able to walk that well as I went in for my second chemo. No one, not even my doctor, could believe I was able to make that second appointment so quickly after the accident. One minute, I thought, “I got this,” and then, after my third chemo treatment, I discovered I was experiencing negative side effects of the chemo – neuropathy in my left hand, which made it numb, and a blood clot in my right hand. I’m not used to not using my hands. I had to go to the hospital for antibiotics, which they gave me through an IV drip, followed by a week of taking antibiotics at home. (If I’d known about this side effect, I’m not sure I would have started chemo, but it’s too late to be sorry. I just have to deal with it.) Losing my car was hard enough, but my new phone was also destroyed in the wreck, and I had to pay $100 to replace it. I also found out I had to pay $900 to get my belongings out of my car. I didn’t have the money, so I lost everything that was in there. As all of this was going on, I discovered there was a water leak somewhere in my hot water tank. I also found out that my daughter had to have surgery, and even though she doesn’t live far from me, I wasn’t able to be with her because I had no car. Knowing my baby was going through such a painful experience and that I could not be with her hurt. At least she knows I would have been there if I could. Living in the country, where there are no buses or other transportation is hard. Also, because I don’t have a car, I am not able to go out and sell the Denver VOICE. You can’t have anything if you don’t have money, but this is another thing I have to accept and learn to deal with. Another reason I cannot go out is because I am going through chemo. Cancer can make you lonely, but you have to be careful and not be around people. I love talking to people, lifting them up, and putting smiles on their faces, but I’m doing the best I can to keep a smile on my own face. It’s hard on cancer patients when we feel so alone. I can at least say I love myself, so being alone is okay. At least today it is. I have a car again, and I’ll be happy when I can drive it, but first, my right hand has to heal because the car is a manual, and you can’t shift gears with a hand that is numb or swollen. As I write this, I have one more chemo treatment to go, but I don’t know what will happen after that. In mid-April, I will have surgery for my other medical issue, so more time has to go by without me being able to work, and I’ll have to go through too many months without money to help me get through this. Good thing I don’t need much to get me by. Worrying over all of the things that are happening to me will not change anything. All I know is that I will deal with it. I have no other choice. I am grateful for the few friends I have. When you have been alone and without friends, once you get good friends, you make sure you don’t ask much from them, so they don’t feel you are using them. I guess being a giver makes it hard RAELENE JOHNSON. CREDIT: KAREN BEEMAN to receive, at least it is for me because I’m not used to it. I’m still working on knowing I am worth it. If you are reading this and know anyone going through cancer, please check up on them or call them. Ask if there’s anything you can do for them. Even a simple phone call lets them know they are not forgotten. In the meantime, I am grateful for the support so many of you have given me. Please continue keeping me in your prayers. I will keep on fighting. ■ BUILDING A FUTURE BY LANDO ALLEN, VOICE VENDOR OKAY, TODAY, I WANT TO PUT MY THOUGHTS ONTO PAPER. I’ve got to put my plans on paper because I don’t want to fail at the stuff I want to do. I want to tell you who I am. My name is Lando. I am a broken man. I feel like my life has been taken from me, one way or another. I thought I would have gone crazy by now, but it seems like I still got some fight in me. I’ve already told y’all that I want to go to a warm climate, and I mean it. I’ve also told people that I want to build a houseboat. I’ve got to start working on that. Right now, I feel like I need to take my time. There is the LANDO ALLEN. CREDIT: JESSE BORRELL life I want to live, so, I’ve got to save some money for that. I’ve been homeless for 20 years off and on. It’s not because I drink or was on drugs. I don’t do any of those things. A lady gave me some advice a long time ago. She told me to quit looking for a girlfriend and to stay focused on my homeless problem. I didn’t listen. I believed that two people that get together could make each other’s lives better. I was wrong. I thought people who are on the streets were trying to make it. I’m not saying that everybody on the streets is trying to get off the streets. I’m just talking about a few. Sometimes, I wonder what these girls [living on the streets] are thinking. Me! I would be grateful if somebody who is [also trying to get their life together] came into my life. Building a future is something I take seriously. I’ve got to get a new career going. I’m already trying to sell my paintings, and I am starting to do music again. I was in a story on 9News that featured the Denver VOICE and my paintings. I also have a website (lando-paints. squaresite) and have sold 10 paintings already, but I know I’ve got to work harder. I’ve also got to start working on my houseboat. I watch people get old and try to work. I don’t want to be that guy working when I get too old. I still believe in love, but I’ve got to be more careful about who I meet. I want a future when [love] comes into my life. ■ 12 DENVER VOICE April 2024
EVENTS WHEN: Apr 4, 11, 18, and 25, 6 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. COST: $10 in advance; $11 at the door WHERE: RISE Comedy, 1260 22nd St. INFO: risecomedy.com WOMEN+FILM FESTIVAL Women+Film showcases documentaries, narratives, and short films celebrating the best in women-centric programming, both by and about women. These thought-provoking stories from around the world are sure to inspire all audiences. WHEN: Apr 10 – Apr 14, times vary. COST: Both individual tickets and festival passes are available. WHERE: Sie FilmCenter, 2510 E. Colfax Ave. INFO: denverfilm.org ACROSS SOUND BATH - SOUND HEALING THERAPY Whether you’re seeking deep relaxation, stress relief, or a profound spiritual experience, this free event offers a unique opportunity for healing and transformation. WHEN: Apr 16, 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. COST: Free WHERE: Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library, 2401 Welton St. INFO: denverlibrary.org/events PAPER FASHION SHOW Designers create fashions from 90% paper. These fashions are showcased at their grand runway show and voted on by a panel of judges. Prepare to be amazed! WHEN: Apr 18, 5:30 p.m. COST: Tickets start at $35. WHERE: Sports Castle, 1000 Broadway INFO: paperfashionshow.com YOGA + A CONE Try something different for your next happy hour! Skylines Yoga hosts an all-levels yoga class followed by a scoop of Little Man’s signature ice-cream at their West Colfax location. Please bring a yoga mat and water. WHEN: Apr 29, 5:45 p.m. COST: $17, which includes a single scoop after class. WHERE: Little Man Ice Cream Factory, 4411 W Colfax Ave. INFO: skylinesyoga.com Across 1. Some computers 5. Salon supply 9. Astronaut’s insignia 13. “Sometimes you feel like ___, sometimes you don’t” 14. Great Salt Lake’s state 15. Sub-Saharan desert after which a country is named 16. Bear winter like bears 18. Ancient market 19. Author Zola 20. Milliner 22. Puts in a different category than before 25. ___ nitrite (angina treatment) 26. Sports arenas 30. It comes after “uno” 33. Christmas song 36. Rubber hub in Ohio 37. Like March Madness 41. Part of an act 42. Stratagem 43. Big mouth 44. Stuck with, as a 42-Across 46. They rarely come from losing teams 49. Residence for people coming out of prison or rehab 55. Car thief, maybe 58. ‘When ___ said and done” 59. “...___, mean, fightin’ machine!” 60. Some downloaded ditties 63. Lloyd Center and its ilk 64. Mounted on 65. Icicle site 66. Word seg. 67. Actress Olin 68. Odd couple? DOWN 1. “Politically Incorrect” host 2. Genre of “Dragon Ball Z” and “Revolutionary Girl Utena” 3. Like some feet 4. Name Marlon Brando shouts repeatedly in a Tennessee Williams film adaptation 5. Word after “glue” or “staple” 6. Pilot’s announcement, for short 7. Punjabi policeman’s club 8. Paper unit 9. Japanese port city 10. In a frenzy 11. “Your majesty” 12. What rabbis and priests walk into, in a common joke setup 15. Convention handout 17. Paper unit 21. Carol contraction 23. In ___ (harmonious) 24. Fore-and-aftrigged vessel 27. Apothecary’s weight 28. Smidgen 29. From the beginning 30. Frisbee 31. Fairy tale opener 32. Big first for a baby 34. Building add-on 35. South American animal 38. Captivate 39. Preserves 40. A deadly sin 45. Getting on in years 47. Excellent, in 90s slang 48. Performed alone 50. Not domesticated 51. Put pen to paper 52. Armbones 53. It won’t hold water 54. Pluralizers 55. Photocopier problems 56. Skin care brand 57. Scream 61. Prefix with profit 62. 3.0, e.g. COURTESY OF DEBORAH LASTOWKA PUZZLES INTRO TO IMPROV: DROP-IN CLASS Want to see if improv comedy is right for you? This drop-in class will let you take RISE Comedy’s improv classes for a test drive, in a safe, supportive, and fun environment! All levels are welcome. COURTESY OF STREETROOTS ANSWERS ARE ON PAGE 15 April 2024 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 $10,000+ Meek-Cuneo Family Fund Anonymous Individual Donor Matt and Nikki Seashore Acorn Hill Foundation Inc. Pivotal Energy Partners USA, Inc. Cisco Francis Trainer and Trainer Family J. Albrecht Designs Master Goldsmith $5,000 - $9,999 Anschutz Family Foundation Laurie Duncan and Duncan-Mcwethy Foundation Colorado Housing and Finance Authority Alexander Seavall Frederic K Conover Trust The Christian Foundation Bank of America Charitable Foundation Sustainable Housing and Development Foundation Envestnet $1,000-$4,999 Christopher Boulanger Katherine Standiford Jill Haug Joshua Kauer Walker Family Foundation Whole Foods Foundation Michael Dino Alex Salva Signs By Tomorrow Rose Community Foundation Russell Peterson Donald Weaver Chris and Susan Pappas Julia and David Watson Gaspar Terrana SEI Giving Fund Sidney B and Caleb F Gates Fund Megan Arellano Warren and Betty Kuehner Keyrenter Property Management Denver Mathew Rezek The Credit Union of Colorado Foundation Jana and Jim Cuneo Kroger Paul Manoogian Lori Holland Maggie Holben Michael J. Fehn and Jan Monnier Jim Ashe Courage and Community Foundation George Lichter Family Foundation Lisa Wagner Elsbeth Williams KO Law Firm Graham Davis Peter Iannuzzi $500-$999 Margaret Ramp John Gibson Sheryl Parker Ruth Henderson James and Cyndi Lesslie Fire on the Mountain Craig Solomon Laura Saunders Robert E and Anne T Sneed Family Foundation Barbara and Robert Ells Carol and Louis Irwin Edwina Salazar James Stegman Jennifer Stedron Jeremy Anderson Stephen Saul WalMart Nikki Lawson CEDS Finance Impact Assets Courage and Community Foundation Louis Irwin Mary Livernois Mr B’s Liquor Wines For Humanity KL&A Engineers and Builders 14 DENVER VOICE April 2024 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, VETERAN SUPPORT COUNSELING, EDUCATION, SHELTERS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, HOLIDAY ASSISTANCE, AND MORE. EMAIL EDITOR@DENVERVOICE.ORG WITH CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS. MEDICAL / MENTAL HEALTH / DENTAL SERVICES ALANON FAMILY GROUPS: al-anon.org; Find a meeting: al-anon.org/al-anon-meetings/find-an-al-anon-meeting ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: aa.org; Colorado Service Centers; daccaa.org/central-office/other-central-offices DENVER HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER: 777 Bannock St.; denverhealth.org DETOX LOCAL: Features information including mental health and substance use resources specifically for the AAPI (American Asian and Pacific Islander) community; detoxlocal.com DRUG REHAB USA: Addiction hotline 888-479-0446; Organizations that take Medicaid: drugrehabus.org/rehabs/ treatment/medicaid/united-states/colorado/denver HARM REDUCTION ACTION CENTER: 112 E. 8th Ave.; 303-572-7800; HIV/Hep C/ Gonorrhea/ Chlamydia testing available. Services are restricted to active IV Drug Users. Offers clean syringes to active users, as well as safety training on proper disposal of dirty syringes; M-F 9am-12pm: harmreductionactioncenter.org INNER CITY HEALTH CENTER: 3800 York St.; Emergency walk-ins 303-296-1767; Dental 303-296-4873; M-F 8am-2pm LIVE ANOTHER DAY: 877-596-6866; Equal access to life-saving mental health and substance abuse resources; 24/7 helpline: liveanotherday.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, 800-359-9272; info@hepc-connection.org; viventhealth.org NATIONAL AIDS HOTLINE: 800-342-AIDS/800-344-7432 NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE: Text or call 988; 988lifeline.org NATIONAL RUNAWAY SAFELINE: 800-RUNAWAY/800-786-2929; 1800runaway.org RAPE ABUSE AND INCEST NATIONAL NETWORK: 800-656-HOPE; rainn.org SALUD CLINIC: 6255 Quebec Pkwy, Commerce City; 303-697-2583, 970-484-0999; saludclinic.org/commerce-city STOUT STREET CLINIC: 2130 Stout St.; 303-293-2220; Clinic Hours: 7am-4pm M/T/Th/F; 9am-6pm Wed; coloradocoalition.org/healthcare SUBSTANCE ABUSE REHAB GUIDE: Helpline 888-493-4670; detoxrehabs.net/states/colorado/ URBAN PEAKS REHAB: 490 Lafayette St., #104; 303-599-5131; Medication management and therapy center specializing in opiate addiction; M, T, Th – 9am-12pm, 1 pm-4pm, W – 9am-12pm, 1 pm-7pm; urbanpeaksrehab.com U.S. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE: 800-799-7233 (English and Spanish); 800-243-7889 (TDD); thehotline.org CAREER SERVICES BAYAUD ENTERPRISES CW-STEP: (Colorado Works - Subsidized training and employment program); 333 W. Bayaud Ave.; 303-830-6885; Mon-Fri: 8am-4:30pm; Provides re-entry to the workforce for individuals with TANF eligibility; info@bayaudenterprises.org COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CENTER: Level 4, Denver Central Library, 14th Ave. & Broadway; 720-865-1706; M & T - 10am-8pm; Wed., Th &F - 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 Dept of Human Services, 1200 Federal Blvd.; M-F 7:30am-4:30pm; Employment counseling, assisted job search, résumé prep, job/applicant matching, phone bank for calling employers, access to computers, copiers, fax, etc.; careercenteroffices.com/center/231/denver-westside-workforce-center WORKNOW: 720-389-0999; job recruitment, skills training, and job placement work-now.org LGBTQ+ SUPPORT THE TREVOR PROJECT: 866-488-7386: thetrevorproject.org LGBT NATIONAL YOUTH TALKLINE: 800-246-7743: lgbthotline.org/youth-talkline PRIDE INSTITUTE: 800-547-7433 TRUE COLORS UNITE: 212-461-4401 truecolorsunited.org VETERANS & SENIORS DENVER INNER CITY PARISH: 1212 Mariposa St.; 303-322-5733; VOA Dining Center for Seniors, aged 60 and older, Wed.-Sat. 9am-12pm; Food Bank, Wed.-Fri.; Tickets at 9am, food bank open 10am-12pm; dicp.org SENIOR SUPPORT SERVICES: 846 E. 18th Ave.; For those aged 60 or older; TV room, bus tokens, mental/physical health outreach, 3 meals, M-F -7am-7pm; Sun. 11am-4pm; seniorsupportservices.org VA MEDICAL CENTER: 1700 N Wheeling St.: Aurora 303-399-8020: va.gov/findlocations/facility/vha_554A5 VETERANS GUIDE: Veterans Disability Calculator veteransguide.org/va-disability-calculator YOUTH SERVICES SOX PLACE: 2017 Larimer St.; 303-296-3412 Daytime drop-in shelter for youth 12-30; Meals, socks, clothing bank, personal hygiene supplies, internet access, intentional mentoring and guidance, crisis intervention, referrals to other services. T-F - 12-4pm & Sat. 11am-2pm. Instagram: @Soxplace THE SPOT AT URBAN PEAK: 2100 Stout St. 303-291-0442; Youth aged 15-20 in need of immediate overnight shelter services, 303-974-2928; Drop-in hours M-F 8-11am urbanpeak.org/denver/programs-and-services/drop-in-center SUNSHINE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: 833-931-2484; Services for youth facing substance abuse, addiction, mental health disorders, or a combination of these conditions; sunshinebehavioralhealth.com TGTHR (FKA ATTENTION HOMES) Shelter: 3080 Broadway, Boulder; 303-447-1207, 303-447-1207; For ages 12-24; Offers safe shelter, supportive programming, and other services; M-Sun, 12:30-5pm; tgthr.org April 2024 DENVER VOICE 15 URBAN PEAK: 730 21st St., Denver; 303-974-2900; Ages14-24; Serving Denver & Colo Springs; Overnight shelter, food, clothing, showers, case workers, job skill/straining, ID and birth certificate assistance, GED assistance, counseling and housing; urbanpeak.org DROP-IN & DAYTIME CENTERS CITYSQUARE DENVER: 2575 S. Broadway; 303-783-3777;; Helps with employment, IDs, birth certs, mail services and lockers; M-Th - 10am-2pm; citysquare.org HAVEN OF HOPE: 1101 W. 7th Ave.; 303-607-0855; M-F - 7am-1pm; Private showers & bathrooms, laundry, lunch, etc.; thoh.org THE GATHERING PLACE: 1535 High St.; 303-321-4198; 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, etc.; M, W, Th, F - 8:30am-5pm, T - 8:30am-1:30pm; tgpdenver.org HARM REDUCTION ACTION CENTER: 231 E. Colfax; 303-572-7800; Provides clean syringes, syringe disposal, harmreduction counseling, safe materials, Hep C/HIV education, and health education classes; M-F - 9am-12pm; harmreductionactioncenter.org HOLY GHOST CATHOLIC CHURCH: 1900 California St.; Help with lost IDs and birth certificates; holyghostchurch.org HOPE PROGRAM: 1555 Race St.; 303-832-3354; For men and women with HIV; M-F 8am-4pm 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.; bathrooms, coffee/tea, snacks, resources, wifi; M-F 7a-5:30p; odmdenver.org ST. FRANCIS CENTER: 2323 Curtis St; 303-297-1576; 6am-6pm daily; Storage for one bag (when space is available); Satellite Clinic hours- M, T, Th. F - 7:30am-3:30pm; Wed. 12:30-4:30pm; sfcdenver.org 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: mealsforpoor.org CATHEDRAL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION: 1530 Logan St.; sandwiches & coffee M-F. 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, weekly; Lunch in the Park is on Wednesdays from 12-1 at Benedict Fountain Park (Tremont and 22nd); christinthecity.org CITYSQUARE DENVER: 2575 S. Broadway; 303-783-3777; Food pantry Tues. 10am-6pm; citysquare.org CAPITOL HILL COMMUNITY SERVICES: 1820 Broadway (in front of Trinity United Methodist Church); Hot meals served M, T, Th., F - 11:45-12:15; mealsforpoor.org DENVER RESCUE MISSION: 1130 Park Avenue West; 303-294-0157; 3 meals 7 days/week, 5:30am, 12pm, 6pm; denverrescuemission.org HAVEN OF HOPE: 1101 W. 7th Ave.; 303-607-0855; M-F only: 7am-1pm. 8am breakfast, 11am lunch; havenofhope.org FEEDING DENVER’S HUNGRY: Food service on second and fourth Thursdays; feedingdenvershungry.org/events.html FOOD NOT BOMBS: Sun. 4 p.m.; 22nd St. Stout St (near Mercury Café); Instagram: @denverfoodnotbombs HARE KRISHNA TEMPLE: 1400 Cherry St., free vegetarian feast on Sun., 6:45-7:30pm; krishnadenver.com HIS LOVE FELLOWSHIP CHURCH: 910 Kalamath St.; 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, M-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.; 303-830-2201; Sat. morning breakfast: 8am, Sun. dinner (required church attendance at 4:30pm); meal served at 6pm; odmdenver.org/home ST. CLARE’S MINISTRY AT ST. PETER AND ST. MARY: 126 W. 2nd Ave.; 303-722-8781 Dinner at 4pm on Tues; Also offers a change of clothes, toiletries and sleeping bags when available; stpeterandmary.org ST. ELIZABETH’S: Speer Blvd. & Arapahoe St. (Auraria Campus), 11am 7 days/week; 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; 720-530-6853;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; soallmayeat.org 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-denvermetrofoodnutrition-themission DON’T LOOK NOW! PUZZLES ARE ON PAGE 13
1 Publizr