LOCAL FEATURE CREDIT: PAULA BARD SHELTERING IN PLACE WHILE UNHOUSED BY PAULA BARD ACCORDING TO THE Metro Denver Homeless Initiative’s Point in Time (PIT) report, there are more than 5,755 unhoused citizens in Denver. Of these, 700 men have been bussed out to the National Western Complex, 700 of the vulnerable and frail have been offered free hotel rooms, and between 1,500 and 2,000 individuals occupy Denver’s additional shelter beds. This leaves Denver with possibly more than 2,000 unhoused individuals carving out an edgy existence on its streets. Meanwhile, the coronavirus stalks, and public health issues loom dangerously on the horizon. In this dystopian cityscape, the remaining unhoused and economically disenfranchised citizens have just created a new city within our city, north of downtown. At the center of this pop-up city is Denver’s blue mobile public restroom equipped with a mere three stalls and a few hand-washing stations scattered throughout the area. None of these resources are sufficient for an at-risk population of 2,000 citizens. Stepping up to help, Denver Homeless Out Loud and Mutual Aid Denver will donate four additional portable toilets, along with hand-washing and trash stations in late April. ■ CREDIT: PAULA BARD 6 DENVER VOICE June 2020
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