LOCAL FEATURE LIVING ON THE STREETS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PHOTOS BY GILES CLASEN OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, Giles Clasen, who is a regular contributor to the Denver VOICE, has captured images of the streets of Downtown Denver (while practicing social distancing and protecting himself and those he photographed). These are comments from a few of those with whom he spoke. ■ MICHAEL— “EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED FOR US. THERE IS NO ACCESS TO BATHROOMS. THERE IS NO ABILITY TO GET FOOD ANYMORE. EVERYTHING IS CLOSED. AND IT AIN’T POPULAR TO SAY, BUT THERE IS NO ACCESS TO NARCOTICS. YOU TRY LIVING ON THE STREETS SOBER. IT AIN’T POPULAR, BUT IT AIN’T EASY BEING ON THE STREET, AND THIS IS MAKING IT HARDER.” CREDIT: GILES CLASEN JOSEPH MITCHELL— “THE CORONAVIRUS IS MESSING WITH EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE. THE LITTLE SUPPORT AVAILABLE [TO HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS] IS GONE. NO ONE IS OUT, SO THERE IS NO CHARITY, NO CARE. I CAN’T EVEN RAISE ENOUGH MONEY IN A DAY TO BUY A HAMBURGER FROM WENDY’S. TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE TOLD ME ABOUT THE CHECKS FROM THE GOVERNMENT. BUT HOW CAN I GET THEM? HOW? I DON’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE PAYMENT. I DON’T KNOW HOW TO GET IT OR EVEN HOW TO START. I JUST FEEL VERY ALONE AND AM NOT SURE WHAT TO DO.” CREDIT: GILES CLASEN SPRAY— “WE DON’T KNOW ANYONE WHO HAS GOTTEN SICK, BUT THIS IS HARD. THERE ARE SOME BRIGHT SPOTS. THEY ARE LETTING US SET UP TENTS AND LEAVING US BE. THE COPS ARE BOTHERING US LESS AND BEING NICE WHEN THEY CHECK ON US. WE ARE TRYING TO BE CLEANER AND RESPECTFUL. BUT FOR PEOPLE ON THE BOTTOM, PEOPLE DON’T UNDERSTAND HOW HARD IT IS TO SURVIVE THIS, HOW HARD IT IS TO GET A JOB. PEOPLE SAY WE’RE LAZY, WE NEED TO JUST GET A JOB. IT ISN’T AS EASY AS GETTING A JOB. IT IS HARD TO GET CLEAN AND PRESENTABLE. IT IS HARD TO GET TO AN INTERVIEW ON TIME. AND THIS - WELL THIS IS MAKING EVERYTHING HARDER. FORGET GETTING A JOB - TRY GETTING FOOD NOW.” CREDIT: GILES CLASEN June 2020 DENVER VOICE 7
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