VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITY all injuries caused by the car accident he survived. Niko reapplied for his Social Security benefits in Colorado but was declined. He is in the process of finding a lawyer to help him appeal the decision. “I don’t understand it,” Niko said. “I have a Traumatic Brain Injury. I qualified in the past. When I apply and interview I get confused. When I try to bring Chris to help me they say he can’t be there. I don’t understand and am not sure what more they need from me to verify I am disabled. It is very frustrating.” Despite the injuries, Niko finds day labor jobs, often with Goodwill of Colorado, using the Veryable app. On the days Niko can’t find work by using the app, he panhandles. “I never thought I would be homeless because I work hard, I work every day still,” Niko said. “We figured if I worked, we could afford a place to live – but the housing costs here do not scale with pay even if you’re working full time.” Niko has tried to find higher-paying work too. He worked as a greeter at an Aurora Walmart for a while. The two lived in the Walmart parking lot during this time, hoping to save for an apartment. Ultimately the store manager required they stop living in the lot. Transportation instability made it impossible for Niko to consistently make it to work on time, which caused him to lose his job. According to Niko and Chris, saving money is nearly impossible because it is expensive to be homeless. They can’t prepare food, so they need to buy more expensive prepared food. They can’t use a restroom without buying something from a store. Trying to travel anywhere is expensive, too. Niko and Chris aren’t able to both work because one must stay with their tent and their dogs during the day or risk having their tent and supplies stolen or destroyed. “Colorado’s experience being homeless is unreal,” Chris said. “It’s very terrible and hard. It’s hard to keep a job. It’s hard to get services. It’s hard to stay sober. It’s hard to have hope.” The two men moved near the airport to get away from people and feel safe. Both said they were embarrassed being homeless and only participated in an interview or allowed their photos to be taken so long as their identities were hidden. “It isn’t safe on the streets,” Niko said. “That is why we are all the way by the airport. When we tried to be near day centers or near downtown, we experienced violence, animosity from other homeless people, harassment by police. Confrontations with people who don’t want the homeless around. So, we’re out here.” But being so far from services for those experiencing homelessness has made it more difficult to receive help. “[Any time we try to find resources] we’re told that we live in the wrong zip code,” Chris said. The two also feel like there aren’t enough services available to individuals who are actively working to get off the street. “There is no room in this world for people like us,” Chris said. “It is too hard to reach a caseworker. It feels like no one answers their phone or just wants to put us on a list with no promise of when we will get help. They just put us on a list, then don’t return our calls or requests for help. There is a waiting list for everything and no promise on when you will get to the front of the line, so you just wait without knowing.” The two have hope that they will be able to move from their tent into some form of housing soon. Niko’s grandmother died and left him a small inheritance. They plan to use the money to buy a car and camper, which they’ll live in, and use the car so they have transportation to jobs and can earn a living again. “Without that inheritance, the future would be bleak. I don’t know how long we would have to wait for help. or if we would ever get it,” Chris said. Chris said he finds his tent oddly beautiful in its location but he is excited to move on. ■ CREDIT: GILES CLASEN CREDIT: GILES CLASEN June 2022 DENVER VOICE 9
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