PAGE TITLE I’ll find myself more protected, but for now, I’m just grateful for the people who have helped along the way.” It’s not as simple as just getting on a lease. The standards for approval vary, but often, applying for housing comes with application fees and no guarantees. There are also security deposits, credit scores requirements, background checks, rental history, and proof of income. Many have bad credit or no credit at all. Unhoused people are also frequently unable to build credit or have accumulated massive debt. Living on the streets often leads people into criminal activitiy because there are few tools available to them. Consequently, these individuals are usually stuck without the option of finding secure housing. Ten months ago, Sandra Hendrix followed her boyfriend to Denver and was living out of a car. “My whole world revolved around him,” explained Hendrix. When the relationship dissolved, she found herself alone on the streets. V. beRt ODE TO A FLOWER Your brilliant color expands the iris in my eyes! I watched you and nurtured you to keep you vibrant in my space. As the days passed, your colored edges browned, your head bowed down and seem tired from the earlier days when you first arrived so proud and perky. I carefully cradle your fragile leaves and brittle stem, and place you in the garden to enrich the soil for new life tomorrow. ❤ WRITING THROUGH HARD TIMES COURTESY OF DENVER PUBLIC LIBRARY AND LIGHTHOUSE WRITERS WORKSHOP EDWARD CURLEE WHAT IS A LIFE? SANDRA HENDRIX. CREDIT: CAT EVANS “I’m a woman of faith; I have faith,” she said. “It’s almost impossible, it’s like it works against you. I’m waiting on money to come in, and then I will qualify for housing.” Mary Straka, Kurt Viers, and Sandra Hendrix are just three examples of how difficult it has become to find lowincome housing. There are different assistance programs available, but those are plagued by long waitlists, and often, only offer temporary stays. Assistance programs can also keep people stuck in a cycle of poverty because they don’t want to make too much money in fear of compromising their qualifications for affordable housing. In addition to the job market devastated by the pandemic, the cost of living continues to climb, as minimum wage remains low. If this trend continues, we can expect to see more adults living with their parents, more individuals living paycheck-to-paycheck, and unfortunately, more individuals experiencing homelessness. The further one falls in society, the more challenging the climb back up becomes. As the poverty gap grows, so will the need for local politicians not only to acknowledge that this is a crisis, but to take action to address the conditions that are intensifying housing insecurity. ■ Hey, what is a life? Hardships, joy, beliefs to hold, Wants that unfold now. 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 August 2021 DENVER VOICE 11
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