$ 2 SUGGESTED DONATION @DenverVOICE Ellie Cat’s FLUID FASHION ELLIE CAT DESIGNS FASHION THAT SHOWS THE BEST PARTS OF EVERY PERSON. PAGE 5 POVERTY GAP GROWTH OVER LAST DECADE A LOOK AT DENVER’S POVERTY RATE INCREASE FOR BLACK AND LATINO SENIOR CITIZENS. PAGE 8 DAY SHELTERS AND THE REALITY OF HOMELESSNESS FOR MANY, DAY SHELTERS ARE THE ONLY PLACE THEY CAN GO FOR BASIC SERVICES. PAGE 10 U.S. ABORTION RULING’S IMPACT ON OTHER COUNTRIES EVEN IN COUNTRIES WHERE ABORTION IS LEGAL, THE SCOTUS RULING IS LIKELY TO FUEL HARASSMENT OF ABORTION PROVIDERS AND WOMEN SEEKING TERMINATIONS. PAGE 11 VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITY PAGES 4, 12 EVENTS / PUZZLES PAGE 13 RESOURCES PAGE 15 AUGUST 2022 | Vol.27 Issue 8 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) FROM YOUR VENDOR: CREDIT: GILES CLASEN
EDITOR’S NOTE ELISABETH MONAGHAN MANAGING EDITOR SINCE JOINING THE VOICE THREE YEARS AGO, I have received numerous compliments on our street paper’s quality content and layout. The praise for the paper was nothing new. The previous editors and contributors to the VOICE also received high marks for their effort. But when I hear compliments on the work of our current team, I know exactly why people lavish that praise. Hannah Bragg, our graphic designer, has worked with the VOICE since 2011. Because she has a full-time job, Hannah works on the graphics for our various marketing materials, website, and monthly issues on nights and weekends. She has a keen eye for design and does exceptional work, even when we’re up against an aggressive deadline. Giles Clasen, Robert Davis, Cat Evans, and Adrian Michael continue to share stories and photography covering the unique individuals, organizations, events, and policies that significantly affect us. Sometimes, their profiles shine a light on social injustice. Other times, they introduce us to people or ideas that enhance our community. And while each of the writers does an excellent of crafting their articles, it is the team of volunteer copy editors who review the work and point out typos, grammatical errors, or ideas that need fleshing out. Aaron Sullivan and Laura Wing have been steadfast volunteers since 2019, and Kersten Jaeger came on board in early 2020. Ashton Brown started volunteering a little over a year ago, but as of this issue, she has joined the team of writers for the VOICE. Our newest volunteer copy editor, Kendall Schmitz, started volunteering in June. I always appreciate feedback on the content or images and layout of the paper, but it is our graphic designer, volunteer copy editors, and contributors who deserve credit for producing a publication that resonates with Denver VOICE vendors, readers and supporters. ■ THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS ASHTON BROWN graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver in May 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in convergent journalism and a minor in cinema studies. She and her fiance currently live with their two cats in Lakewood. GILES CLASEN is a freelance photographer who regularly contributes his work to the VOICE for editorial projects, fundraisers, and events. He has also served on the VOICE’s Board of Directors. DENVERVOICE.ORG CE.ORG @deeOCE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR John Golden MANAGING EDITOR Elisabeth Monaghan PROGRAM COORDINATOR Lara Keith GRAPHIC DESIGNER Hannah Bragg ROBERT DAVIS is an award-winning freelance reporter for the Denver VOICE. His work has also appeared in Colorado Public Works Journal, Fansided, Colorado Journal, and Medium.com. VOLUNTEER COPY EDITORS Kersten Jaeger Kendall Schmitz Aaron Sullivan Laura Wing ARTISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Giles Clasen Robert Davis Gigi Galen WRITERS 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. John Alexander Lando Allen Brian Augustine Ashton Brown Giles Clasen Robert Davis Raelene Johnson Josh Nemo Jerry Rosen BOARD OF DIRECTORS Nikki Lawson, President Chris Boulanger, Vice President Jeff Cuneo, Treasurer Zephyr Wilkins, Secretary Donovan Cordova Raelene Johnson Julia Watson Cabal Yarne 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 12 p.m. Orientation is held every day we are open, but prospective vendors must arrive by 10:00 a.m. 2 DENVER VOICE August 2022 STAFF CONTRIBUTORS BOARD CONTACT US
NATIONAL STORY RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT CAMPS, SWEEPS, AND DISPLACEMENT IN THE U.S. BY INSP STAFF IN RECENT MONTHS, cities and states across the United States have dramatically increased their efforts to sweep and displace homeless encampments and to criminalize people on the streets. In Tennessee, new legislation has made camping on public lands a felony with a possible jail sentence of up to six years in prison. A series of posters as part of the nationwide campaign “Housekeys Not Sweeps,” led by the Western Regional Advocacy Project (WRAP), is raising awareness and combating criminalization efforts and anti-homeless legislation occurring across the country. ARTWORK COURTESY OF THE WESTERN REGIONAL ADVOCACY PROJECT AND THE SAN FRANCISCO POSTER SYNDICATE. “Houseless people often live in communities or ‘encampments’ for their safety and well-being. Belongings and community are necessary for survival but private and public agencies have deemed both these things illegal and are aggressively and violently policing, sweeping, harassing, and attacking our houseless neighbors,” said Paul Boden, WRAP’s executive director. “They are evicted from their encampments, and their life-preserving belongings are repeatedly stolen.” The campaign notes the effects of the sweeps are many, including mass incarceration, harm to people’s mental and physical health, and additional barriers to receiving housing and economic stability due to convictions and arrest warrants, disqualifying individuals from receiving public housing assistance. “Cruel and discriminatory police enforcements cause serious harm and are an incredible waste of resources that would be more effectively spent on solutions to houselessness, such as treatment and housing for poor people,” Boden continued. “Clearly, our government is not choosing real solutions to homelessness, like human rights, livable incomes, healthcare, jobs, and a reinstatement of federal affordable housing funding.” “In international human rights law, providing shelter to people who are homeless is the absolute minimum standard for any country, regardless of resources. There’s a cruelty here that I don’t think I’ve seen,” said Leilani Farha, the former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Housing. Tens of millions of people have experienced homelessness in America during the past 40 years due to the lack of federal investments in social housing and corporate welfare, the privatization of affordable housing, skyrocketing rents, and the lack of living wage jobs. Currently, more than one million people experience homelessness in the United States, including a high rate of children and families. ■ Find out more about the campaign by visiting wraphome.org Courtesy of the International Network of Street Papers 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 193 | 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. August 2022 DENVER VOICE 3
SUMMER WISH LIST With the weather beginning to change, we have updated our list, but we can always use coats and jackets. NEW ITEMS NEEDED: Socks Sunscreen, toiletries (individual or travel-size) Toothpaste, deodorant, chapstick Bottled water Paper products for the office GENTLY-USED ITEMS NEEDED: Men’s shoes or boots (sizes 8-12) Men’s jackets/shorts (sizes L, XL, XXL) Women’s jackets/shorts (sizes M, L, XL) Backpacks Carrier bags USB-C charging cables 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 VOICE VENDOR RAELENE JOHNSON. Q If there were one thing in the world that you could change, what would it be? A BRIAN AUGUSTINE Empathy is what is needed most at this time in the world – especially after the shutdown caused by the pandemic. We got used to living by our own rules, and now, we have to remember to get along with everyone in our lives, whether we’re talking about a lifelong friendship or a chance meeting with a stranger. RAELENE JOHNSON If I could change one thing, it would be that there is no more hate in the world! Without hate, there would be nothing but love and peace, which would make the world a better place for everyone! JOSH NEMO The one thing I would change in the world would be the way people treat each other – have them be kind and live with love towards all, like Gandhi or Buddha, or Jesus. JERRY ROSEN The one thing in the world I would like to change is that we have peace and tranquility. Another change I would like is to live in a pollution-free world. DENVERVOICE.ORG/VENDOR-NEEDS Drop-offs are accepted Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. or schedule a drop-off by emailing program@denvervoice.org. 4 DENVER VOICE August 2022 What do YOU want to ask? If you have a question or issue you would like vendors to discuss, please email community@denvervoice.org.
LOCAL FEATURE CREDIT: GILES CLASEN CREDIT: GILES CLASEN ELLIE CAT’S FASHION DOESN’T CONFORM BY GILES CLASEN BREAKING THREE SEWING MACHINES wasn’t going to stop Ellie Cat from finishing their clothing line in time for their first showcase: Fluid, A Pride Fashion Show. “I guess the fabric I chose was too thick,” Cat said dryly. But Cat doesn’t dwell on what’s broken. Instead, they want to use fashion to build community “The goal is to bring everybody together in all shapes, all sizes, all genders and celebrate it all,” Cat said. Recently, Cat organized and funded the Fluid show at the Marijuana Mansion in Capitol Hill and brought in Melissa Lux, Chi Marie, and Via Moscato — three other designers — to participate. CREDIT: GILES CLASEN Continued on page 6 August 2022 DENVER VOICE 5
LOCAL FEATURE CREDIT: GILES CLASEN The sold-out show was more than just models and a runway. It was a multidimensional event that included a DJ, comedy, and dancing performances. But the focus was on the clothes and the people wearing them. “I want to embrace everybody and show the best parts of every person,” Cat said. “Being in the fashion industry, everybody gets catered to, based on the way that they present [their gender identity], and I don’t think that’s fair. I don’t think fashion should have a gender.” Cat said they believe fashion helps build community and identity. “The fashion line I created is called Fluid,” Cat said. “It is for everyone. Girls can wear it; boys can wear it. It doesn’t matter. You can be tall; you can be short. It is for every body type. It is for every person.” According to Cat, too often, traditional fashion is designed around gender stereotypes. Men wear men’s clothes. Women wear women’s clothes. Historically, there have been stigmas attached to crossing those boundaries. “I am nonbinary. My pronouns are they/them,” Cat said. “I present very feminine with a masculine twist. That is what I mean by gender stereotypes. I could walk around in six-inch stilettos, but I can change a tire faster than you would guess I could.” CREDIT: GILES CLASEN CREDIT: GILES CLASEN 6 DENVER VOICE August 2022
LOCAL FEATURE Cat feels the gender norms thrust on children like girls should wear pink, and boys should wear blue, or girls play with dolls, and boys with footballs, pushes people into stereotypes. These stereotypes are unfair and restrictive. This is why Cat is trying to build their own fashion line. They want to create something that doesn’t restrict, but rather, welcomes all identities and opens new avenues of personal expression. Over their 18-year career, Cat has been a model for between 15 and 20 shows and has often been pigeonholed into wearing feminine clothing. “I design clothes that aren’t super feminine. They blur the lines between masculine and feminine. Fashion doesn’t have a gender. It is nonconforming,” Cat said. “Men can wear skirts if they want to. [Clothes are] just articles of fabric.” Cat plans to begin selling their designs this fall. They injured their knee and will use the six weeks of downtime to build up their product line. You will be able to find Cat’s clothing on their Instagram account @elliecatstyles, and they hope to open an e-commerce site not long after. Their long-term goal is to save enough money to open a boutique in Denver where they can showcase their Fluid designs. ■ CREDIT: GILES CLASEN CREDIT: GILES CLASEN CREDIT: GILES CLASEN CREDIT: GILES CLASEN August 2022 DENVER VOICE 7
LOCAL NEWS CHASING PROGRESS: POVERTY GAP FOR BLACK AND LATINO SENIOR CITIZENS GREW OVER LAST DECADE BY ROBERT DAVIS ALTHOUGH MELVIN PAGE HAD A LONG CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE, retiring proved to be much more difficult than he thought. Three years into his retirement, Page suffered a brain aneurysm that left him with crippling medical debt and no chance of keeping his apartment. The then 70-year-old ended up experiencing homelessness in Denver for more than a year beginning in 2019. He told Denver VOICE that he was lucky to escape within a year, but getting back on his feet has been a struggle. Nearly four years later, Page, 73, works part-time as for Enterprise Rent-A-Car a lot attendant at Denver International Airport. But his hourly income is not enough to pay for food, rent, and transportation each month. Page said he‘s grown increasingly reliant on his Social Security income to pay for necessities and is worried that another economic shock could send him back to the streets. “I’m still willing to go to work and I take full responsibility for my future,” Page said. “But I still can’t help wondering if I’ll be able to afford any more help than what I receive now.” CHASING PROGRESS Denver VOICE examined Denver’s poverty rate for Black and Latino seniors as part of Chasing Progress, a Colorado News Collaborative project on social, economic, and health equity among Black and Latino Coloradans. The project analyzed the Census Bureau’s 5-year American Community Survey data from 2010, 2015, and 2020, a period of historically long economic expansion bookended by the Great Recession and the onset of the pandemic. Overall, Denver’s poverty rate for seniors–defined as people aged 65 and over–decreased from 15.4% to 10.5%. But the data also showed continued disparities among Black and Latino seniors when compared to white seniors. The poverty rate for Black seniors dropped from 21.4% to 16.3% over the last decade, while the poverty rate for Latino seniors dropped slightly from 20.9% to 19.9%, according to the Census Bureau’s 2010 and 2020 five-year American Community Survey. For comparison, the poverty rate for MELVIN PAGE, 73, SITS IN THE CAFETERIA OF THE BROOKDALE SENIOR LIVING CENTER IN SOUTHEAST DENVER. 8 DENVER VOICE August 2022
LOCAL NEWS white seniors declined from 11.7% in 2010 to 6.7% in 2020 during that same period. Put another way: Black seniors are now more than twice as likely to live in poverty as white seniors. Latino seniors are now nearly three times as likely as white seniors to live in poverty as well. Meanwhile, Denver’s population has gotten older, with people over the age of 65 making up 12.2% of the population in 2020 compared to just 7% a decade ago. Experts point to several reasons for Denver’s declining poverty rates among Black and Latino seniors such as spending more time in the workforce and the plethora of programs that the city has created to help supplement daily expenses for food and medical care. But others are concerned that programs designed to aid seniors may not be able to withstand mounting economic pressures from Denver’s rising cost of living and persistent inflation. Moreover, some point to a rising number of seniors experiencing economic instability as evidence that Denver’s declining senior poverty rate could reverse course in the future. MORE TIME IN THE WORKFORCE Page, who is Black, said his retirement wasn’t his choice initially. He was working as a landscaper when his declining health ushered him out of the labor force. Without that setback, Page said he would have never stopped working. In fact, census data also shows that an increasing number of seniors like Page are working longer. The labor force participation rate for people aged 65 to 74 increased by three points, from 27% to more than 30%, over the last decade. The participation rate for seniors aged 75 and up also grew from 5.8% to more than 8% over the same time. And the labor contributions of older adults in Denver are hard to overlook. According to the latest Community Assessment Survey for Older Adults by the Denver Regional Council of Governments, older adults contributed an estimated $1.6 billion in economic productivity over a 12-month period in 2018. Approximately $875 million of that total came from “unpaid contributions,” such as volunteer hours and informal labor like helping friends and family. But spending more time in the workforce doesn’t necessarily guarantee that a senior will be able to afford to retire. Perla Gheiler, who leads Denver’s Office of Aging, told Denver VOICE that one reason Black and Latino seniors experience higher poverty rates is that they often don’t have enough savings when they retire. “Our seniors are living much longer, which is putting additional strain on their savings and retirement accounts,” Gheiler said. “Even those who were able to put away a sizable nest egg have seen it dwindle recently because of inflation and high housing costs.” Another issue that Gheiler pointed to is the wage gap between male and female seniors who are employed. Research from the nonpartisan Bell Policy Center (BPC), a financial policy think tank, shows that the median income for Denver seniors is roughly $25,000 per year, with male seniors averaging more than $30,000 in income while women average around $20,000. For Page, who earns a gross income of approximately $3,400 per month between employment and Social Security income, saving money every month is challenging at best. On top of taking the bus from the Southmoor Park & Ride in southeast Denver up to the airport for work, he also must budget for medications to treat his high blood pressure and other ailments. Page said he has no stocks or bonds he can fall back on for additional income. He also doesn’t qualify to participate in his employer’s retirement program because of his part-time employment status, making him one of the 63% of Black Coloradans that do not have access to retirement funding outside of Social Security, according to research from the BPC. “There’s a whole array of people who have fallen through the cracks that just don’t have the strength or financial resources to overcome the challenges they’re facing,” Page said. MAKING ENDS MEET Programs like Social Security have also been instrumental in helping many Black and Latino seniors in Denver make ends meet, Gheiler added. But the pandemic tested the efficacy of these programs to reach seniors living on the fringes of poverty. One mechanism that has helped reduce the poverty rate for Denver’s seniors is the automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) that determine the level of Social Security benefits paid to individuals. On Jan. 1, 2022, the federal Social Security Administration announced it was increasing disbursements by 6% the upcoming year, the largest spike in the administration’s history. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities credited the COLA as one reason that more than 201,000 seniors in Colorado were lifted out of poverty because of the program between 2018 and 2020, a time when Colorado’s overall cost of living increased sharply. “Black and Latino workers benefit substantially from Social Security because they have higher disability rates and lower lifetime earnings than white workers, on average,” Kathleen Romig, CBPP’s director of social security and disability policy, wrote in a blog post in April. Gheiler added that Denver has made significant strides to improve its service pipeline for seniors. For example, the city worked closely with the Area Agency on Aging within the Denver Regional Council of Governments to provide seniors with services to those who need assistance applying for benefits like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid. Denver also created several programs to help seniors age in their homes. For example, the city partners with Brothers Redevelopment to provide some seniors with home repairs. The city also has several tax exemptions that seniors can claim, according to the Assessor’s Office. “There’s really been a greater focus on improving coordination between city departments as it relates to how we serve senior citizens in Denver,” Gheiler said. “And our office really tries to ensure we connect seniors who call us with the right services to fit their situation.” Page said he is a testament to how well Denver’s services can work for seniors. He was placed in a room at the Aloft Hotel in MELVIN PAGE, SITTING AT HIS KITCHEN TABLE, OFTEN READS MAGAZINES LIKE TIME IN THE MORNING BEFORE GOING TO WORK. August 2022 DENVER VOICE 9 downtown Denver during the pandemic after he tested positive for COVID-19. While at the hotel, Page was connected to services and other resources that helped him recover. The service providers Page connected with were able to help him find his apartment at the Brookdale Senior Living Center in southeast Denver. They also helped Page apply for his job at the airport and find furniture for his new home, he added. “That’s when I really started to feel stronger,” Page said. “I don’t know where I’d be if I hadn’t ended up there.” RISKS REMAIN Despite the help from Social Security and local programs, Page said that he faces a challenging financial future. Over the last year, food prices have gone up 10.6% in the Denver metro area while household energy costs advanced 11.7%, respectively, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The $2,100 per month that Page pays to rent his apartment is also more than 60% of his monthly earnings. Housing experts consider people who spend more than 30% of their monthly income on housing expenses to be “housing burdened.” Although the senior living facility provides additional services like on-site skilled nursing and memory care, Page hopes to move to a cheaper apartment by November when his lease ends. The move could allow him to save more of his paychecks so he can afford the extra care later, he said. “Not everyone from different economic groups reaches the same level of success as the others,” Page said. “Some people will inevitably fall through the cracks. We need to recognize that and plan accordingly.” Outside of inflation, Chrissy Esposito, a policy analyst at the Colorado Health Institute, told Denver VOICE that the rapidly rising cost of living resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic is one of the biggest threats to the overall financial health of many seniors in Denver. “It’s not surprising that many seniors have been able to escape poverty over the last decade,” Esposito said. “But the challenges that this population continues to face often go unnoticed once their income gets above the poverty threshold.” Esposito points to data showing that the number of seniors experiencing economic instability—meaning they live between zero and 200% of the federal poverty line—as evidence that Denver’s declining senior poverty rate could reverse course in the future. According to the data, the total number of seniors aged 65 and up that fall into this category increased from 28.9% in 2018 to nearly 30% in 2019. These percentages dipped in 2020, which Esposito said is likely a result of pandemicrelated data collection issues. “It’s sad because people face higher risks for having health conditions as they age,” Esposito said. “But they’re also more likely to live in poverty, which can make it difficult to deal with these challenges.” On top of increased health risks, Denver’s rising average rent is another issue plaguing the more than 30% of Denver seniors who rent their homes, according to the 2018 CASOA survey. And interest rates are also twice as high as they were at this time last year, which makes it much more expensive to buy a home in the first place. “Aging is expensive,” Esposito said. “And we as a society seem to be underprepared for it.” ■ Chasing Progress is a Colorado News Collaborative-led multinewsroom reporting project examining the social, economic, and health equity of Black and Latino Coloradans over the last decade. The project builds off 2013’s “Losing Ground,” an I-News/RMPBS series that tracked similar measures from 1960-2010. We welcome stories of your experiences last decade as well as suggestions for future Chasing Progress stories at chasingprogress@colabnews.co.
LOCAL STORY CREDIT: DENVER VOICE DAY SHELTERS AND THE REALITY OF HOMELESSNESS BY ASHTON BROWN THE WHITE TILED FLOOR IS COVERED with bright orange chairs made of hard plastic. There is one huge room filled with people not daring to look around. A few staff members scramble to answer the ringing phone, while others file paperwork for incoming clients and appear to be avoiding eye contact with walk-ins. Hidden in the corner is a small kitchen, where a heavily tattooed man grabs food and then, quickly leaves. A TV murmurs quietly in the background, and there is a noticeable tension in the air. This is everyday life at St. Francis Shelter, and for some people, it’s as good as it gets. St. Francis is one of the day shelters throughout the Denver metro area that is trying to improve the ever-expanding homeless situation. And though the atmosphere feels uncomfortable, the regular clients have positive things to say. “It’s always been a place to gather yourself and find resources,” said James. Marc, also a regular at St. Francis, agreed, acknowledging that the social work programs have helped him live his life to the fullest. The social programs aren’t the only draw of these shelters, though. Michael Short frequents Haven of Hope, another day shelter in the area, and raves about the food, saying, “Breakfast is especially good. One time, I swear, it looked like it could have come straight from Denny’s.” St. Francis Shelter offers services such as daily showers, mail pickup, storage, and clothing pickup. They also offer bus fare to get to medical appointments or job interviews, as well as help with obtaining IDs and Social Security cards. St. Francis also provides a clothing pantry, as well as a laundry service. Additionally, they have a Fresh Tracks program that addresses physical and mental health. as well as providing individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to find a steady job. Strict requirements to qualify for housing drive many people to shelters. One resident, Mike, said trying to correct his eviction was near impossible, and he had few places to turn. He visits often to shower and enjoy a sack lunch. Chris Peters, who has been a regular at Haven of Hope on and off for four years, spent 12 years in prison in the ‘90s for possession of Marijuana, and he is still unable to qualify for housing. He’s taken to selling t-shirts to make money. Fred, an older gentleman who volunteers at Haven of Hope’s kitchen, explained the challenges with housing. According to Fred, the high cost of living in Denver makes it impossible to live on a single income now, and he believes this is why as many as 50 people come to Haven of Hope each day. Several shelters in the area cap their occupancy, usually at 100 people, and yet thousands of people experience homelessness in Denver. According to a report from Metro Denver Homeless Initiatives (MDHI), more than 12,000 individuals experienced unsheltered homelessness last year. That number is up from just over 1,500 in 2020. With these rapidly increasing numbers and only around 20 homeless shelters in the Denver metro area, people will inevitably be left behind. Denver County is addressing this problem with their Three-Year Shelter Expansion Plan, which will attempt to reinvent the shelter system currently in place. The City of Denver hopes its affordable housing fund will be able to create “permanent housing and supportive services” for individuals at risk of homelessness and also anyone with low incomes. They would also like to see the fund create housing opportunities and stability, while also advancing equity. The plan includes a five-year housing strategy that leaves those who are unhoused today without an immediate solution. The stigma of homeless people being “lazy drug addicts that don’t want any changes in their life” is a generalization, and in most cases, is not accurate. Substance abuse may be a contributing factor for some experiencing homelessness, but there are many other reasons people become unhoused, including rising housing costs, low wages, medical expenses, job losses, domestic abuse, and criminal records. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people experiencing homelessness has grown exponentially. In fact, according to the MDHI 2021 PIT count, there was a 40% increase in those staying in emergency shelters across metro Denver and a 99% increase in those identifying as newly homeless. As Rapper Pras Michel pointed out, “Seven out of 10 people are one paycheck away from being homeless.” That means that as more families and individuals become unhoused, the need for shelters and available resources will become even greater. ■ COURTESY OF FATHER WOODY’S HAVEN OF HOPE COURTESY OF ST. FRANCIS CENTER 10 DENVER VOICE August 2022
INTERNATIONAL STORY proximity to the United States and because some of its 32 states had not yet amended their penal codes. She also warned that extreme right-wing political groups had redoubled their efforts to stop the spread of the “Green Wave” reaching countries like Dominican Republic, Honduras, and El Salvador which retain draconian bans. Evangelical churches, which have seen rapid growth in Latin America and wield increasing political clout, were also pushing for total bans on abortion, she said. Brazil’s right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro, who rose to power with strong support from evangelicals, took to Twitter last week to condemn a decision to let an 11-yearold rape victim have an abortion. In Argentina, the U.S. ruling was welcomed by libertarian lawmaker Javier Milei, who is likely to run against the country’s pro-abortion president, Alberto Fernandez, in next year’s election. Evelyne Opondo, senior regional director for Africa at the Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR), urged extra vigilance against moves to erode reproductive health rights in countries that have made recent progress. She said it was crucial to strengthen training with the A WOMAN RAISES HER FIRST DURING A PROTEST IN SUPPORT OF ABORTION RIGHTS HELD BY AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AND FEMINIST COLLECTIVES AFTER THE U.S. SUPREME COURT RULED IN THE DOBBS V WOMEN’S HEALTH ORGANIZATION ABORTION CASE, OVERTURNING THE LANDMARK ROE V WADE ABORTION DECISION, OUTSIDE THE U.S. EMBASSY IN MEXICO CITY, MEXICO JUNE 29, 2022. REUTERS/TOYA SARNO JORDAN HOW WILL U.S. ABORTION RULING IMPACT OTHER COUNTRIES? BY EMMA BATHA AND DIANA BAPTISTA THE U.S. SUPREME COURT’S DECISION to revoke a woman’s right to abortion could threaten efforts to liberalize laws in other countries and fuel calls to roll back progressive legislation, reproductive rights experts say. They warned that the court’s bombshell ruling on 24 June would embolden anti-abortion groups and lawmakers in Africa, Latin America, and beyond. It could also hurt funding for sexual and reproductive health services in developing nations, rights experts said. “When America sneezes, the world catches cold,” said former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark, chairwoman of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH), which is backed by the World Health Organization. The Supreme Court’s reversal of the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion nationwide is expected to effectively end access to terminations in about half of U.S. states. Here are some ways it could also impact other countries: INCREASE FUNDING TO ANTI-ABORTION GROUPS The U.S. ruling will give anti-abortion groups worldwide “a massive confidence boost” and be used to leverage funding, said Sarah Shaw, head of advocacy at MSI Reproductive Choices, which provides sexual and reproductive healthcare in 37 countries. Shaw said many anti-abortion groups operating in Africa were supported and partially funded by U.S.-based organizations and private U.S. donors. Paula Avila-Guillen, executive director of the Women’s Equality Center, which supports reproductive rights organizations in Latin America, said the ruling had already emboldened anti-abortion groups. “This is worrying because they will try to attack some of the victories we have achieved,” she said. Colombia, Argentina, and Mexico have recently lifted abortion bans in what has been called the “Green Wave” movement. Reproductive rights experts said U.S. and European antiabortion groups were setting up “crisis pregnancy centers” in Latin America and Africa. These centers often suggest that they perform abortions, but in reality try to stop women from having them. Powerful anti-abortion groups include U.S.based Heartbeat International, which supports crisis pregnancy centers in the United States and abroad; CitizenGO, founded in Spain but funded partly through U.S. donations; and 40 Days for Life, which started in Texas and operates in more than 60 countries. Shaw said a quarter of MSI programs - including those in Malawi, Mexico, and Uganda - reported that opposition to abortion was being driven from outside the country. Some MSI programs have also seen a rise in “mystery shoppers” - activists posing as clients who try to trick staff into offering abortion services in places where it is restricted. Even in countries where abortion is legal, the ruling is likely to fuel harassment of abortion providers and women seeking terminations, she said. THREATEN EFFORTS TO REFORM LAWS The U.S. ruling could energize opponents of abortion in other countries, stymieing efforts to ease bans and even leading to the unpicking of new laws. Avila-Guillen said Mexico, which decriminalized abortion last year, was a particular concern due to its police and hospital staff to ensure they were not influenced by anti-abortion rhetoric, understood the law, and did not harass abortion providers. African countries that have recently eased abortion restrictions include Kenya and Benin. In Malawi, PMNCH said the U.S. repeal could stall efforts to pass legislation to allow abortion when a woman’s health was at risk “and women will continue to die as a result”. The ruling could also hurt efforts to expand access in Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, and Senegal, MSI said. A 2015 bill to legalize abortion in Sierra Leone has yet to be signed into law amid pressure from religious groups. Lawmakers in Liberia are debating a similar bill. DECREASE FUNDING FOR SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH MSI’s Shaw said countries that receive large amounts of U.S. aid money may deprioritize maternal health care in general for fear of jeopardizing their funding by being seen as pro-choice. “The ruling will have a chilling effect. We expect to see increased lobbying against passing policies supportive of sexual and reproductive health and rights,” Shaw added. “It’s going to really deter governments from talking about these issues, prioritizing these issues, and investing funding from other sources.” U.S. overseas funding for sexual and reproductive health cannot be used for abortion services under what is known as the Helms Amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act. Pro-choice groups fear the Supreme Court ruling will also hurt efforts to repeal the amendment. DESTABILIZE A GLOBAL SHIFT TOWARDS ABORTION ACCESS MSI’s Shaw described the U.S. ruling as a “massive curve ball” at a time when the overall global trend was towards increasing access to abortion. Around 60 countries have expanded rights in the last 30 years. Only a handful have moved in the opposite direction including Poland, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras. “We cannot lose sight of the progress that is happening all around us,” said Opondo. In Latin America, all eyes are now on Chile, which holds a public referendum in September on a new constitution that enshrines a woman’s right to terminate a pregnancy. In Europe, France’s Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has also backed a parliamentary bill to add abortion rights to the country’s constitution. ■ Courtesy of Reuters / Thomson Reuters Foundation / International Network of Street Papers August 2022 DENVER VOICE 11
IN YOUR OWN WORDS COMPLACENCY BY JOHN ALEXANDER, VOICE VENDOR ILLUSTRATION BY GIGI GALEN The dentist sits you in the chair, and then he gives you drugs JOHN ALEXANDER. CREDIT: GILES CLASEN IN SPITE OF ALL OF THE HARDSHIPS HOMELESS PEOPLE ENDURE DAILY, why do so many become complacent? To understand why, we must understand the how, what, where, and when. In our society, we see homeless people climbing in and out of dumpsters, living and sleeping on the streets or in shelters, and eating whatever, whenever, and wherever they can. We see them panhandling, battling drug addiction, or alcoholism, and on, and on, and more. But, if it is true and safe to believe in what we see, and if we see only what we look at, then society as a whole is looking only at the surface. We must look beneath the surface to see clearly and to see all. For example, alcoholism or drug addiction among those who are homeless is something we see every day. How did these people end up in the situation they are in? The majority of homeless people once lived in homes. Their own homes. They watched Monday Night Football, Thursday, Saturday Night Football, and Sunday Night Football. Yes, there was a time these homeless people slept in their own beds, which looked pretty good in their own bedrooms and in their own homes. These were people who had jobs and paid bills themselves. This is where many homeless people came from, but you won’t find the banker standing very patiently, next to some dumpster, waiting on a bunch of homeless people to come climbing out of the dumpsters so the banker can serve them foreclosure papers on their houses. Today, not only do you see people who are newly homeless; you see very frightened people who are newly homeless, who are standing on the threshold of a new situation — the world of homelessness. Here, they find themselves at nighttime, waiting in line to get something to eat, as well as a nice bed to get some sleep at a neighborhood shelter among strangers, wondering where they will eat and sleep tomorrow. Only, this is not the whole picture. The same people are about to embark on a situation that may take them to another universe, where, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, 38% of them will abuse alcohol, while 26% will abuse other drugs. What are drugs? What is their purpose? Drugs are mindaltering chemicals, and their job and only purpose is to take you away from reality. You may wake up tomorrow with a toothache. The pain is so bad, you can feel it in your ears and the side of your face, and it is terrible. You rush to the dentist seeking relief. Right now, this is your reality. This pain. LANDO ALLEN. CREDIT: JESSE BORRELL GOOD DAY, PEOPLE, My name is Lando, and I work for the VOICE. My journey has been long and hard. It hasn’t been easy for me. I’ve been on the streets for a long time. A friend called me a warrior from the streets. I’m not proud of that title. I’ve seen a lot of people go crazy from the streets and thank God that didn’t happen to me! It’s so easy to get on drugs or drink yourself to death. I chose not to. I’ve tried everything to get my life better. The big mistake I made was to take on a girlfriend that wouldn’t do anything to make our life better. I had a girlfriend that was a VOICE vendor and made money, but she drank too much, and she liked to fight. 12 DENVER VOICE August 2022 to help you relax and ease the pain. The pain has gone nowhere, but these drugs not only change your mood and minimize the pain, they also prepare you for some even greater pain the dentist is about to inflict on you — the drilling in your mouth. As smoke comes out of your mouth, the dentist is still pulling and poking at your teeth, but there you are, sitting in the chair, all relaxed and enjoying your good mood, while the dentist and you are having a conversation. That is the power of drugs. Reality works on people experiencing homelessness the same as it works on people with homes. When you look at homeless people eating, literally sleeping on the streets, and suffering the discomforts of being homeless, you are looking at their reality and pain. Drugs give all of us a mind, mood, and complacency to help cope with our reality — physical, emotional, and mental. ■ WHERE I PARKED MY CAMPER BY LANDO ALLEN, VOICE VENDOR All I want is a normal life. I think the greatest thing I did was to buy a camper to live in. I’m almost done fixing the camper to make it livable. It made me mad when one of my friends told me to sell the camper and go to the shelter. He tried to sell me on that idea, even though he wouldn’t live in the shelter.. There’s nothing wrong with the shelter, if you don’t have anywhere to go, but it’s not cool that you have to deal with a lot of negative attitudes when you stay there. Where I’d parked my camper, there was a group of guys that decided they wanted to live in the same area, and that brought unwanted attention to my camper. So, when people with the city came to talk to me, I told them that I’d been parked there for a year and had not encountered or caused any problems. I also told them I work for a living and asked them not to put me in the same boat as the people camping in the nearby tents. Then, a couple of days later, one of those city workers saw me, as I was vending the VOICE. Even though he saw me doing my job, he still didn’t consider me any different from the group in the tents. Now that he knows where I vend and where I park my camper, I think I’m going to have to find a new spot to live. ■ YOU CAN’T HOLD ME HOSTAGE! BY RAELENE JOHNSON, VOICE VENDOR RAELENE JOHNSON. CREDIT: CORTNEY TABERNA YOU CAN’T HOLD ME HOSTAGE by playing emotional games and saying things just to hurt me. You can no longer hold my past against me. I’m not that person anymore! You will not make me worry by telling me goodbye and saying you’re going to kill yourself. When you won’t ask for help or get help for yourself, then that is on you. All I can do is turn the situation over to God because I can’t do anything to change you. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. If you don’t get help and do end up killing yourself, I will be sad, but it will not destroy me. So, if you do it, that is your choice. I wish you would get help. Just know, I did love you! Sincerely, Someone Who Cared ■
EVENTS PEACE LOVE & PAWS REOPENS Due to COVID-19, Peace, Love & Paws, a veterinary clinic for pets of the unhoused and indigent communities, was not able to operate for more than two years. The clinic will re-open on Aug 4 and continue operating on the first Thursday of every month, from 9 a.m. until noon. As it is first come, first served, clients are encouraged to arrive at 8 a.m. Masks are required and will be available to ensure safety for all. WHEN: Re-opening is August 4 and will operate the first Thursday of the month. COST: To qualify, bring proof of need that shows current income and government assistance, if any (such as QUEST card, Medicaid card, or proof of low-income housing) WHERE: St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 1280 Vine St. INFO: peacelovepaws.org VEGFEST COLORADO This exciting annual event will feature vegan eats and sweets from numerous vendors and food trucks, vegan products, clothing, and accessories, as well as information and interactive activities from several local animal sanctuaries. A variety of speakers and presenters will also be featured throughout the weekend. WHEN: Aug 6 & Aug 7 COST: Daily passes start at $11; kids under 12 are free WHERE: Improper City, 3201 Walnut St. INFO: vegfestco.com MUSIC & MOVIES: YESTERDAY Come on out to Infinity Park for a free concert and outdoor screening of Yesterday. WHEN: August 12, band at 6:30 p.m, movie at 7:30 p.m. COST: Free WHERE: Infinity Park, 4599 E Tennessee Ave. INFO: infinityparkatglendale.com/events ACROSS Across 1. Dirt 5. Fishhook’s end 9. Play thing 13. Pop singer Amos 14. Mountain nymph 16. Nevada gambling city 17. Twofold 18. Renter’s agreement 19. “What’s gotten ___ you?” 20. Controversial power source WHEAT RIDGE CARNATION FESTIVAL This 53rd annual community festival will feature live music, classic cars, parade, carnival rides, vendors, food, beer and wine, kids’ activities, fireworks, and more. WHEN: Aug 12 – Aug 14 WHERE: Anderson Park, 4355 Field St. COST: Free entry INFO: thecarnationfestival.com ONLINE POETRY THOUGHTSHOP With the theme of “leaning into uncertainty” participants will listen, discuss, and write their own poetry during this guided workshop. WHEN: Aug 17, 6 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. WHERE: Online COST: $12, participants must register online INFO: shyftatmilehigh.org FREE SUMMER LAWN CONCERT Come celebrate summer in the city with a free outdoor concert, featuring Jen Korte and the Loss. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and picnic baskets, and/or purchase refreshments on-site. During the concert, attendees will also have the opportunity to explore the Museum galleries. WHEN: Aug 26, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. COST: Free WHERE: Clyfford Still Museum, 1250 Bannock St. INFO: clyffordstillmuseum.org August 2022 DENVER VOICE 13 23. Pasture (Var.) 24. ___ syrup 25. Cause of ruin 29. First US space station 33. “Cool!” 34. Monastery 37. In poor health 38. In a form that a computer can process 42. Biblical verb ending 43. Pass-the-baton race 44. Dark loaves 45. Expression of gratitude 47. Medicine men 50. Himalayan legends 53. Sean ___ Lennon 54. Mind-numbing 60. Approximately 61. Be a bad winner 62. Pink, as a steak 64. Hammer part 65. Magical wish granter 66. Kuwaiti leader 67. Lays down the lawn 68. Be inclined 69. ___ good example DOWN 1. “___ be an honor!” 2. Verb preceder 3. Lady of the Haus 4. Waterproof fabric 5. Anne ___, Henry VIII’s second wife 6. Length x width, for a rectangle 7. Provide new weapons 8. Iraqi port 9. Spendy 10. Monthly budget item 11. “I’m ___ your tricks!” 12. Impoverished 15. Kind of fishing or diving 21. Floral necklace 22. Resin in adhesives and paints 25. Not fulfilled 26. Poet’s “below” 27. Russian country house 28. Scottish Celt 30. Country home to a 2011 revolution 31. ___ wrench 32. Sanctify 35. Lingerie item 36. Ottoman governors 39. Annoyed 40. Savings 41. Wardrobes 46. Hosiery 48. Made an owl sound 49. “___ questions?” 51. Land in the ocean 52. Pebble 54. Absorbs, with “up” 55. Black-and-white cookie 56. Preowned 57. Drops from the sky 58. Appoint 59. Sand 63. Historic period COURTESY OF DEBORAH LASTOWKA PUZZLES COURTESY OF STREETROOTS ANSWERS ARE ON PAGE 15 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 $25,000+ Rose Community Foundation - CMP The NextFifty Initiative John & Laurie Mcwethy Charitable Fund $10,000+ Max & Elaine Appel The Christian Foundation $5,000 - $9,999 CHFA Direct Effect Anschutz Family Foundation Cranaleith Foundation, Inc $1,000-$4,999 Meek-Cuneo Family Fund Jill Haug Bright Funds Pivotal Energy Partners USA, Inc. Russell Peterson Sustainable Housing and Development Foundation Jerry Conover Sidney B and Caleb F Gates Fund Walker Family Foundation Matthew Rezek Whole Foods Foundation Keyrenter Property Management Denver SEI Giving Fund The Credit Union of Colorado Foundation Jana and Jim Cuneo Creating Healthier Communities Benevity Community Fund Paul Manoogian Lori Holland Warren & Betty Kuehner Kroger Matthew Seashore Michael J. Fehn & Jan Monnier Gaspar Terrana Jim Ashe George Lichter Family Foundation $500-$999 Michael Dino Fire on the Mountain Blackbaud Giving Fund Christopher Boulanger GivingFirst, Community First Foundation Maggie Holben Alistair Davidson Laura Saunders Lighthouse Writer’s Workshop, Inc. 10X Business Consultants Barbara & Robert Ells Cake Websites & More Courage and Community Foundation Edwina Salazar James Stegman Jennifer Stedron Jeremey Anderson Ridley, McGreevy & Winocur Stephen Saul WalMart 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 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! 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 14 DENVER VOICE August 2022
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, COUNSELING, EDUCATION, SHELTERS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, HOLIDAY ASSISTANCE, AND MORE. EMAIL EDITOR@DENVERVOICE.ORG WITH CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS. 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 Go to mealsforpoor.org for meal locations CATHEDRAL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION 1530 Logan St.; sandwiches & coffee Mon.-Fri. 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; Civic Center Park at Colfax & Lincoln at 1pm every Wed. & 2nd Sat. christinthecity.org CITYSQUARE DENVER 303-783-3777, 2575 S. Broadway; Food pantry Tues. 10am-6pm citysquare.org CAPITOL HILL COMMUNITY SERVICES Hot meals served at 1820 Broadway (in front of Trinity United Methodist Church), Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. 11:45-12:15 mealsforpoor.org DENVER INNER CITY PARISH 303-322-5733, 1212 Mariposa St., VOA Dining Center for Seniors, free 60 yrs and older, Wed.-Sat. 9am-12pm. Food Bank, Wed.-Fri., tickets at 9am, food bank open 10am-12pm. dicp.org DENVER RESCUE MISSION 1130 Park Avenue West, 3 meals 7 days/week: 5:30am, 12pm, 6pm 303-294-0157 denverrescuemission.org FATHER WOODY’S HAVEN OF HOPE 1101 W. 7th Ave. 303-607-0855. Mon.-Fri. 7am-1pm. Not open weekends. Breakfast is at 8am, and lunch is served at 11am frwoodyshavenofhope.org FEEDING DENVER’S HUNGRY Food service on the second and fourth Thurs. of each month; locations found at feedingdenvershungry.org/events.html FOOD NOT BOMBS Wed. 4pm/Civic Center Park facebook.com/ThePeoplesPicnic HARE KRISHNA TEMPLE 1400 Cherry St., free vegetarian feast on Sun., 6:45-7:30pm krishnadenver.com HIS LOVE FELLOWSHIP CHURCH 910 Kalamath, 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, Mon.-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., Sat. morning breakfast: 8am, Sun. dinner (required church attendance at 4:30pm) meal served at 6pm. 303-830-2201 odmdenver.org/home ST. CLARE’S MINISTRY AT ST. PETER AND ST. MARY 126 W. 2nd Ave., dinner at 4pm on Tues. Also offer a change of clothes, toiletries and sleeping bags when available. 303-722-8781 stpeterandmary.org ST. ELIZABETH’S Speer Blvd. & Arapahoe St. on Auraria campus, 7 days/week, 11:00am; 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. 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, 720-530-6853 soallmayeat.org SENIOR SUPPORT SERVICES 846 E. 18th Ave. 3 meals, Mon.a-Fri. 7am-7pm; Sun. 11am-4pm. 55+ seniorsupportservices.org/programs 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-denvermetro-foodnutrition-themission CAREER SERVICES COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CENTER Level 4, Denver Central Library, 14th Ave. & Broadway. 720-865-1706. Hours: Mon. & Tues. 10am-8pm; Wed., Thurs., Fri. 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 Department of Human Services, 1200 Federal Blvd., Mon.Fri., 7:30am-4:30pm; Services include: employment counseling, assisted job search, résumé preparation, job/applicant matching, phone bank for calling employers, access to computers, copiers, fax, etc. careercenteroffices.com/center/231/denver-westside-workforce-center MEDICAL & DENTAL SERVICES ACS COMMUNITY L.I.F.T. CareVan at Open Door Ministries, 1567 Marion St., Tues. 9am-12:30pm DENVER HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER 303-436-6000, 777 Bannock St. denverhealth.org DRUG REHAB USA Addiction hotline: 866-716-0142. Organizations that take Medicaid: https://drugrehabus.org/rehabs/treatment/medicaid/united-states/colorado/denver HARM REDUCTION ACTION CENTER 303-572-7800; 112 E. 8th Ave.; Mon.-Fri., 9am-12pm. HIV/Hep C/ Gonorrhea/ Chlamydia testing available. Our services are restricted to active IV Drug Users. Offers clean syringes to active users, as well as safety training on how to properly dispose of dirty syringes. harmreductionactioncenter.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, info@hepc-connection.org, liverhealthconnection.org INNER CITY HEALTH CENTER 303-296-1767, 3800 York St. Mon., Wed.-Fri. 8am-5pm; Tues. 9am-5pm; Sat. 8am-2pm. Emergency walk-ins. SALUD CLINIC 6075 Parkway Drive, Ste. 160, Commerce City; Dental 303-286-6755. Medical 303-286-8900. Medical Hours: Mon.-Wed. 8am-9pm, Thurs.-Fri. 8am-5pm; Sat. (Urgent Care only) 8am-5pm; Dental Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8am-5pm; Pharmacy Hours: Mon.-Fri. 1-5pm; After Office Hours: 1-800-283-3221 saludclinic.org/commerce-city STOUT STREET CLINIC 303-293-2220, 2130 Stout St. Clinic hours for new and established patients: 7am-4pm Mon., Tues., Thurs., & Fri. The clinic is open Wed. 11am-7pm. coloradocoalition.org/healthcare SUNSHINE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (YOUTH SERVICES) Services for youth facing substance abuse, addiction, mental health disorders, or a combination of these conditions. 833-931-2484 sunshinebehavioralhealth.com VA MEDICAL CENTER 303-399-8020, 1700 N Wheeling St., Aurora va.gov/find-locations/facility/vha_554A5 WORKNOW 720-389-0999; job recruitment, skills training, and job placement work-now.org DROP-IN & DAYTIME CENTERS ATTENTION HOMES 303-447-1207; 3080 Broadway, Boulder; contactah@attentionhomes.org. Offers safe shelter, supportive programming, and other services to youth up to age 24 attentionhomes.org CITYSQUARE DENVER 303-783-3777; 2575 S. Broadway; Mon.-Thurs. 10am-2pm, Denver Works helps with employment, IDs, birth certs; mail services and lockers citysquare.org FATHER WOODY’S HAVEN OF HOPE 303-607-0855; 1101 W. 7th Ave.; Mon.-Fri. 7am-1pm. Six private showers & bathrooms, laundry, lunch & more thoh.org THE GATHERING PLACE 303-321-4198; 1535 High St.; Mon., Wed.-Fri. 8:30am-5pm, Tues. 8:30am-1:30pm. 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, and more. tgpdenver.org HARM REDUCTION ACTION CENTER 303-572-7800, 231 East Colfax; Mon.-Fri. 9am-12pm. Provides clean syringes, syringe disposal, harm-reduction counseling, safe materials, Hep C/HIV education, and health education classes. harmreductionactioncenter.org HOLY GHOST CATHOLIC CHURCH 1900 California St., help with lost IDs and birth certificates holyghostchurch.org HOPE PROGRAM 303-832-3354, 1555 Race St.; Mon.-Fri. 8am-4pm. For men and women with HIV. 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.; Mon.-Fri. 7am-5:30pm. Drop-in center: bathrooms, coffee/tea, snacks, resources, WIFI odmdenver.org ST. FRANCIS CENTER 303-297-1576; 2323 Curtis St. 6am-6pm daily. Storage for one bag (when space is available). Satellite Clinic hours- Mon., Tues., Thurs, Fri. 7:30am-3:30pm; Wed. 12:30-4:30pm sfcdenver.org SENIOR SUPPORT SERVICES 846 E. 18th Ave. For those 55 and older. TV room, bus tokens, mental/physical health outreach, and more. seniorsupportservices.org SOX PLACE (YOUTH SERVICES) 2017 Larimer St. Daytime drop-in shelter for youth 12-30 years old. Meals, socks, clothing bank, personal hygiene supplies, internet access, intentional mentoring and guidance, crisis intervention, referrals to other services. Tues.-Fri. 12-4pm & Sat. 11-2pm. soxplace.com THE SPOT AT URBAN PEAK (YOUTH SERVICES) 2100 Stout St. 303-291-0442. Drop-in hours Mon.-Fri. 8-11am. If you are a youth aged 15-20 in need of immediate overnight shelter services, please contact 303-974-2928 urbanpeak.org/denver/programs-and-services/drop-in-center URBAN PEAK (YOUTH SERVICES) Youth 14-24 in Denver and Colorado Springs. Overnight shelter, food, clothing, showers, case workers, job skills and training, ID and birth certificate assistance, GED assistance, counseling and housing. 730 21st St. 303-974-2900 urbanpeak.org August 2022 DENVER VOICE 15 DON’T LOOK NOW! PUZZLES ARE ON PAGE 13
WHAT DO WE DO TO HELP? Since 2007, the VOICE has provided jobs for more than 4,600 people experiencing homelessness. For every dollar we take in, we put $3.00 directly back into the pockets of those who need it most. WITH YOUR HELP, WE CAN DO MORE. SCAN THIS CODE TO SET UP YOUR DONATION TODAY! DENVERVOICE.ORG/DONATE
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