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
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