$ 2 SUGGESTED DONATION @DenverVOICE Clowning for Clowning for lowning fo GO GOOD OO g O ODD Blahawsome & Rhythm prove not all clowns are the stuff of nightmares. PAGE 6 Blahawsome & Rhythm ‘Blahawsome’ & ‘Rhythm’ LOSE YOUR ID, LOSE YOUR IDENTITY WHEN A PERSON LOSES THEIR ID WITH NO REPLACEMENT, THEY ARE VIRTUALLY DISAPPEARED FROM SOCIETY. PAGE 4 WHAT SOCIAL HOUSING COULD LOOK LIKE DENVER CITY COUNCIL ADDS TO LIST OF POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO HOMELESSNESS. PAGE 8 TUNING IN TO HIP-HOP LOCAL NONPROFIT INTRODUCES DENVER TEENS TO MUSICMAKING AND PRODUCTION. PAGE 10 VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITY PAGES 3, 4, 5, 12 EVENTS / PUZZLES PAGE 13 RESOURCES PAGE 15 SEPTEMBER 2023 | Vol.28 Issue 9 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: CLOWNS, RHYTHM AND BLAHAWESOME HOPE TO CHANGE THE STIGMA OF CLOWNS. CREDIT: ADRIAN MICHAEL
EDITOR’S NOTE FOR THIS MONTH’S Ask a Vendor question, Raelene Johnson, who has been with the VOICE for 16 years, suggested we ask vendors what lessons they’ve learned from vending the Denver VOICE street paper. If you’ve met Raelene, there’s ELISABETH MONAGHAN MANAGING EDITOR a good chance you’ve heard her compelling story. While Raelene will share some of her darkest moments leading up to becoming a Denver VOICE vendor, she also talks about how grateful she is to have been given a second chance. In our In Your Own Words section of this issue, you’ll see that Raelene has changed up her “Self Talks,” and instead, she has expanded on the list of lessons she has learned from being a VOICE vendor. While those lessons come from her experience, they apply to all of us. Learning to love ourselves is no easy feat, but Raelene’s words are a great reminder that it is worthwhile to make time to develop that relationship with Self. Another vendor who is a regular contributor to In Your Own Words is Gigi Galen. When she brought her illustration of the tiger (see page 13), Gigi told me it had a special meaning to her. The words “strong,” “defiant,” courageous,” and “assertive,” are pieces of herself she draws upon when she has to deal with unpleasant people, who treat those dealing with housing or financial instability as inferior beings. Gigi is a quiet soul, who likes her privacy and prefers being out of the limelight. But she is a strong and courageous person, who will assert that she – like any other human – deserves common courtesy, and when she or anyone around her is the recipient of someone’s inhumanity, she will defiantly challenge their behavior and intolerance. Whether it is a poem, story, illustration, or their answer to our Ask a Vendor question, Denver VOICE vendors put themselves out there so others can learn from their experiences, and those experiences teach us all the lessons of perspective and gratitude. ■ THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS ROBERT DAVIS is an award-winning freelance reporter for the Denver VOICE. His work has also appeared in Colorado Newsline, Business Insider, Westword, and Medium.com. FRANK DIANGELI is a PNW transplant who has spent six years in Colorado. He has previously spent much of his professional career working in case management at a homeless shelter. He loves movies, making music, and throwing any kind of flying disc. ADRIAN MICHAEL is a Denver-based photographer who specializes in editorial, portraiture, documentary and street photography. He’s been creating images for over 15 years and has a passion for capturing the true essence of people. DENVERVOICE.ORG E.ORG @deeOCE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR James Kay MANAGING EDITOR Elisabeth Monaghan PROGRAM COORDINATOR Connie Gaitan GRAPHIC DESIGNER Hannah Bragg VOLUNTEER COPY EDITORS Lanie Lee Cook Aaron Sullivan ARTISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Gigi Galen Adrian Michael 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. Robert Davis Frank DiAngeli David Gordon Raelene Johnson Adrian Michael Jerry Rosen Steve Szloboda BOARD OF DIRECTORS Nikki Lawson, President Chris Boulanger, Vice President Jeff Cuneo, Treasurer Zephyr Wilkins, Secretary Michael Burkley Antonio Diaz Jennifer Seybold 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 1 p.m. Orientation is held every day we are open, but prospective vendors must arrive by 10:00 a.m. 2 DENVER VOICE September 2023 STAFF CONTRIBUTORS BOARD CONTACT US
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 DENVER VOICE VENDOR RAELENE JOHNSON. Q A What lessons have you learned from being a Denver VOICE vendor? RAELENE JOHNSON I have learned how to communicate with people. Vending the paper has also taught me how to be my own boss and allowed me to have my own home. I also have become a good writer and have been told that I help others with the words I have written. STEVE SZLOBODA Curiosity is linked so closely with success because it drives you into the unknown, which is where you make discoveries. JERRY ROSEN I have learned about being courteous to customers and having a lot of patience when vending the paper. I have learned to be very nice to cusomters. Sometimes, a few people might be rude, but I still act nice to everybody. DAVID GORDON I have learned a lot about myself. I’ve learned how to motivate myself and have become a self-starter. I know how different we can be and how alike we can be. I have learned to respect myself and others and I’ve also learned to love me. 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 1931 | 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. September 2023 DENVER VOICE 3
PAGE TITLE NATIONAL STORY SUMMER WISH LIST Drop-offs are accepted Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., or by appointment. LOSE YOUR ID, LOSE YOUR IDENTITY BY TJ JOHNSTON IN 2019, WHEN I WAS HOMELESS, I lost my ID. I retraced my steps to the stores where I knew I had taken it out when I fished for store cards and cash in my pouch. No luck—it wasn’t at any of them. That meant I had to undergo the rigmarole of replacing my ID. At least I still had my Social Security card, knew where I kept my birth certificate, and had access to the paperwork waiving the fee to unhoused California residents—which is not always true for many people experiencing homelessness. It was only a matter of bringing them to the Department NEW ITEMS NEEDED: Socks Toiletries (individual or travel-size) Toothpaste, deodorant, chapstick, sunscreen Bottled water of Motor Vehicles, taking the requisite photo, and waiting for the DMV to mail it to the office where I write for Street Sheet. The replacement was the then-new Real ID I would need if I were to board an airplane for a domestic flight or enter any federal government facility. It was also renewed for another five years, so I needn’t bother returning to the DMV—at least for the time being. Without an ID issued by a local, state, or federal agency, unhoused people can’t access public benefits or other services. When a person loses their ID with no replacement, they are virtually disappeared from society. It’s as if they don’t exist. The New York University School of the Law’s Brennan 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 VENMO YOUR VENDOR: If you would like to help out a specific vendor by donating a few extra dollars, scan the QR code below to make a payment through Venmo. Please be sure to write your vendor’s name in the comments. Thank you! Center found in a 2006 study that 11% of the US population lack a state-issued ID. That works out to approximately 21 million people unable to prove who they say they are. The Brennan Center also concluded that 7% of US citizens carry no proof of citizenship, including birth certificates, passports, or naturalization papers. The people less likely to have any ID are minorities, and people earning less than $35,000 per year. These are groups whose members are very likely to face homelessness, and if one were to draw a Venn diagram, it would show much overlap between those groups. The absence of ID can have the same impact as a natural disaster. If that last sentence sounds hyperbolic, I submit the seniors, case of Wendi Taylor of Houston, Texas. Taylor’s trailer park was flooded when Hurricane Harvey hit in the summer of 2017. During the evacuation, she lost the bag containing her documents when the National Guard boat capsized. After two years, Taylor was still unable to take the first step toward establishing her identity. “My ID has not been replaced yet,” she said when I interviewed her in 2019. “I’m stuck in a catch-22 of needing a photo ID to get a Social Security card and needing a Social Security card to get a photo ID.” Under Texas law, Taylor would have to produce a combination of documents to get an ID. Today, that would include proof of identity, U.S. citizenship or lawful presence, residency, and a Social Security card. Soon, it won’t be any easier anywhere else. As of 7 May 2025, new barriers to establishing identity could be created when the federal Real ID Act takes effect. Two proofs of a residential address must also be provided—and a post office box won’t satisfy the address requirement, said Derrick Soo, a former construction contractor now living in Oakland, California. Soo said that an applicant in California must provide a bill for utilities, such as electricity, cable or satellite TV, or landline phone service, to show proof of address. “This is creating a huge issue for those living curbside,” he said. When interviewed in 2019, Soo said he hoped to be housed before needing to renew his ID. His then-current address was that of a now-defunct business across the street from his campsite. That address allowed him to receive mail and deliveries even after the business moved in 2016. It also added the benefit of protection from the authorities. A police officer who tried to force Soo to break camp was thwarted when Soo showed him his ID. “He had no choice but to allow me to set up my shelter on the property of the address on my ID,” Soo said. “No city official or police could do anything about me.” The San Francisco encampment dwellers I interviewed for the Stolen Belonging project weren’t as fortunate. Residents living in improvised structures lost their IDs—as well as medications and other survival materials, among other possessions—when City workers confiscated them during sweeps. To my knowledge, they were never recovered nor replaced. Now, these seizures are the subject of a lawsuit a group of unhoused San Franciscans filed against the City. When my ID was replaced two weeks after my DMV visit, I was relieved and grateful. With it, a multitude of things were again possible for me—first and foremost, just being. ■ Courtesy of Street Sheet / International Network of Street Papers @DenverVOICE CREDIT: ACHOLEK-CZ FROM PIXABAY 4 DENVER VOICE September 2023
INTERNATIONAL STORY market means – demand and supply cannot adjust to price signals. Other allocation mechanisms could arise instead. For example, households might queue for many years for a rent-controlled property. Landlords might expect additional informal payments to make up for lost rental income. People desperate for somewhere to live might feel forced to pay more than the regulated rent to access a property. Rent control advocates argue that these negative side effects could be managed through better policy design and stronger regulation (on property quality and security of tenure, as well as stricter policing of unlawfully high rents). Opponents, meanwhile, argue that rather than construct a complex and costly regulatory regime to try to make rent control work, it is better not to start down the rent control route in the first place. DIFFERENT HOUSING MARKETS A key point when discussing the effectiveness of rent control policy is that the concerns set out above don’t apply equally in all housing market contexts. The most negative assessments of rent control typically refer to so-called “first-generation” rent controls. These freeze rents at their level when the policy is introduced. “Second-generation” rent controls, meanwhile, regulate CREDIT: TOM RUMBLE ON UNSPLASH RENT CONTROL ON ITS OWN WON’T SOLVE THE HOUSING CRISIS BY ALEX MARSH AND KENNETH GIBB RENT CONTROL IS FREQUENTLY PROPOSED AS A SOLUTION to the housing crisis. Advocates might not always be precise about what they mean by the term, but the idea of regulating, capping, or stabilizing rents tends to attract popular support. In 2020-2021 in England, over two-thirds (71%) of private renters in the lowest two-fifths of the income distribution spent more than 30% of their income on rent – a widely used measure of affordability or housing stress. The private rental sector in England has also doubled in size over the last 20 years. In other words, many more people are now affected by high rents. The impact of rising rents is significant. In November 2022 44% of households reported struggling with their housing costs; 6% had fallen behind with their payments. Among private renters, this increased to 53% who were struggling but managing to keep up with their rent and 8% who had fallen behind. Proponents of rent control either see it as an urgent response or a long-term measure to short-term crisis manage market excesses. Both views are evident in the Scottish government’s commitment to introducing rent control during the current parliamentary term (202126). In response to the cost of living crisis, Holyrood has also introduced a temporary rent freeze and capped rent increases for existing private tenancies. Research shows, however, that rent control on its own cannot fix things. It must go hand in hand with additional social housing and further measures to address housing affordability. NEGATIVE SIDE EFFECTS OF RENT CONTROL Some housing scholars argue that a carefully designed rent control system could contribute to addressing affordability problems. Few, however, see rent control as the key to achieving rental affordability. Some economists reject the idea entirely. The most common objection is that because rent control restricts landlords’ financial returns, it risks them leaving the market and discourages new landlords. This in turn would see a reduction in the supply of rental properties, making access to housing even more difficult. The more aggressively rents are suppressed, the bigger the disincentive to landlords. However, whether a landlord leaving the private sector means the loss of a rental property, depends on who buys the property. The second common objection is that capping rental income could encourage landlords to cut back on maintenance expenditure, effectively reducing the quality of their properties. Quality in the private rental sector is already comparatively poor in the UK. Our analysis of recent evidence suggests that this objection is justified. Third, unless it covers the whole private rented sector, rent control can freeze households in place. It increases incentives for existing tenants to stay put, creating “insiders” and “outsiders” – those who have access to regulated rents and those who don’t. Our review of the evidence suggests that this can lead to a net loss in societal well-being. The fourth common objection is that price caps would prevent properties from being allocated through normal rents within and between tenancies. They typically focus not on rent levels but on moderating rent increases. And “third generation” rent controls simply control rent increases for existing tenants. Here, landlords can reset rents at market levels when they re-let the property. Whether rent control causes landlords to leave the market depends on what the rent control regulations allow and on landlords’ characteristics. If landlords can make an acceptable return from regulated rents then they wouldn’t have such a strong incentive to exit. Differences in policy design and housing context mean that while there is plenty of research on rent control, there is debate on how the findings apply. Both advocates and critics can find evidence to buttress their position. There are no simple or unambiguous conclusions on key issues. We have shown that there is also political risk. Free market proponents, opposed to the view that even mild second- or third-generation rent control could help the housing market, argue that introducing any rent control increases landlords’ perceptions of political risk. Landlords will react to the possibility of a more aggressively interventionist policy in the future and leave the market while they can. There is not much evidence of this effect, however. Further, arguments about key side effects do not carry much force with firm advocates of rent control, whose aim may be to disrupt the system more fundamentally. To their minds, housing is a necessity, private landlords leaving the market is not a problem and rental housing should be provided by social landlords on a not-for-profit basis. The question remains then about how to meet housing needs if private landlordism shrinks. Simply arguing that more affordable social housing is necessary, doesn’t get any built. Housing affordability is a complex problem. It demands a suitably subtle combination of policies, rather than the single dramatic intervention of rent control. Alex Marsh is professor of public policy at the University of Bristol. Kenneth Gibb is professor of housing economics and director of the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence at the University of Glasgow. ■ Courtesy of The Conversation / International Network of Street Papers September 2023 DENVER VOICE 5
LOCAL FEATURE CLOWNS BLAHAWESOME & RHYTHM THE CLOWN POSE WITH CHILDREN. CREDIT: ADRIAN MICHAEL much fun, so I stuck with it. The kids we met were so happy to see us; we had lots of interaction. It was great to brighten people’s day, and that was so rewarding.” Both Michelle and Mashika enjoy seeing people gravitating to them as clowns. “We’re bringing energy and life. Putting smiles on somebody’s face just makes the world of a difference. There’s so much negative stuff going on in the world, and it’s best to bring positivity,” Michelle said. BlahAwesome and Rhythm attended the Sixth Annual CLOWNS BLAHAWESOME & RHYTHM TAKE A SELFIE WITH A GROUP OF KIDS. CREDIT: ADRIAN MICHAEL BLAHAWESOME & RHYTHM: CLOWNING FOR GOOD BY ADRIAN MICHAEL “I NEVER IMAGINED I WOULD BE CLOWNING,” said Michelle Gaddis, “but I did love telling jokes and seeing people smile.” The ability to tell jokes would help Gaddis’ transition into an industry that she didn’t expect. “I had just experienced a lot of unexpected death,” she said. “My favorite cousin in 2013, my mom in 2014, and my sister in 2015. Since it was back-to-back deaths, it was hard to heal in the grieving process. I was asked if I would like to join the clown unit of the Shriners Daughters of the Imperial Court (an affiliate of the Prince Hall Shriners), and I agreed since it was something different, something to occupy my time.” Gaddis performs as BlahAwesome (a portmanteau of Blah and Awesome) and has been clowning since 2017. “As I started creating my [clown] image, I thought about my love of plants and flowers, and I said to myself ‘I want to blossom.’ I was going through so much, and some days I felt blah, and other days I felt awesome, thus how my name was created,” Gaddis said. RHYTHM TOSSES A FOOTBALL BACK & FORTH WITH GIRL. CREDIT: ADRIAN MICHAEL Gaddis said it took her four months of studying the art of clowning, gathering props, learning to apply makeup, and piecing together her wardrobe. It paid off when she was awarded “best new clown” in her first year attending the Imperial convention. Gaddis’ daughter, Mashika, has been performing as Rhythm the Clown since 2020. Her clown name comes from her love of dancing; however, she didn’t always share the same enthusiasm as her mother. “I wasn’t interested in clowning,” Mashika said, “but I gave it a shot, and our first appearance went great. We had so Aurora Day Backpack Giveaway in August, where they were able to showcase the energy and positivity that brings so many smiles to kids and adults. They helped pass out backpacks, taught kids how to do the Cupid Shuffle line dance, and took lots of photos with kids. Their appearance was to make sure the narrative of clowns changes. Horror movies such as “It” and “Terrifier” have contributed to the fear of clowns. In an October 2014 article in the Hollywood Reporter magazine, Clowns of America International President Glenn Kohlberger said, “Hollywood makes money…. sensationalizing the norm. They can take any situation, no matter how good or pure, and turn it into a nightmare, and we do not support in any way, shape, or form any medium that sensationalizes or adds to coulrophobia or ‘clown fear.’” 1 6 DENVER VOICE September 2023
LOCAL FEATURE BLAHAWESOME PROVIDES A HUG TO A CHILD. CREDIT: ADRIAN MICHAEL PROFILE PORTRAITS OF RHYTHM THE CLOWN & BLAHAWESOME POSE FOR A PICTURE WITH YONATHAN AND HIS DAUGHTER. CREDIT: ADRIAN MICHAEL According to a 2022 study published in the International Journal of Mental Health, about 53.5% of adults suffer from Coulrophobia, an extreme fear of clowns. 2 “We do get people who tell us they don’t like clowns, but as time goes on, they get closer to us,” said Michelle. “My cousin was afraid of clowns, and upon learning I was going to be a clown told me to make sure my energy is right. Clowns are spooky, and their energy isn’t always good. So, we listen to upbeat music when we’re getting ready. We get into our zone, dance, and have a good time just so our energy projects that we don’t want anyone to have a phobia of clowns.” Both Michelle and Mashika want people to know that they’re not evil people. “Don’t be afraid of me. I’m a person, and my clown attire is a persona,” said Mashika. Along with changing the narrative of evil clowns, there is also a stigma that there aren’t many female clowns. “There are only women in our [clown] unit,” said Michelle. “I never thought about it; there’s men when we go to our conventions, but within our unit, it’s just women. Growing up, I don’t think I knew of a woman clown, but now there are a lot of them.” According to the online recruitment service Zippia, 61.5% of clowns are women, 36% being women of color. However, only 10% of that makes up Black or African American women. 3 “There was a little Black girl that I saw today that told me she wants to be a clown. She was so adorable, and I told her I would love to have her learn to be a clown,” said Michelle. “It’s a great feeling knowing we could change the world with this. We’re changing the narrative and making clowns more positive for Black girls to see.” Mashika said, “At one point, it was frowned upon for people to be clowns, but when I tell people that I’m clowning today and they see it, they’ll say things such as ‘that’s cool’ or ‘I didn’t know that was you,’ and it’s a cool feeling.” For both Michelle and Mashika, clowning is a hobby, but they aspire to eventually do more with their craft. “It would be cool if we could set up an event at least once a month and have kids come. I really want to set up a stage for the kids to come in and be entertained,” said Michelle. As of right now, Michelle and Mashika are clowns that dance and tell jokes, but they’re looking to establish new skill sets. They’ve also been thinking about incorporating magic tricks and making balloon animals. “I’m trying to figure out what’s going to be entertaining and have thought about doing shows and skits,” Michelle said. “We get so many people asking us to appear at events, and I think the more we get out, the more people start knowing us and realize who we are. People see us and say ‘Oh, those are the clowns.’” The August backpack giveaway was highly successful for the community and brought smiles to kids and adults A LITTLE GIRL SHOWS BLAHAWESOME HER FINGERNAILS. CREDIT: ADRIAN MICHAEL BLAHAWESOME AND RHYTHM SMILE ATTENDEES OF THE AURORA DAY BACKPACK GIVEAWAY EVENT. CREDIT: ADRIAN MICHAEL alike. According to Michelle and Mashika, the moment BlahAwesome and Rhythm arrived, people swarmed them, and that atmosphere amongst the crowd was extremely positive. “I just want to make a difference wherever we can. If we can touch one person, then we’ve done something,” Michelle said. ■ 1 https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/ professional-clown-club-attacks-americane-740768/ 2 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC9931735/#:~:text=Although%20the%20 prevalence%20of%20coulrophobia,et%20al.%2C%202022). 3 https://www.zippia.com/clown-jobs/demographics/ September 2023 DENVER VOICE 7
LOCAL STORY CREDIT: GILES CLASEN WHAT COULD SOCIAL HOUSING LOOK LIKE IN DENVER? BY ROBERT DAVIS DENVER’S LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING has inspired creative solutions, from Safe Outdoor Spaces for the unhoused to cohousing for renters. Now, some local leaders are floating the idea of creating a social housing program in Denver to, as they say, provide some permanent relief from rising housing costs. District 8 Councilmember Shontel Lewis introduced the idea during a Budget & Policy Committee meeting on August 7, when she proposed funding a study about creating a social housing program in Denver’s 2024 budget. She said the idea was one she heard consistently while on the campaign trail. “What I am trying to get to is that we are taking a more comprehensive approach to how we are addressing the issues of housing and homelessness at the same time,” Lewis said during the meeting. WHAT IS SOCIAL HOUSING? The term “social housing” can refer to many things, but New York University’s Center on International Cooperation defines it as a model that prioritizes the “social value of housing for communities over its ability to generate profits for a select few.” These models can be subsidized by the government or run by not-for-profit entities. Social housing and public housing are often talked about synonymously, but they serve different purposes. Social housing differs from public housing in that it can serve both middle and low-income households, whereas public housing is reserved for people earning the lowest incomes. Social housing units can be offered on the free market and frequently cap rents for tenants at 30% to 35% of their income. The economic blend of tenants in social housing development also allows for higher-income tenants to effectively subsidize rents for lower-income tenants. On the other hand, public housing operators often require vouchers to access and rely on government reimbursements to manage their cash flow. Social housing is common in European countries like The Netherlands, where social housing units make up 29% of the overall housing stock, according to data from Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. Austria, Denmark, and England also have robust social housing programs. Stateside, the idea is still relatively new. Seattle was one of the first U.S. cities to experiment with social housing when voters passed Initiative 135 in February. The initiative created a new development authority called the Seattle Social Housing Developer that is tasked with SHONTEL LEWIS. COURTESY OF DENVER.PRELIVE.OPENCITIES.COM 8 DENVER VOICE September 2023
LOCAL STORY However, Parady said the city attorney’s office disagrees with their perspective. “I think the big question is whether we can convince people that social housing is worth the lift of cutting through all the complexity to make it happen,” Parady told Denver VOICE. “We have such a large affordable housing shortage and that has become so urgent that solving the problem is viewed as an uphill climb by a lot of people.” While discussions about social housing in Denver are preliminary, there seems to be some disagreement about how a social housing model would work in Denver. One key component of this model is what’s known as “democratic resident control,” which essentially means that social housing tenants would form an association similar to a homeowners association. Shannon Hoffman, who advocated for social housing during her campaign for the District 10 seat on Denver City Council, said she would like social housing tenants to be required to serve on their tenant’s association as a way to promote a community dynamic within a building. She added that this idea is where her thinking diverges from other people she’s talked to about social housing. “We need an innovative and creative solution to our housing crisis, and we need affordable rents,” Hoffman told Denver VOICE in an interview. PRACTICAL CONCERNS There is also the practical problem of creating a new social housing development entity outside of the Denver Housing Authority and finding land to accommodate social housing developments. Hoffman said there has been talk about introducing a ballot initiative to create such an entity, but those discussions are preliminary as well. CREDIT: TOLU OLUBODE, UNSPLASH expanding the local public housing stock, but the entity’s work has yet to begin. California legislators are also toying with the idea of creating a statewide social housing development authority. For example, Assembly Bill 309 would require the new development authority to build up to three social housing projects on excess state-owned land. Similarly, Senate Bill 555 and Senate Bill 584 would establish social housing development goals and levy additional fees and taxes against short-term rental properties to support social housing developments. Lewis told Denver VOICE in an interview that she has pitched the idea of creating a social housing program to some city councilors as well as constituents who call her office to talk about housing issues. She added the response has been mixed, with some expressing reservations about the legality of Denver owning and operating real estate and the practical aspects of the program itself. “The reality is that this type of housing impacts a lot more people than we are currently talking about,” Lewis said. A BUDDING MOVEMENT Councilwoman Sarah Parady, one of Denver’s at-large representatives, told Denver VOICE in an interview that she supports the idea of creating a social housing model in the city. Outside of capping rents, Parady said social housing could also provide renters with more legal protections against eviction because renters who live in municipallyrun social housing units would be able to assert their constitutional rights during a dispute. However, there is an open question regarding whether Denver can own and operate real estate at all. Both Lewis and Parady said they believe Denver’s ordinances allow the city to own and operate its own housing developments. CREDIT: HENRY BECERRA, UNSPLASH Land issues surrounding social housing may prove to be easier to navigate given Denver Mayor Mike Johnston’s willingness to try innovative housing programs. For example, Johnston is working to fulfill his campaign promise to create micro-communities of tiny homes and shelters to help people escape homelessness. However, land the city identified that could support such sites is primarily concentrated in historically underserved communities, Axios Denver reported. Lewis added that she is concerned about further concentrating poverty in places in Denver that “have a lot of affordable housing already.” Despite the disagreements, social housing supporters say the idea could help alleviate some of the pains caused by Denver’s unaffordable housing market. As of July 2023, there were just 563 homes for sale in Denver, a decline of 39% since July 2020, according to the Colorado Association of Realtors. Meanwhile, Denver’s median home price in Denver County was $696,500, which represents an increase of nearly 30% over the last three years. Similarly, the Metro Denver Apartment Association measured the city’s average rent at $1,870 in July, an increase of about 11% over three years. The average weekly wage in Denver, on the other hand, has only increased by 7.4% over the same time period, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows. Hoffman said that the city’s affordable housing challenges are also straining the local community. Teachers, firefighters, and service industry workers all struggle to afford housing in Denver, and the city wouldn’t function well without them. To that end, a social housing program in Denver could provide a safety net for workers who can’t afford the cost of living, she said. “We’re getting to the point where we don’t have much time left to sit back and think about this problem,” Hoffman said. “What we’ve been doing hasn’t worked, and we need to find new solutions.” ■ September 2023 DENVER VOICE 9
COMMUNITY PROFILE BRINGING HIP-HOP TO DENVER TEENS BY FRANK DEANGELI OREN BREGMAN’S CONFIDENCE can be felt through the phone. His charisma and laid-back energy create an air of familiarity, almost like we’ve spoken before (we have not). While I record our call on my ancient microphone and bootlegged audio software, our conversation flows smoothly from music, to life, and back. Bregman has reason enough to be self-assured. Since his teenage years, he’s been making significant achievements in the world of hip-hop, signing to Detroit-based label Traxside at 19. His band Coast to Ghost, long buzzing in the Denver area, is headed to Detroit this fall to record their second album. Bregman lives and breathes music, and more recently, he’s found a way to bring his passion to youths in the Denver area. Mobile Studio, a nonprofit organization founded, owned, and operated by Bregman, has been making a concerted effort to give teens access to the world of music production. The concept is fairly straightforward – Bregman drives a large van, full of instruments, microphones, and computers to meet kids where they are, and Bregman teaches those kids about almost any musical concept they’re interested in. This includes lyricism, vocalization, instrumentation, and recording. Participants are given opportunities to perform their music live or release their songs on streaming platforms, and many branch out from the program to make music on their own. Bregman came up with the idea for Mobile Studio through unrelated nonprofit work in Northeast Denver schools. “Some of the kids we worked with out there were tremendously talented,” Bregman said. “I thought, ‘Wow, what a shame that they really don’t have musical resources or access to a studio. Someone should really be bringing the studio to them.’” With years of experience in hip-hop production, Mobile Studio seemed like a no-brainer for Bregman. According to Bregman, the cost barrier to music production is real, with many projects requiring a computer, microphone, and expensive software to get started. But in Bregman’s experience, this is the kind of music through which kids prefer to express themselves. COURTESY OF OREN BREGMAN, MOBILE STUDIO COURTESY OF OREN BREGMAN, MOBILE STUDIO 10 DENVER VOICE September 2023
COMMUNITY PROFILE PAGE TITLE DONATE YOUR CAR! Need to get rid of your car, truck, or motorcycle? Consider donating it to Denver VOICE. Call (855) 500-7433, or go to: careasy.org/nonprofi t/denver-voice. Your donation helps Denver VOICE succeed in its mission to provide individuals experiencing homelessness or poverty the chance towards a more stable life. COURTESY OF OREN BREGMAN, MOBILE STUDIO “Being able to make music, specifically hip-hop and rap, is so refreshing to them,” Bregman said. “They don’t want to play the trombone, they want to do this.” According to Bregman, outside of the cost of equipment, hiphop can be an easily accessible art form. “You don’t need classical training, you don’t need a grand piano or a teacher,” Bregman said. “If you know how to count the beat, you can teach yourself.” He also noted how hip-hop, a historically Black art form, can be an empowering form of self-expression for the teens he works with, many of whom are Black or Latino. Bregman recalled being moved by a song that one of his pupils wrote about the Black Lives Matter movement, calling this a “magical” moment to witness. According to Bregman, the genre itself innately draws passion and truth from its creators. It gives students an outlet to speak out loud on things that are personal to them — to let their voices be heard through an exciting musical platform. He also said that hip-hop’s historically supportive culture allows this free expression in a tolerant environment. Bregman said his favorite part of the job is witnessing the kids he works with discover their passions for music. “For me, [a milestone] is the first time somebody creates their own song and hears it and thinks, ‘Wow, that’s me,’” Bregman said. He works to foster the creativity, leadership, and communication that students find through collaboration with one another. “Over time, you just see their confidence grow: They know how to record, they know how to make music collaboratively, [which is] really impressive,” he said. According to Bregman, when it comes to the future of Mobile Studio, he is thinking big: “Getting more equipment, going to more schools, maybe we’ll get another vehicle.” As the long-time sole employee, he’s also looking to bring more staff aboard. “It starts with growing our capacity,” Bregman said. “I’ve been doing this myself for a couple years now, and although it’s been really successful, [hiring] would be the next step.” Mobile Studio is currently in the process of revamping its website and social media profiles, and Bregman said he plans to capitalize on the momentum that Mobile Studio has generated so far. “Who knows? Maybe one day you’ll see Mobile Studio all over the country.” ■ To learn more about Mobile Studio, donate to the organization, or find out about upcoming events, visit https://mobile-studio-inc.org. VOLUNTEER WITH US! We are looking for volunteers to support our program coordination by helping with paper distribution and basic offi ce administration at the Denver VOICE offi ce (989 Santa Fe Dr.) from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. If you are interested and would like to know more, contact us at: program@denvervoice.org COURTESY OF OREN BREGMAN, MOBILE STUDIO September 2023 DENVER VOICE 11 The Denver VOICE empowers homeless, impoverished, and transient individuals by creating job opportunities through our vendor program. We 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.
IN YOUR OWN WORDS LESSONS LEARNED OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS BY RAELENE JOHNSON, VOICE VENDOR FINDING THE DENVER VOICE I thank the Denver VOICE for how my life has changed! Most of my life, I was told, “You have no worth at all.” I was labeled dumb at school. Being labeled like that really holds children back. I never thought anyone would want to hear what I had to say, but because of the VOICE, I truly have found my voice. I just needed a little help. That’s what the people who buy the paper or read our stories and poems have given. I thought I would die homeless, and then, when I came to the Denver VOICE, and I can’t believe how far I’ve come after 16.5 years with the Denver VOICE. If it wasn’t for the Denver VOICE, I don’t even think I’d be alive. They gave me a job when no one else would. Having a job helped me believe in myself. I could never be where I am now without the support of the people who have bought the paper from me, so I will thank you now. RAELENE JOHNSON. CREDIT: CORTNEY TABERNA AS I AM SITTING HERE, looking at the past 20 years, I cannot believe how far I’ve come! I made a list of the lessons I’ve learned during that time. It is a long list, so I’ve organized the lessons into categories, and I would like to share them. HOMELESSNESS When you’re homeless, you can’t wash your clothes, take a bath, or shower. You have no address or phone. How would anyone think of giving you a job? Having no home and no job is a hard cycle to break. The longer you are homeless, the harder your life gets. I wished years ago someone would want to find out why we are on the streets. HOPE When you’ve lived many years on the streets, things happen to you. You lose hope, the longer you are there. Drugs and alcohol help dull the pain. You might try drugs for fun, but over time, the drugs start to control you. You want them so badly, you’ll do anything for them. You’ll do anything you wouldn’t do if you were clean. Losing hope is a hard pill to take. Change can’t happen when you have no hope. A person needs hope and kindness shown to them in order to see they can change and to feel like they’re worth something. Once we learn that, our lives start to change. When we believe we deserve better, so we start to get better. SELF-ESTEEM Self-esteem was the hardest for me to get. Being homeless for most of your life makes it hard when people let you know you can’t do anything right, or that you’ve failed again. Your self-worth isn’t there, either. Self-esteem is hard because, if you are in pain for years, you lose your real self. We, as children who were abused ILLUSTRATION BY GIGI GALEN 12 DENVER VOICE September 2023 SHARING MY STORY THROUGH WRITING The only way you can help others is to go through hell, and then, you come out even stronger for it. Believe you me, it is or hurt, have lost our self-worth and self-esteem. We don’t even trust ourselves to hope for better. You become so lost. My self-confidence just keeps growing. My self-esteem is so high, nothing can hold me back. FINDING MYSELF/OVERCOMING THE PAST I have also had a chance to find myself. I wish I had found myself years ago. I wouldn’t have had so much pain to go through. One of the biggest things I learned is that most people don’t want to think about their past or all that they’ve overcome. They want to put the past behind them. I can understand why they would do that. It can be really hard to think of what we did to ourselves and others. We hurt people that we loved, but most of all, we hurt ourselves. hard to see anything but the pain you are in. Someone has to reach in to show you the way out! One of the best things about the VOICE is that I get to write for them. Looking back, it’s still hard to believe I’m a paid writer. I have chosen to share my story in case I can help someone to help themselves, even if I don’t know who I’ve helped, it doesn’t matter. As long as I can help. SETTING BOUNDARIES I know how to have real boundaries with how people treat me. I’ve learned to speak up if I don’t like something because if you don’t speak up for yourself, no one else will do it for you. I found that you have to want something better to change yourself. You have to tell yourself, “I can do anything I put my mind to.” You must not listen to anyone who tells you can’t do things Don’t let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do (unless it is your boss). Every time you think negatively, you bring negativity to you. Start thinking positively, and you bring good to you. This is one of the greatest lessons I’ve learned. LOVING MYSELF The biggest lesson I’ve learned was to really love myself. Once I learned to love me, my life started to change. I no longer wanted drugs or alcohol in my life. I love myself so much now, I control how or what in my life I will take in. No one else can ever take control of my life again. Control of your life is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. If you are being controlled by anyone else, you need to get help. If anyone is causing you pain, get them out of your life. At one point, I thought I would die from drugs and homelessness. I sometimes find it hard to believe I have owned a home now for over 13.5 years. I never thought I would have my own home. Boy, does it feel good to have a home! ■
EVENTS WHEN: Sep 2, 9, and 23, 9 a.m. COST: Free WHERE: Levitt Pavilion Denver, 1380 W. Florida Ave. INFO: levittdenver.org SUNNYSIDE MUSIC FESTIVAL Enjoy a family-friendly day in the park with live music, community vendors, activities for the kids, delicious grub, and local brews. This event is free and open to all. WHEN: Sep 9, 12 p.m. – 7 p.m. COST: Free WHERE: Chaffee Park, W. 44th Ave. & Tejon St. INFO: sunnysidemusicfest.org COURTESY OF DEBORAH LASTOWKA PUZZLES YOGA ON THE LAWN Enjoy a free vinyasa yoga class on the lawn. Open to all skill levels and ages. Bring your own yoga mat, towel, or feel free to practice in the grass. COURTESY OF STREETROOTS ANSWERS ARE ON PAGE 15 WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW: STAND-UP COMEDY We all need more laughter in our lives. What the World Needs Now is a bi-weekly comedy showcase featuring some of the city’s best comedians, as well as its rising stars. This FREE event occurs every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month. WHEN: Sep 14 and 28, 8 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. COST: Free WHERE: First Draft Kitchen & Taproom, 1309 26th St. INFO: firstdraftdenver.com ACROSS DOWN Across 1. Patronize, as a motel 7. Sudden reactions 13. Showy 14. Sets aside 16. Old Maid player, essentially 17. Means of supervision? 18. Set one’s sights 19. Referee’s mistake 21. Match part 22. Pole, e.g. 24. “___ flight to Miami Beach or to Hollywood” (Billy Joel lyric) JAMMING ON THE JETTY Jamming on the Jetty is a free, family-friendly event that includes live music, local food and drink, and community vendors. Bring your own chairs or blankets and discover your new favorite band. All proceeds go towards cleaning up the lake. WHEN: Sep 16, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. COST: Free entry WHERE: Sloan’s Lake, 4700 West Bryon Place INFO: jammingonthejetty.com 25. They may be drawn 26. Alien-seeking org. (anagram of TIES) 27. The two words that precede “Mama, just killed a man” in “Bohemian Rhapsody” 28. Citrus fruit 29. Paradise lost 30. Hit head-on 31. Beau 32. Niche-finding process 35. Intolerant sort 37. Scand. land 38. In that case 42. Nitpicky to a fault 43. Can 44. Kooky 45. Russian ruler: Var. 46. Snaps 47. Chimp in space (anagram of NOSE) 48. Stick one’s ___ in 49. Modern sing-along 52. Canadian area: Abbr. 53. Most flimsy and see-through 55. Unlike the White Rabbit 57. Poisonous salt 58. Temporary ride 59. Actors Charlie and Martin 60. Adjusts, as wheels 1. “I’m, like, over it” 2. Followed 3. Enliven 4. Shostakovich’s “Babi ___” Symphony 5. “Up and ___!” 6. Hatcher of “Lois & Clark” 7. Mexican shawl: Var. 8. Start of a refrain 9. ___ nitrate 10. “Norma ___” 11. “Here, have a bite!” 12. BBQ annoyance 14. Kick out of the Catholic church 15. Jet-setters’ jets, once 20. Sand bar 23. Oil’s partner in dressing 25. Put on a pedestal 27. Race pace 28. Head of England? 31. It may be barbed 33. Remote abbr. 34. Body of art? 35. Some charity events 36. Like the White Rabbit 39. Spreading (out) 40. Winter creations 41. Raw bar selections 43. New accomplishments 45. Robe for Caesar 46. Song of praise 49. Cattle, poetically 50. Kind of nut 51. Organic compound (anagram of LONE) 54. Last in a series 56. Chi preceder LET’S ROLL: 50+ BIKE CLUB Discover the joy of cruising through the city on two wheels in this bike club for folks age 50+. Whether you are an experienced cyclist or just rediscovering your bike after many years, this club is for you. Basic instruction on safety, navigation, and fixing flats is also provided. WHEN: Sep 23, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. COST: Free but registration is required and event is capped at 20 participants. WHERE: Meet-up location TBD INFO: denverlibrary.org/events/upcoming September 2023 DENVER VOICE 13 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+ The NextFifty Initiative $10,000+ Anonymous Individual Donor The Christian Foundation Acorn Hill Foundation Inc. $5,000 - $9,999 Colorado Housing and Finance Authority Bank of America Charitable Foundation Pivotal Energy Partners USA, Inc. Francis Trainer and Trainer Family Sustainable Housing and Development Foundation Envestnet $1,000-$4,999 Meek-Cuneo Family Fund Katherine Standiford Walker Family Foundation Alexander Seavall Jill Haug Whole Foods Foundation Alex Salva Russell Peterson Chris and Susan Pappas Michael Dino Sidney B and Caleb F Gates Fund Frederic K Conover Trust Megan Arellano Warren and Betty Kuehner Keyrenter Property Management Denver SEI Giving Fund Donald Weaver The Credit Union of Colorado Foundation Jana and Jim Cuneo Kroger Paul Manoogian Lori Holland Gaspar Terrana Maggie Holben Michael J. Fehn and Jan Monnier Jim Ashe Courage and Community Foundation George Lichter Family Foundation Lisa Wagner Joshua Kauer Elsbeth Williams Mathew Rezek $500-$999 Margaret Ramp John Gibson James and Cyndi Lesslie Fire on the Mountain Christopher Boulanger Sheryl Parker Laura Saunders Robert E and Anne T Sneed Family Foundation Barbara and Robert Ells Carol and Louis Irwin Edwina Salazar James Stegman Jennifer Stedron Jeremy Anderson Stephen Saul WalMart Peter Iannuzzi Nikki Lawson CEDS Finance Graham Davis Impact Assets Courage and Community Foundation Louis Irwin Mary Livernois Mr B’s Liquor Wines For Humanity 14 DENVER VOICE September 2023 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
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. MEDICAL / MENTAL HEALTH / 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 DETOX LOCAL A resource that features abundant information including mental health and substance use resources specifically for the AAPI (American Asian and Pacific Islander) community. detoxlocal.com DRUG REHAB USA Addiction hotline: 866-716-0142. Organizations that take Medicaid: 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 LIVE ANOTHER DAY Live Another Day believes in equal access to life-saving mental health and substance use resources. This website provides extensive information on the best resources available: liveanotherday.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 SOUTHEAST ADDICTION CENTER Top 50 resources for Black men who are struggling with substance use and/or their mental health. southeastaddictiontn.com/50-addiction-mental-health-resources-for-black-men SOUTHEAST DETOX Updated in 2023, this guide features over 50 fully-vetted resources for Black women. southeastdetoxga.com/black-women-addiction-mental-health-support 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 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 60+. 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 TGTHR (FKA ATTENTION HOMES) Shelter: 303-447-1207, 3080 Broadway, Boulder. Open every day, 12:30-5pm, for anyone ages 12-24. Office: 303-447-1206. Offers safe shelter, supportive programming, and other services to youth up to age 24 tgthr.org 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 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; weekly Lunch in the Park is on Wednesdays from 12-1 at Benedict Fountain Park (Tremont and 22nd). 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 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 September 2023 DENVER VOICE 15 DON’T LOOK NOW! PUZZLES ARE ON PAGE 13
fighting Pints poverty a fundraiser 2 C 0 2 3 P SAVE THE DATE! SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2023 • 6 TO 9 P.M. The Denver VOICE’s annual Pints Fighting Poverty Pub Crawl is returning this year! This event is a fun opportunity to show support for those in our community experiencing housing or financial instability, gain insight into the realities, and make an impact by helping us raise the funds to continue to provide economic, education, and empowerment opportunities for those we have the privilege of serving! The evening will include stops with exclusive drink specials at some of Denver’s premier brewery and spirit locations. 100% of proceeds raised go toward our mission 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. DENVERVOICE.ORG/ PINTSFIGHTINGPOVERTY u b r a w l
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