$2 AUGUST 2026 | Vol. 31 Issue 8 SUGGESTED SETTING RECORDS, SAVING LIVES THOUSANDS GATHER TO CELEBRATE ORGAN DONORS AND RECIPIENTS P.8 META AND THE BARKADA P.7 IN YOUR OWN WORDS P. 11 FROM YOUR VENDOR:
SPONSORED CONTENT Faith With Its Sleeves Rolled Up: Inside Major Nesan Kistan's Mission in Denver Story by Giles Clasen Under his leadership in Denver, The Salvation Army is a lifeline for thousands of individuals and families facing homelessness, hunger and crisis. Through emergency shelters, food pantries, youth programs, and supportive services, the organization provided emergency shelter to 443 families and nearly 2,000 individuals last year while serving more than one million meals across its Denver-area programs. Across Colorado, The Salvation Army has served more than 180,000 people, provided food assistance more than 1.6 million times, and helped over 1,000 individuals and families move into permanent, stable housing. “Love isn’t something you talk about. It’s something you demonstrate.” — MAJOR NESAN KISTAN A cornerstone of its Denver ministry is Photo by Giles Clasen WHEN three MAJOR years NESAN old, KISTAN was South Africa just erupted in the Soweto Uprising. Hundreds of schoolchildren were killed after protesting an education system designed to oppress them. Watching the violence unfold, Kistan’s father asked a question that would forever shape their family’s future. “My dad said to me, ‘If a nation would kill its own children, what hope do I have as a father to bring up my children in this world?’” says Kistan. Fleeing apartheid, Kistan’s family arrived in Australia with almost nothing. During a recession, his father struggled to support the family by washing cars until a stranger introduced them to The Salvation Army. “These are Christians who actually care about people,” Kistan recalls his father saying. Years later, after his father was killed in the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, The Salvation Army surrounded the family again with love and support. “The Salvation Army embraced us in a way that is unimaginable,” Kistan says. “That’s when I was all in.” FROM SOWETO TO DENVER Half a world away and decades later, another crisis would capture Kistan’s heart. His journey eventually brought him to Denver, where seeing people living on the streets reminded him why he answered God’s call to offer hope, dignity, and a pathway to change for those who need it most. Today, as divisional commander of The Salvation Army’s Intermountain Division, Kistan oversees ministry and social services across Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Montana. In Denver, his vision is simple but bold: Don’t measure success by the number of meals served or beds filled; measure it by lives transformed. A DIFFERENT MEASURING STICK “We need to change the metric system. I think what you target is what you achieve,” says Kistan. “We’re not targeting just how many nights of shelter beds we fill, how many meals we serve or how many clients we see. We’re actually targeting how many lives are transformed.” addiction recovery. Through the Harbor Light Center, The Salvation Army offers a comprehensive residential recovery program that addresses not only addiction, but also the underlying trauma, mental health issues and life challenges that often keep people trapped in cycles of homelessness and substance abuse. The goal is not simply to help people survive, but to equip them to rebuild their lives with dignity, purpose and lasting hope. “We treat the whole person, body, mind and spirit,” Kistan says. “If people don’t find hope, they never move out of the cycle.” The Salvation Army is serving people like Alex Uhl, who arrived at the Harbor Light Center at the lowest point of his life, estranged from family and overwhelmed by addiction. Today, more than three years after completing the program, he serves as Harbor Light’s lead resident manager, helping other men find the same hope he found. “This place saved my life. Now I get to help other men reclaim theirs,” says Uhl. CHRISTIANITY WITH ITS SLEEVES ROLLED UP Ask Kistan why he does this work, and the answer isn’t about strategy. For Kistan, this work is more than providing social services, it’s faith in action. “It’s Christianity with its sleeves rolled up,” “Love isn’t something you talk he says. about. It’s something you demonstrate.” Kistan’s philosophy is changing lives across Denver. Mothers and Fathers are reunited with their sons, people once trapped by addiction become mentors to others, and individuals who had lost everything discover they still have worth. For Kistan, it all comes back to one idea. “Every human being deserves dignity, love, and acceptance,” he said. “And those are powerful fueling agents that drive me to say - you know what, enough is enough. I need to do something.” Major Nesan Kistan, The Salvation Army Divisional Commander, joined volunteers at The Salvation Army warehouse to help prepare thousands of backpacks that are placed in the hands of local children each year - ensuring students in need start the school year with confidence and hope.
From the Editor T Elisabeth Monaghan was born and raised in Denver, joining the VOICE as managing editor in 2019. She is passionate about social justice, and believes that writing and creative expression are some of our most powerful tools in combating homelessness and poverty. DENVERVOICE.ORG MANAGING EDITOR What Would You Do Without the Denver VOICE? HAT’S THE QUESTION for this month’s Ask a Vendor. If you’ve seen any of our recent posts on Facebook or Instagram, you’re aware that we’re in the middle of our Hot 100 fundraising campaign. Our goal is to add 100 new monthly recurring donors this summer. This would help us be more sustainable financially. Whenever we ask our vendors if they’ll let us videotape them talking about what vending the VOICE means to them, most will stop whatever they’re doing to share their thoughts. If you’ve watched the vendor videos, you may have noticed that several of them are seniors. As someone with gray hair, I am well aware of the challenges people aged 50 and over face in the job market. Ageism among hiring managers and recruiters is demoralizing to job-seekers. When someone is not only older, but also BIPOC, finding a job is even more difficult. I am lucky, I have paid into Social Security through years of work, so I will have it when I need it. But many of our vendors will not have income from Social Security because they have been chronically homeless and have not paid into the retirement program. For those vendors, the Denver VOICE is one of the only safety nets they can count on. What would our vendors, young and old, do if the VOICE didn’t exist? That we have to ask the question is unsettling, and the answers don’t make for light reading. Jerry Rosen said that he would look for a job busing tables. He would have to bus a lot of tables to match what he makes from vending the paper. Raelene Johnson said that she has found financial stability and has had her own home for years. Without the VOICE, she would have no income, other than the minimal amount she receives from Social Security. Rea Brown’s poetic response is powerful, as he wrote about being young when he started with the VOICE, and is now much older. Reading the vendors’ responses, one thing became clear: the VOICE isn’t just a job, it’s a lifeline. Which makes this next part harder to swallow: in this economy, so many great organizations are competing for the same limited funding. The prospect of the VOICE going away, however remote, keeps our staff and board of directors awake at night. - Elisabeth Monaghan Managing Editor BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ART DIRECTOR ADMIN. ASSISTANT ARTISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS CONTRIBUTORS @denverVOICE Elisabeth Monaghan Giles Clasen Andrew Fraieli Madeline Egerton Mariana Ortega Rivera Joshua Abeyta Zakiyyah Brooks Rea Brown Donald Burnes Wayne Easterling Sondra Jeffries Raelene Johnson Mariana Ortega Rivera Jerry Rosen Jennifer Forker, President Donald Burnes, Vice President Edwin Rapp, Treasurer Isabella Colletti, Secretary Ande Sailer Linda Shapley Lisa Schlichtman EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT VENDOR PROGRAM ADVERTISING MAILING ADDRESS VENDOR OFFICE OFFICE HOURS editor@denvervoice.org program@denvervoice.org editor@denvervoice.org PO Box 1931, Denver CO 80201 989 Santa Fe Drive Denver CO 80204 10 a.m. -1 p.m., Wednesdays Since 1996, the Denver VOICE has served individuals experiencing housing or financial instability by providing lowbarrier income opportunities. In the time since our inception, we have put more than 4,600 vendors to work, selling the paper throughout the Denver metro area. By focusing on poverty, housing, social justice, local arts and entertainment, and the human experience behind the headlines, we tell the stories that Denver media often overlook. An award-winning publication, the Denver VOICE is a member of the International Network of Street Papers and the Colorado Press Association, and we adhere to the Society of Professional Journalists’ code of ethics. TO HELP, YOU CAN: GET THE WORD OUT: VOLUNTEER: ADVERTISE: DONATE @ denvervoice.org@denverVOICE Contact program@denvervoice.org Contact ads@denvervoice.org SUBSCRIBE @ denvervoice.org/subscriptions THE COVER: DaVita clinical social worker and living donor Angela Laino stands alongside division lead social worker and kidney recipient Terry Weaver after the TGA CareDx 5K at Auraria Campus in Denver. PHOTO BY MARIANA ORTEGA RIVERA DENVER VOICE AUGUST 2026 3 ABOUT US
HUD TRIES, AGAIN, TO MOVE FEDERAL HOMELESSNESS FUNDING AWAY FROM PERMANENT HOUSING THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) released its new guidelines for the largest pool of federal homelessness funding, the Continuum of Care (CoC) grant, on 1 June. The agency had attempted to implement a different set of guidelines last year but was temporarily blocked following a lawsuit. Despite rolling back some of its more stringent restrictions in this most recent set of rules, HUD remains skeptical of Housing First programs. The guidelines could put some programs applying for grants in a difficult position and potentially change the nation’s homelessness services landscape. Last November, when HUD released its updated fiscal year 2025 funding application for the CoC, a federal program that provides funding for nonprofits working to end homelessness, programs found themselves facing an unprecedented level of funding constraints. HUD planned to cap the amount of funding that localities could receive for Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) to just 30% of their total funding, effectively moving a large portion of the program’s $3.9 billion budget towards transitional housing and programs prioritizing work requirements and mandatory treatment. This shift would have potentially forced 1,500 people out of housing and cost DC housing programs approximately $22 million, according to advocacy group the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH). Those guidelines were blocked by the courts. Now, HUD’s new guidelines remove the cap on PSH, but instill other limitations that would shift money away from permanent housing, setting aside $1.3 billion solely for temporary and supportive programs. WHAT’S THE DEBATE? Both sets of funding guidelines reflect the Trump Story by Alexandra Lalli administration’s dislike of Housing First programs, long considered a bipartisan, mainstream response to homelessness. Housing First is an approach to the homelessness crisis that prioritizes providing people with permanent, stable housing Washington DC. | Photo by Andy Feliciotti 4 NEWS
before other means of progress, such as treatment programs or employment. Most experts agree the method has proven many times over to benefit individuals and families. Per Sam Tsemberis, the founder of Pathways to Housing DC and an architect of Housing First, 85% of people in Housing First programs are successful within their first year in maintaining housing, as well as achieving other progress milestones, such as recovering from drinking or drug use. However, the Trump Administration has shown vehement resistance to Housing First, arguing that it has not worked to reduce homelessness. In 2025, Trump filed an Executive Order ending “...support for ‘housing first’ policies that deprioritize accountability and fail to promote treatment, recovery, and self-sufficiency—and holding grantees to higher standards of effectiveness in reducing homelessness and increasing public safety.” WHAT HAPPENED TO THE INITIAL FUNDING GUIDELINES? Following the release of the first set of guidelines in late 2025, a group of states and the NAEH filed lawsuits challenging the restrictions. In April, a federal appeals court upheld an injunction blocking HUD’s funding plan. According to the Justia Opinion Summary, the court reasoned HUD’s actions were “...arbitrary and capricious, and would cause irreparable harm by creating funding gaps and service disruptions to vulnerable populations,” essentially accusing HUD of throwing a wrench by revising the guidelines in the middle of the grant cycle. WHAT ARE THE NEW GUIDELINES? In the June Notice of Funding Opportunity, HUD clearly states its opposition to Housing First, calling it a “profound failure by any measure,” and claims to be “restoring the CoC program to its original goals of reducing homelessness and optimizing self-sufficiency by focusing on meaningful outcomes, expanding competition, prioritizing treatment, economic independence, and emphasizing law and order,” a description that points to the goals of temporary housing and supportive services. HUD has taken back the initial restrictions imposed on how much funding can go towards permanent housing, but seems poised to give favorable funding to projects focusing on job training, education, and healthcare. Perhaps the most significant update to the guidelines is the removal of the 30% cap on funding for permanent housing. Though there is no strict cap, in a quest for “balancing” between permanent housing and temporary housing and supportive services, HUD is making it likely that money is awarded to programs that reallocate funding to the latter projects. “85% of people in Housing First programs are successful within their first year in maintaining housing...” HUD, in another policy change, also dropped the annual renewal demand for Tier 1 programs, which are nearly guaranteed to receive funding, from 95% to 60%. This leaves many existing programs in Tier 2 limbo, where they may not be funded. Within Tier 2, new transitional housing and supportive services programs will be prioritized. So, if a program were to be ranked as Tier 2, its transition into temporary housing and services could earn it an edge in the competition, effectively encouraging programs in this tier away from long-term housing and a Housing First model. HUD has also outlined a variety of prescribed criteria that will factor into its funding decisions. These criteria, less prominent in NOFOs from the Biden-era, which focused more on Housing First, include meeting service requirements (20 hours of voluntary work for public benefit), and whether participants are achieving employment or returning to their housing programs. HOW WILL PROGRAMS MOVE FORWARD? In a recent meeting of homelessness service providers, leaders said that DC will continue to prioritize permanent housing projects, but some programs may transition to transitional housing or supportive services. The NAEH filed another lawsuit on 22 June, challenging the new guidelines, citing the more than “97,000 formerly homeless people, including families with children, those with disabilities, older adults, and veterans at risk of losing their permanent housing.” The lawsuit aims to block the guidelines before they can take effect in the grant application process. Representatives from the National Homelessness Law Center emphasized the stakes of these new guidelines in their press release on the new lawsuit: “Make no mistake, these changes mean more people will enter homelessness,” they wrote. Antonia Fasanelli, the executive director of the National Homelessness Law Center, demanded the administration’s cooperation while voicing her support of the lawsuit. “The Trump administration should focus on ensuring that everybody has the housing and support they need and want,” she wrote. Applications for funding are due to HUD by 24 August, and award announcements are expected by the end of December. Courtesy of Street Sense Media / INSP.ngo LISTENING WITH CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE: THE POWER SKILL WE NEED IN DIVIDED TIMES Story by Lucy Butters AS SOCIETIES BECOME MORE DIVIDED and polarised, we need people who can disagree without dismissing, challenge without alienating, and build relationships across differences. Whether we are talking about global leadership, intercultural competence, or inclusion, Cultural Intelligence (CQ) is the capability that sits at the heart of all of it. And one of the most overlooked ways that cultural intelligence transforms us is by making us better listeners. As the mother of triplet boys, I noticed that at primary school, my sons regularly brought home work on reading, writing, and presenting. There were no homework tasks about listening. Listening only seemed important if learning another language. That observation raises an important question. If listening is one of the most important skills for leadership, teamwork and inclusion, why do we spend so little time intentionally developing it? We often assume listening simply happens. It doesn’t. Listening is a learned behavior. Culture shapes who we listen to, how we listen, what we listen for, how we interpret words Image couresty of Lucy Butters DENVER VOICE AUGUST 2026 5
and silence, and even how quickly we expect people to respond. Like every aspect of Cultural Intelligence, listening can be intentionally developed. The pioneering work on cultural intelligence was started by Professor Soon Ang, at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, over two decades ago. She was driven to explore what the difference was between individuals and organisations who could relate and work well across differences and those that struggled. She found there were four capabilities that sit at the heart of working well across all cultural differences (be they about gender, race, nationality, profession, religion or politics). I discovered that work in 2013 and am now one of 10 cultural intelligence master facilitators in the world. For my book, Cultural Intelligence in Practice, I interviewed experts around the world to share insights into how we develop cultural intelligence in ourselves and others. Listening is key to my thinking on developing cultural intelligence, yet it is a word missing from the Cultural Intelligence assessment and development language. Listening is not a passive skill. It is a cultural one; one that we can intentionally enhance through developing each of the cultural intelligence capabilities. CQ DRIVE: CHOOSING CURIOSITY Listening begins with motivation. As interviewee Andrej Juriga said: “I listen carefully because they are telling me who they are, what matters to them... That helps me to build knowledge about a person so I can start planning for bridging the difference.” That captures CQ Drive perfectly. We choose to listen because we genuinely want to understand another person’s reality. In polarised societies, this can be transformative. We move from listening to win towards listening to learn. CQ KNOWLEDGE: RECOGNISING THAT LISTENING IS CULTURAL There is no universal way of listening. Culture influences: • who asks questions • who is expected to answer • what silence means • CQ Action means adapting how we listen, when we listen and how quickly people respond • what people pay attention to. A pause after a question might signal uncertainty or careful respect. Without cultural knowledge, we easily misinterpret what we hear, or indeed what we don’t hear. CQ STRATEGY: ASKING QUESTIONS THAT OPEN MINDS Listening and questioning are inseparable. All questions are useful sometimes. Repeatedly asking ‘why’ questions can be a good way of getting below the surface and understanding the root cause of a problem, particularly when that problem is mechanical or to do with systems, such as the systems in the body, for example. But it is not so great for understanding what is impacting our work relationships and group dynamics. Repeated ‘why’ questions often make people feel that they are having to justify themselves. Once people begin defending their position, they are less likely to be open to exploring the situation, and curiosity quickly disappears. Instead, start questions beginning with: • What... • When … • How... • Tell me about... • Describe... These questions invite exploration rather than defence. A memorable framework for crafting better questions is: ART. Aim — Why are you asking this question? Relationship — How will your relationship influence how it is heard? Timing — Is now the right moment? These three simple considerations help to create conversations where people feel heard rather than judged. CQ ACTION: LISTENING THAT BUILDS TRUST Ultimately, Cultural Intelligence is demonstrated through behaviour. who we listen to. It may mean becoming comfortable with silence. It may mean asking one clear question instead of running two or three together. It may mean resisting the temptation to solve someone else’s problem before fully understanding it. Nancy Kline’s work on creating thinking environments offers a powerful reminder that rushing to provide solutions can unintentionally ‘infantilise’ others. Deep listening and thoughtful questioning, by contrast, empower people to think, contribute and take ownership. Listening is not doing less. It is enabling others to do more. LISTENING MAY BE THE LEADERSHIP SKILL OF OUR TIME Listening is never neutral. It is shaped by our cultures, experiences, and assumptions. The good news is that it is also a capability that we can develop. In societies where disagreement increasingly becomes division, listening may be one of the most important capabilities that any leader, trainer, or educator can develop. As organizations grapple with inclusion, global collaboration and increasingly polarised conversations, we need the curiosity to understand, the knowledge to recognize difference, the strategy to ask better questions and the behavioral flexibility to adapt. In other words, we need cultural intelligence. If you want practical tools rather than theory, Cultural Intelligence in Practice offers dozens of immediately usable ideas for developing cultural intelligence in yourself and others. It was written particularly for trainers, facilitators, educators, OD & HR professionals. Cultural Intelligence in Practice by Lucy Butters (Right Book Press, £18.99) is out now. Courtesy of INSP.ngo HOMELESSNESS MYTHS CAN'T SURVIVE REAL CONVERSATION. Every time someone buys a paper from a Denver VOICE vendor, that's what happens. Not a transaction. A conversation. A moment where a Denverite sees past the myths and meets the person underneath, someone going through a hard stretch, trying to make it through. That's the whole model. Vendors earn 100% of what they sell. No handout, just a fair shot and a human connection. Buy a paper. Have a conversation. Change a mind. Keep fighting for those experiencing homelessness. BECOME A MONTHLY DONOR: 6 COLUMN
META AND THE BARKADA ALL OF LIFE IS A REMIX Meta and the Barkada offer their own unique flavor of hip-hop Photo courtesy of Meta and the Barkada META SARMIENTO is an awardwinning, world-traveling poet, rapper, and filmmaker. He is also the son of Filipino immigrants who grew up in Guam before relocating to Denver around a JOSHUA ABEYTA DENVER VOICE MUSIC REPORTER decade ago. As his love for culture and creativity continued to weave the threads of new possibilities, his desire to move with a crew became undeniable. “As I got older, I realized that one of the core aspects of my art is community, and there is no better example of community in action than a band, and I’ve always craved it,” said Sarmiento “We had some meaningful conversations around what direction we wanted to go in, and we all decided as a collective that we wanna do this for real, and that we believe in ourselves. We believe that our music can become the soundtrack to people’s lives, and it can also be the soundtrack to some revolutionary shit,” Sarmiento added. Thus, the Barkada was born. Barkada is Tagalog for “homies” or “chosen family,” and is derived from the Spanish root word barcada, which means boatload. The community that Sarmiento formed settled on the name after tossing around ideas, and with some help from the group’s extended family. Guitarist Tommy Gatmaitan said, “At first, the group chat was called Meta and the Mob. We were thinking we wanted to do something with that cadence, but with a different description. I went home and was talking to my wife, Nikki, about it. I [said], ‘They have all these words in Tagalog, and nothing really clicks’. And she said, ‘Oh, you guys are friends. Right?” Nikki’s suggestion was presented at the next rehearsal, and the name was quickly adopted by unanimous decision. With that settled, the group began to dig deeper. The band met primarily through their connections to the Filipino-American Community of Colorado, with most members performing in the organization’s Padayon, a traditional performance group. This cultural identity is strongly woven throughout the Barkada’s music as they incorporate traditional instruments such as the kulintang, a series of different-sized, knobbed brass or bronze gongs, and themes relating to Eskrima, the national martial arts of the Philippines, in addition to more modern instruments such as guitar, bass, keys, and drums. “I think the beautiful part of rap and hip-hop is [that] it comes from sampling,” said Lianza Yap, the group’s bassist. “And it comes from different genres. We’re realizing where our backgrounds can fit together into a band.” Sarmiento added, “I think we’re interested in answering the question, how does it look for us to take something traditional and make it modern? A lot of cultural groups, music, and choreography take this thing that existed in the past and present it like it’s a current occurring thing. So, I think it’s important to preserve cultural histories and dances and chants and songs, but I’m interested in what does it mean to innovate something culturally new? I think all life is a remix.” Hip-hop is not a monolith, with personalities and subgenres as vast and wide as the number of native tongues spoken globally. Sarmiento raps in both English and Tagalog, an indigenous language of the Philippines that serves as the basis for the standardized national language, Filipino. “I think for me, as one of the main writers of the lyrics, I’m trying to complicate the conversation around Asian Pacific Islander identity, and I’m just tired of things not being nuanced,” said Sarmiento. “I think that a lot of our histories and our uniqueness gets flattened, so that we can have these wide sweeping general conversations about who we are, where we come from, and where we go next. I also think that, you know, the world is fucked up, and we’re just also trying to bring some joy back into hip-hop.” While the Barkada is currently working on their debut studio album as a group, they have released a few live performance videos, and Sarmiento has ample recordings available on streaming platforms from his time as a solo rapper. Sarmiento’s lyrics are heartfelt, honest, witty, dynamic, and unapologetic, traits that are on full display in his video for “Good I Have”. The video, which reads as a short film depicting a dispatch from a far-flung leg of his travels, recalls the nostalgia of backpack hip-hop in the early aughts as he delivers his hopes and dreams through rhyme, snapshots, and … ice fishing. When performing live, Sarmiento possesses the stage presence of a grizzled veteran, paired with youthful energy that draws you in like a heat-seeking missile. The Barkada, consisting of Gatmaitan, Yip, Anthony Lopez Berenguel on drums, and Sarah Garcia on keys and kulintang, lays down infectious grooves and gives Meta the space to paint pictures with his words. The energy resonates throughout the group, and their love for one another is infectious. The group’s revolutionary ideals don’t stop when the curtain closes. They recently performed at a benefit show, which raised $700 for the Micronesia Climate Change Alliance. Sarmiento has been trained as an ICE confirmer and legal observer, and the group’s members have supported and continue to support and organize around Indigenous rights causes such as Standing Rock and Free Palestine. They see the struggles in both their homeland and here in America as undeniably intertwined with the struggles of other oppressed people across the globe, and they are using their music and actions to fight for justice here and abroad. Learn more at reachmeta.com DENVER VOICE NEWS 7
SETTING RECORDS, SAVING LIVES Thousands gather to celebrate organ donors and recipients Story and photos by Mariana Ortega Rivera 8
TGA mascots Blaze (far left) and Spark (far right) line up with Team Wisconsin mascot Mooracle and Denver Nuggets mascot, Rocky, to kick off the Transplant Games of America. 9
OR SIX DAYS IN LATE JUNE, the Colorado Convention Center turned into an Olympic-style event to host the Transplant Games of America, TGA. With its own village and competitive events scattered throughout downtown Denver, thousands of living donors, transplant recipients, and donor families gathered to raise awareness around organ donation. Colorado leads the nation in donor designation, with approximately 66% of residents registering their choice on driver’s licenses or IDs, compared to a national average of 49%. Despite these high registration rates, more than 1,300 Coloradans currently await a transplant. Multicultural communities comprise about 41% of that waiting list, with significant representation among Latino and Black/African American populations. One of the main events of the games was breaking the Guinness World Records for the most living donors and organ recipients gathered in one place at the same time. The record was broken Saturday, June 20, at the TGA Village, where 966 living donors and organ recipients were present for two hours. Beyond the record attempt, participants competed in swimming, track and field, pickleball, basketball, Youth Olympiad, and ballroom dancing. Non-athletic events included Texas Hold’em, trivia, and Lyrics for Life. However, TGA is more than the competition; for some, it showed what life is like after giving or receiving an organ. Others met their donor or donor’s family for the first time, and sponsors showed what their programs had to offer. PATIENT CARE AND UNHOUSED PATIENTS DaVita, a kidney care center, sponsored the games and also had two social workers participate in the CareDx 5K. Clinical social worker and living donor, Angela Laino, and division lead social worker and kidney recipient, Terry Weaver, stressed the importance of advocating for their patients. Both emphasized the role social workers play in navigating the complex landscape of transplant eligibility, particularly for unhoused patients. Weaver, who earned his master’s degree while undergoing dialysis, said he advocates that patients educate themselves about available resources. He noted that self-referral programs in markets like Georgia can help mitigate racial disparities by leveraging community support. “If someone is unhoused and they’re receiving renal or kidney treatment, you’ll work with your social worker,” Weaver said. “Most resources are eligibility-based … in Georgia, we have a lot of different opportunities and approaches, it can be a shelter, transitional housing, and then long-term housing.” Laino pointed out that stable housing and support systems are often prerequisites for transplant eligibility, barriers that disproportionately affect homeless individuals. “We don’t always realize we sometimes take for granted [that] we have support systems,” Laino said. “Some of our patients don’t, and it’s very important that they do have a support system because they need that, not only after the surgery, but also during the transplant process.” BIPOC RECIPIENTS AND DONORS People of color make up about 60% of the national transplant waiting list, but historically account for a lower percentage of registered donors. Organs are matched based on medical urgency, blood type, body size, and tissue compatibility, not race. However, genetic compatibility is often higher within similar ethnic groups. Nydia Gonzalez, a Denver Public Schools’ Early Childhood Education Head Start program teacher, found herself in the position of both advocate and donor after noticing that her student’s father was falling ill. Gonzalez said she started calling one of her students’ parents when the student’s attendance began to decline. A call from the mother revealed the father was sick, though details were scarce. Later, the parents called back with devastating news: the father was suffering from kidney failure. “You will never cry alone, because I’m a crier,” Gonzalez said. “Mom and Dad were both crying, and we sat down and talked.” Motivated to help, Gonzalez assisted the family in applying for emergency Medicare. But Gonzalez took it even further. She attended workshops with the National Kidney Foundation and learned about living donation. She underwent testing during spring break, packing a cooler with snacks and watching Netflix while waiting for results. When doctors cleared her to donate, she contacted her student’s dad, Norberto — whom she now considers a brother — to let him know that the last step was to find out if they were a match. Since Gonzales was older, she was not a match. Instead, Gonzalez’s kidney went to a woman in North Carolina, and Norberto’s kidney came from a man in Atlanta. All four surgeries took place on June 18, 2025. Although she did not save her student’s father directly, Gonzalez said the experience expanded her own family. Her former student’s father asked to call her mother “mom” because he now had a sister-in-law through the donation chain. “We have dinner at least once a month,” Gonzalez said. “We do things as a family.” Now recovering and active in her community, Gonzalez coaches soccer and a boys’ running team. The CareDx 5K was the fourth 5k she has run since she became a living donor. She uses her platform to encourage Latino communities to consider donation, noting that cultural hesitation can sometimes deter potential donors. “I feel that culturally Latinos are set in their ways,” Gonzalez said. “If you have an opportunity to make a difference and save a life, do it. Just get tested.” Transplant Games of America attendee writes her thoughts on whiteboard at TGA village, expressing what the transplant community means to her. 10 COMMUNITY PROFILE
FOUND FAMILY: ONE PERSON CAN HELP UP TO EIGHT LIVES FOR LARRY AND BETH SPARKS, the tragedy of losing their son Clayton to a ski accident in 2019 was compounded by grief. But through his decision to donate organs, the couple found an unexpected source of healing: a new family. Clayton’s liver was transplanted into Reid Gray, and his heart went to Jay Renshaw. What began as a medical necessity evolved into a deep, personal connection between the Sparks and the Grays. Because the donation to Gray was directed—the Sparks chose him as the recipient—the families lived relatively close to one another, just 45 minutes apart. “They’re like our adopted son and daughter,” Larry Sparks said. “They’ve brought a joy to us … that we wouldn’t have since Clayton was our only son.” The bond has allowed the Sparks to welcome Oliver and Kaylee, Reid and Abby Gray’s children, as their grandchildren. For Abby Gray, who wrote a children’s book about Clayton to help her sons understand their father as a “superhero,” the relationship has been transformative. “Without this family, life would be so different for us,” Beth Sparks said. “It brings us hope and happiness and joy that we didn’t think we would ever have again.” Renshaw, who received Clayton’s heart, described meeting the Sparks at the Transplant Games as “surreal.” “[Saying] thank you just isn’t enough,” Renshaw said. “I would love to have gone to have a beer with him.” Gray echoed those sentiments, noting the similarities he discovered between himself and Clayton. “I’d love to say thank you,” Gray said. “[My donor] was a wonderful guy.” For Kim Castellano, a heart recipient from Omaha, Nebraska, meeting Thomaree Holland, the 15-year-old daughter of her donor, offered a different kind of closure. Castellano, who had a congenital heart defect and underwent more than 30 surgeries in her lifetime, met Holland for the first time at the games. “It was bittersweet,” Holland said. “It was nice, though. Nice Nydia Gonzalez, a Denver Public Schools’ Early Childhood Education Head Start program teacher (right), dances with another CareDx 5k runner after completing the 5K race. to know my mom’s heart went to someone who could appreciate it.” Castellano noticed immediate connections between herself and her late donor, including a shared love for Chick-fil-A—a craving she developed only after her transplant. “I think about my donor every single day,” Castellano said. “She raised some beautiful children, and my hope is that I can somehow honor her by taking good care of this heart.” Medical professionals noted that technology played a crucial “They’ve brought a joy to us … that we wouldn’t have since Clayton was our only son.” role in these connections. XVIVO, a sponsor of the games, provided preservation technology that keeps hearts viable for longer periods, allowing organs to travel greater distances. This innovation helped bridge the gap between donors and recipients, expanding the pool of potential matches and enabling reunions like those seen at the games. “At XVIVO, our mission is that no one should die waiting for organs,” said Jenny, a medical professional with the company. “We’re excited about making our goal of no one dying waiting on an organ a reality.” DENVER VOICE AUGUST 2026 11
IN YOUR OWN WORDS Words from our vendors on their life and times, what they’re thinking and feelings, for their neighbors to know and share. Life Changed for Me When I Found the Denver VOICE! WHEN WE’RE YOUNG, it’s hard to imagine time slipping away from us, but in the blink of an eye, time has moved on. It’s hard for me to believe today that come January, I will have done something for 19 years because that will be the anniversary of when I first started vending the Denver VOICE newspaper. I had no education. I taught myself to read and write at 28. Before then, I only knew letters and vowels, so I learned to read by sounding out words (like when I saw a stop sign and sounded out St-o-p). I was a runaway at 15 years old, traveled all the way across the RAELENE JOHNSON DENVER VOICE VENDOR country, spent most of the next 40 years of my life homeless, never having a home for very long, and ended up on drugs. The longer you’re homeless, the less hope you have, and you can’t believe that you even deserve a good life. Being homeless on the streets, you lose yourself, or people look at you as if you could never do better. Or they’ll turn their heads away from you. You never know if you’ll even make it another day on the streets. You have no hope whatsoever. When no one wants to give you a chance, then you stay stuck in homelessness, helplessness, and uselessness. It’s a hard place to be when you’re in the streets because every single person needs at least one person to lift them up and give them hope. When I found the Denver VOICE, I was homeless, sleeping under a bridge in Boulder. Then, when I stopped by what used to be called Bridge House, there was a sign up on the bulletin board that said, “Be your own boss, work your own hours.” I asked the lady running the center what that meant, and she told me about the Denver VOICE. She explained that the VOICE had rules for vending the paper, but if I followed them, it would be a good opportunity. So, I went to the VOICE, where I signed on as an independent contractor. They gave me 10 free papers and told me once I sold those, I could come back and purchase more. (Vendors pay 50 cents for each paper, and we sell them for $2, keeping 100% of the profit.) In the first three months, I had trouble selling papers, so I asked my heavenly Father: if this was the job I needed to do, could He tell me how to talk to people? Almost 19 years later, I’ve been able to write for the Denver VOICE, which helps me earn additional income because vendors get paid when their writing is published. I was able to get off the streets and off drugs. I rented a room and now have my own home. I wouldn’t have been able to do without the kindness and generosity of the people who are reading this right now, who bought a paper from us vendors, giving us an opportunity to earn an income. It is up to the vendors what they do with the opportunity. I can’t believe I’ve been at the paper as long as I have. My badge number is 42, which means I’ve been there longer than most of the vendors. I’ve worked every single month for all these years. I would be devastated if the VOICE were to close — especially knowing that they tried their best and we couldn’t get any funding to keep the newspapers open. If there is no paper, the vendors can’t work. With government funding and resources so limited, a lot of good organizations like the VOICE are fighting to keep their doors open, too. I hope anyone reading this understands that the number of vendors we have always changes depending on the weather, the pandemic, or the different circumstances each vendor faces. I do not want my life to be a struggle now that I’m in my senior years, doing the paper. This paper has given me hope, confidence, self-worth, and self-esteem. I learned how to believe in myself because the VOICE gave me an opportunity. I tell people I would rather be vending the newspaper than holding up a sign that says, “Anything helps,” or walking up to someone and asking, “You got spare change?” to try to take care of my bills and keep me off the streets. That is what the voice has done for me. Thank you. 12 COLUMN
On a Positive Note SONDRA JEFFRIES DENVER VOICE VENDOR THERE WAS A TIME WHEN, for a short stint, I was homeless. My oldest son was young and was staying with my mom. I did what I had to do to get out of that situation, which meant moving to Kansas. Years later, when my youngest son, Wesley, was 5, we came back to Colorado for a visit. I wanted to show him just how good we have it by taking him to hand out pizza to the homeless. We met an old man, who was a United States veteran. He was resting under a bridge. He was so pleased by the pizza, but even more pleased when he looked up and saw an adorable little boy handing it to him. We chatted for a long time. He said he was homeless by choice, and that systemic norms were not his style. He talked about how the world gives him everything he needs. He discussed, in children’s terms, what freedom may mean—comparing it to being able to just open a fridge and choose what to eat, while he had just received a whole pizza. He asked about my life. He said I seemed stressed. I may have been. I studied his feet for a long time—the cracks and how black they were. When I got home, I drew a picture from memory, the best I could, and wrote a poem based on our conversation. De-Feet (my poem about the man) I saw a man lying in the street today, His feet were black, his hair was grey. He had the keenest smile I had ever seen, He seemed so peaceful, his posture so serene. As we talked, he told me of a life — A life of bondage, a life of strife. He said, “I was a prisoner of war, Locked up in my own mind, But they could not capture my thoughts; They were placed neatly undefined.” He said, “See, to you, freedom may mean opening your icebox and choosing what to eat. To me, it means lying here at night on this street. Do I own this street? No, but I have the option to lay. I have the stars as a nightlight and free energy in the day. I have plenty of time to pray and think; Someday this life as we know it will be gone in a blink.” Then he looked at me and said, “You seem very stressed, how do you do?” Then he asked me to propose that question to you. PUZZLES 7 PUZZLES COURTESY OF STREET WISE 1 5 6 3 5 9 8 4 1 4 5 4 7 9 4 Current Status of Homelessness in the Denver Metro Area THIS MONTH, I want to focus more specifically on what new data tell us about homelessness in the Denver metro area. This analysis is based primarily on the results of the 2006 Point in Time survey (PIT) and how they compare with the comparable report from January 2025. Once again, here’s a summary of DONALD BURNES VICE PRESIDENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS DENVER VOICE the major points in this survey. THE METRO AREA Although there were substantial reductions in many areas for which we should be very grateful, there are many more people still suffering from the ravages of homelessness. Our work is far from being done. It is important to remember that these numbers are based on a single-point-in-time survey conducted in late January each year. This year, according to the PIT, there were 9,950 people experiencing homelessness (PEH) across the Denver metro, a drop of about 8% from the previous year, including a 12.5% reduction in Denver. In addition, as Metro Denver Homelessness Initiative (MDHI) Executive Director Jason Johnson explained in a news release about the PIT, there was a 21% drop in the number of unsheltered individuals across the metro area last year. In comparison to 2024, people experiencing chronic homelessness, which is defined as having a disability and being unhoused for at least a year or having four episodes within a 12-month period, increased by 4.6%, and they constituted just about one-third of the total PEH population, according to the full-year Homelessness Management Information System (HMIS) report. Finally, almost half of the metro PEH had some success in housing, but more than half, some 18,300 people, felt no positive impact on their housing situation. While there is a reduction in overall homelessness and in the number of unsheltered PEH, there is a disturbing increase in people experiencing chronic homelessness. In addition, more than half of the total PEH population did not experience any housing improvement. Although we are making progress in responding to this crisis, we are falling well short of a fully successful conclusion to this tragedy. INDIVIDUAL COUNTIES IN THE METRO REGION Within the metro area, there are eight different jurisdictions that report separate PIT data. In terms of overall numbers of PEH, Denver leads the way in the reduction of numbers by decreasing its total of PEH by almost 1,000 people between the 2025 and 2026 PIT surveys, a 12.5% decrease. The previous year, Denver experienced a 18.9% increase over the 2024 count. In contrast, Aurora documented an increase of almost 33%. In addition, the percentage of unsheltered people decreased in four counties, including Denver and Aurora. In summary, the 8% reduction in overall homelessness across the region, the 12.5% reduction in Denver’s homelessness count, and Aurora’s 33% increase in homelessness were particularly noteworthy. Clearly, Aurora has a long way to go before showing any improvement. CONCLUSION In the MDHI news release announcing the 2026 PIT data, Johnson stated, “An 8% decrease across our region is a powerful indicator that our shift toward a truly coordinated, data-driven system is yielding results.” Cole Chandler, the recently appointed executive director of the Housing Stability Department in Denver (HOST), added, “Our strategies are working. Homelessness is down across Denver for the first time in nearly 10 years.” Overall, I agree with Johnson and Chandler. Having said that, we cannot, must not rest on our laurels. Although many of the area’s PEH are at least sheltered, we still have too many people who are still counted among those experiencing homelessness. We may have put our finger in the proverbial dike, but we are far from rebuilding the entire dam. There are still too many people in our communities and across the state, as well as nationally, who have negative attitudes towards those in our midst without safe and secure housing. Too many people in housing still regard “them” as somehow undeserving. We must change that; we must change the narrative. Our brothers and sisters need our support; they need adequate, safe, affordable, and accessible housing along with wraparound services that many require. It is up to all of us to ensure that happens. Donald Burnes has co-authored four books on poverty and homelessness, and has studied poverty and homelessness-related issues and policies for more than 40 years. Burnes joined the Denver VOICE board of directors in June of 2025. He received his bachelor’s degree from Princeton University, a master’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis, and a PhD from Columbia University Teachers’ College. 2 7 3 1 4 9 2 5 8 7 8 6 9 3 1 9 DENVER VOICE AUGUST 2026 13
WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITHOUT THE DENVER VOICE? This column is a place for Denver VOICE vendors to respond to questions from fellow vendors, our readers, and staff. RAELENE JOHNSON DENVER VOICE VENDOR If the VOICE doesn’t have the funding to print our newspapers, I would be without a job, and I wouldn’t be able to have the type of life I have now because of the paper. Anything that you could send in to help keep the paper going is very much appreciated, and it’s a tax write-off. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting my newspaper. JERRY ROSEN DENVER VOICE VENDOR I would try to get a job at a restaurant, busing tables, or some other type of work. I like working at the VOICE because you can set your own hours and days. Without the VOICE, I wouldn’t know what to do. SONDRA JEFFRIES DENVER VOICE VENDOR What would I do without the Denver VOICE? I don’t ever want to experience “doing” without the Denver VOICE! The truth is, this paper is the ONLY way and means for a lot of vendors here. If we lose the Denver VOICE, it’s essentially cutting off the voice and income of a big part of the Denver’s community. More donors need to step up! Thank you to the ones who do. It’s not enough. We need our community to say, “We love you, and you matter.” Instead of looking away. WAYNE EASTERLING DENVER VOICE VENDOR Without the VOICE, there’d be potential for me to go back to a homeless way of living, but I would need to find other programs that help me succeed in life. The Denver VOICE has helped me move into a better position in life. Without them, it would be worse. Well, I feel deeply that if the Denver VOICE didn’t exist, it wouldn’t be easy. The Denver VOICE has opened up income ZAKIYYAH BROOKS DENVER VOICE VENDOR opportunities for a lot of people like me, so I would probably not be as stable as I am now. REA BROWN DENVER VOICE VENDOR What would I do if was actually True, that the rescuer of the impoverished was defeated and through? Deleted, can’t read it, stampeded, boo hoo. A memory of energy left to dissipate in History. No more to be the hope many, the chance of any, a home of friendly, a place that should be and could be, Oh how ugly to see the end, after so little time again, my mind’s eye binds, ties, spins how did we sin to find this insurmountable trend again? Yet I was so close to a win, from a window an enemy snuck in and stabbed my heart and my hand I must run away as fast as I can to a today that understands my plan. But how much more can I stand? The young man is now an old man snow now needs to be sand. And only money can make me a Grand. If you can stomach everything that I’m praying I’m running out of paint on this canvas of Land. What else can I do, shall I do? That I have not tried before in my youth? Yet not far yonder flickers a door on my shoes lighting a path that’s a stab at my muse, maybe at last I can crash and defuse, after all, what do I have to lose? If you would like to help out a specific vendor by donating a few extra dollars, scan the QR code to make a payment through Venmo. Thank you! Please be sure to write your vendor’s name in the comments! SUMMER Wishlist Drop-offs are accepted Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., or by appointment. GENTLY-USED ITEMS NEEDED: • Men’s shoes or boots (sizes 8-12) • Men’s hoodies or light jackets (sizes L, XL, XXL) • Women’s hoodies or light jackets (sizes M, L, XL) • Fold-up umbrellas • Backpacks or carrier bags • Sleeping bags If you would like to help out a specific vendor by donating a few extra dollars, scan the QR code to make a payment through Venmo. Please be sure to write your vendor’s name in the comments. Thank you! NEW ITEMS NEEDED: • Socks • Toiletries (individual or travel-size) • Baseball caps • Chapstick, sunscreen • Bottled water @DenverVOICE 14
RESOURCE LIST MEDICAL / MENTAL HEALTH / DENTAL SERVICES ACS COMMUNITY LIFT: 5045 W. 1st Ave., Denver; https:// rentassistance.org DENVER HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER: 777 Bannock St.; https://www. denverhealth.org DETOX LOCAL: Features information including mental health and substance use resources specifically for the AAPI (American Asian and Pacific Islander) community; http://www.detoxlocal.com DRUG REHAB USA: Addiction hotline - 888-479-0446; Organizations that take Medicaid: http://www.drugrehabus.org/rehabs/ treatment/medicaid/united-states/colorado/denver HARM REDUCTION ACTION CENTER: 112 E. 8th Ave.; 303-572-7800; HIV/Hep C/ Gonorrhea/ Chlamydia testing available. Services are restricted to active IV Drug Users. Offers clean syringes to active users, as well as safety training on proper disposal of dirty syringes; M-F — 9am-12pm: http://www.harmreductionactioncenter.org INNER CITY HEALTH CENTER: 3800 York St.; Emergency walk-ins - 303296-1767; Dental — 303-296-4873; M-F - 8am-2pm 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, 800-359-9272; info@hepcconnection.org; https://www.viventhealth.org NATIONAL AIDS HOTLINE: 800-342-AIDS/800-344-7432 NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE: Text or call 988; https:// www.988lifeline.org NATIONAL RUNAWAY SAFELINE: 800-RUNAWAY/800-786-2929; https:// www.1800runaway.org RAPE ABUSE AND INCEST NATIONAL NETWORK: 800-656-HOPE; https:// www.rainn.org SALUD CLINIC: 6255 Quebec Pkwy, Commerce City; 303-697-2583, 970-484-0999; https://www.saludclinic.org/commerce-city STOUT STREET CLINIC: 2130 Stout St.; 303-293-2220; Clinic hours for new and established patients - M, T, Th, F - 7am-4pm, W - 9am6pm; https://www.coloradocoalition.org/healthcare SUBSTANCE ABUSE REHAB GUIDE: HELPLINE — 888-493-4670; https://www.detoxrehabs.net/states/colorado/ U.S. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE: 800-799-7233 (English and Spanish); 800-243-7889 (TDD); https://www.thehotline.org EMERGENCY SHELTER INDIVIDUALS IN NEED OF SHELTER ARE ENCOURAGED TO GO TO “FRONT DOOR” SHELTER ACCESS POINTS: • For individual men — Denver Rescue Mission Lawrence Street Community Center, 2222 Lawrence St. • For individual women — Samaritan House, 2301 Lawrence St. • For youth ages 15-20 — Urban Peak, 1630 S. Acoma St. • Families in need of shelter should call the Connection Center at 303-295-3366. ADDITIONALLY, DENVER PARKS AND RECREATION WILL OPEN ALL CURRENTLY OPERATING RECREATION CENTERS AS DAYTIME WARMING CENTERS DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS ON FRIDAY, NOV. 8 AND SATURDAY, NOV. 9, FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED A PLACE TO WARM UP. Denver Public Library locations are also available during regular business hours. Double-check library hours: denverlibrary.org/ locations. For more information about shelter access, visit denvergov.org/ findshelter or text INDOORS to 67283 for updates. DROP-IN DAYTIME CENTERS HAVEN OF HOPE: 1101 W. 7th Ave.; 303-607-0855; Mon.-Fri. 7am1pm. Private showers & bathrooms, laundry, lunch, etc; https:// www.thoh.org THE GATHERING PLACE: 1535 High St.; 303-321-4198; 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, etc; https://www.tgpdenver.org HARM REDUCTION ACTION CENTER: 231 East Colfax; Mon.-Fri. 9am12pm; 303-572-7800; Provides clean syringes, syringe disposal, harm-reduction counseling, safe materials, Hep C/HIV education, and health education classes; https://www. harmreductionactioncenter.org LAWRENCE STREET COMMUNITY CENTER: 2222 Lawrence St.; 303-2940157; day facility, laundry, showers, restrooms, access to services FOR INDIVIDUALS IN DENVER EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR FINANCIAL INSTABILITY. DENVERVOICE.ORG/RESOURCE-LIST https://www.homelessassistance.us/li/lawrence-street-communitycenter OPEN DOOR MINISTRIES: 1567 Marion St.; Mon.-Fri. 7am-5:30pm. Drop-in center; bathrooms, coffee/tea, snacks, resources, WIFI https://www.odmdenver.org T. FRANCIS CENTER: 303-297-1576; 2323 Curtis St. 6am-6pm daily. Storage for one bag (when space is available). Satellite Clinic hoursMon., Tues., Thurs, Fri. 7:30am-3:30pm; Wed. 12:30-4:30pm https://www.sfcdenver.org SENIOR SUPPORT SERVICES: 846 E. 18th Ave. For those 60+. TV room, bus tokens, mental/physical health outreach, and more. https:// www.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. https://www.soxplace.com THE SPOT AT URBAN PEAK (YOUTH SERVICES): 2100 Stout St. 303-2910442. Drop-in hours Mon.-Fri. 8-11am. YOUTH AGED 15-20 IN NEED OF IMMEDIATE OVERNIGHT SHELTER SERVICES: 303-974-2928 https://www.urbanpeak.org/denver/programs-andservices/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 https://www. urbanpeak.org FREE MEALS CAPITOL HEIGHTS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: 1100 Fillmore St., Sat. lunch at 11:30am; https://www.capitolheightspresbyterian.org CAPITOL HILL COMMUNITY SERVICES: https://www.mealsforpoor.org CATHEDRAL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION: 1530 Logan St.; sandwiches & coffee Mon.-Fri. 8:30am; https://www. 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; https:// www.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); https://www.christinthecity.org CITYSQUARE DENVER: 2575 S. Broadway; 303-783-3777; Food pantry Tues. 10am-6pm; https://www.citysquare.org CAPITOL HILL COMMUNITY SERVICES: 1820 Broadway (in front of Trinity United Methodist Church); Hot meals served M, T, Th., F - 11:45-12:15; https://www.mealsforpoor.org DENVER RESCUE MISSION: 1130 Park Avenue West; 303-294-0157; 3 meals 7 days/week, 5:30am, 12pm, 6pm; https://www. denverrescuemission.org HAVEN OF HOPE: 1101 W. 7th Ave.; 303-607-0855; M-F. 7am-1pm. Not open weekends; Breakfast is at 8am, lunch is served at 11am; https://www.havenofhope.org HARE KRISHNA TEMPLE: 1400 Cherry St., free vegetarian feast on Sun., 6:45-7:30pm; https://www.krishnadenver.com HIS LOVE FELLOWSHIP CHURCH: 910 Kalamath St.; Community dinner on Thurs., 6-6:45pm, Men’s breakfast 1st Sat. of the month, 8-10am, Women’s breakfast 2nd Sat., 9-11am; https://www.hislovefellowship. org HOLY GHOST CATHOLIC CHURCH: 1900 California St.; Sandwiches, M-Sat., 10-10:30am; https://www.holyghostchurch.org OPEN DOOR MINISTRIES: 1567 Marion St.; 303-830-2201; Sat. morning breakfast: 8am, Sun. dinner (required church attendance at 4:30pm); meal served at 6pm; https://www.odmdenver.org/home ST. ELIZABETH’S: Speer Blvd. & Arapahoe St. on Auraria Campus, 7 days/week, 11:00am; Food, coffee; https://www.stelizabethdenver. org ST. FRANCIS CENTER: 2323 Curtis St., Wed. & Fri. 3-4:30pm (except third Wed. of each month); https://www.sfcdenver.org SAME CAFÉ: 2023 E. Colfax Ave; 720-530-6853;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; https://www.soallmayeat.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.; https://www. voacolorado.org/gethelp-denvermetro-foodnutrition-themission LGBTQ+ SUPPORT THE TREVOR PROJECT: 866-488-7386: https://www.thetrevorproject. org LGBT NATIONAL YOUTH TALKLINE: 800-246-7743: https://www. lgbthotline.org/youth-talkline PRIDE INSTITUTE: 800-547-7433 TRUE COLORS UNITED: 212-461-4401, https://www.truecolorsunited. org VETERANS & SENIORS DENVER INNER CITY PARISH: 1212 Mariposa St.; 303-322-5733; VOA Dining Center for Seniors, aged 60 and older, W-Sat. 9am-12pm; Food Bank, W-F; Tickets at 9am, food bank open 10am-12pm; dicp. org SENIOR SUPPORT SERVICES: 846 E. 18th Ave.; For those aged 60 or older; TV room, bus tokens, mental/physical health outreach, 3 meals, M-F -7am-7pm; Sun. 11am-4pm; https://www. seniorsupportservices.org VA MEDICAL CENTER: 1700 N Wheeling St.; Aurora 303-399-8020: https://www.va.gov/findlocations/facility/vha_554A5 VETERANS GUIDE: https://www.veteransguide.org; Veterans Disability Calculator https://www.veteransguide.org/va-disabilitycalculator YOUTH SERVICES SOX PLACE (YOUTH SERVICES): 2017 Larimer St.; 303-296-3412Daytime drop-in shelter for youth 12-30; Meals, socks, clothing bank, personal hygiene supplies, internet access, intentional mentoring and guidance, crisis intervention, referrals to other services. T-F - 12-4pm & Sat. 11am-2pm. Instagram: @ Soxplace THE SPOT AT URBAN PEAK (YOUTH SERVICES): 2100 Stout St. 303-2910442; Youth aged 15-20 in need of immediate overnight shelter services, 303-974-2928; Drop-in hours Mon.-Fri. 8-11am https:// www.urbanpeak.org/denver/programs-and-services/drop-incenter SUNSHINE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (YOUTH SERVICES): 833-931-2484; Services for youth facing substance abuse, addiction, mental health disorders, or a combination of these conditions; https://www. sunshinebehavioralhealth.com URBAN PEAK (YOUTH SERVICES): 730 21st St., Denver; 303-974-2900; Ages14-24; Serving Denver & Colo Springs; Overnight shelter, food, clothing, showers, case workers, job skill/straining, ID and birth certificate assistance, GED assistance, counseling and housing; https://www. urbanpeak.org DENVER VOICE AUGUST 2026 15 4 8 9 2 7 6 5 3 1 1 5 6 8 3 4 7 9 2 3 2 7 9 1 5 4 8 6 5 7 8 1 6 3 9 2 4 9 3 2 4 8 7 6 1 5 6 1 4 5 9 2 3 7 8 8 6 5 3 2 9 1 4 7 2 4 3 7 5 1 8 6 9 7 9 1 6 4 8 2 5 3
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