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2
SUGGESTED
DONATION
@DenverVOICE
VENDING WITH
RAELENE PAGE 3
CHARTING A
NEW
COURSE
‘WHEN YOU T Y
SOMEONE’S ABILITY TO
GET A JOB THERE IS
NO CHOICE.’ PAGE 6
‘
S
HEALTHCARE ON
THE STREETS
SERVING AS A FREE CLINIC,
THIS VAN IS A STATE-OF-THEART
MEDICAL FACILITY.
PAGE 8
AN AMERICAN
TRAGEDY
ISRAEL BAYER RECOUNTS
TIMES HIS WORK WITH
INSP HAS INTERSECTED
WITH TRAGIC STORIES OF
DEATH ON THE STREETS.
PAGE 10
ETHICAL DILEMMA
U.S. PLANS INVOLUNTARY
TREATMENT TO TARGET
HOMELESSNESS, MENTAL
ILLNESS, AND ADDICTION.
PAGE 11
VOICES OF
OUR COMMUNITY
PAGES 4, 12
EVENTS / PUZZLES
PAGE 13
RESOURCES
PAGE 15
MARCH 2023 | Vol.28 Issue 3
SINCE 1997, WE HAVE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO WORK. DONATE TODAY TO ENSURE OUR VENDORS CONTINUE TO HAVE JOBS. (DENVERVOICE.ORG)
FROM YOUR VENDOR:
CREDIT: GILES CLASEN
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DENVER VOICE VENDOR Jerry Rosen
was visiting family outside
of
ELISABETH MONAGHAN
MANAGING EDITOR
Colorado when we published our
January issue. Because he was
traveling, he wasn’t around to
answer our Ask a Vendor for that
month, which was when vendors
shared stories of their favorite
jobs. So, for our March issue, I
asked Jerry what he’d like our “Ask
a Vendor” question to be, and he
suggested we ask vendors about
their hobbies.
Since coming to work for the VOICE, I’ve had to confront
my biases towards individuals experiencing homelessness. I
know folks who read and support the Denver VOICE are aware
of common assumptions people hold about the unhoused. But
some of us don’t realize that like any other members of society,
those experiencing homelessness are individuals with their
own memories, dreams, and pastimes. Many have jobs they go
to each day. They also have unique hobbies, just like the rest of
us, which is why I’m glad Jerry suggested this month’s question.
When driving past a gated community, it’s easy to make
general assumptions about the people living behind the
guarded gates, just like it is when driving past tent cities or
queues of people waiting for their turn to get a meal or secure a
shelter bed for the night.
I always appreciate when vendors come up with the question
for Ask a Vendor because it gives them a chance to talk about
themselves and share those things that interest them, concern
them, or bring them joy. It also is a reminder that many of us
may have been born into better circumstances, but we are no
better than and not-so-different from those experiencing
housing instability. ■
DENVERVOICE.ORG
CE.ORG
@deeOCE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
James Kay
MANAGING EDITOR
Elisabeth Monaghan
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Connie Gaitan
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Hannah Bragg
THIS MONTH’S
CONTRIBUTOR
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.
GILES CLASEN is a freelance
photojournalist who regularly
contributes his work to the VOICE
for editorial projects, fundraisers,
and events. He has also served on
the VOICE’s Board of Directors.
VOLUNTEER COPY EDITORS
Aaron Sullivan
Laura Wing
ARTISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS
Breez
Giles Clasen
Connie Gaitan
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.
WRITERS
Lando Allen
Rea Brown
Giles Clasen
David Gordon
Stephanie Rogers
Jerry Rosen
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Nikki Lawson, President
Chris Boulanger, Vice President
Jeff Cuneo, Treasurer
Zephyr Wilkins, Secretary
Albert Bland
Donovan Cordova
Raelene Johnson
Jennifer Seybold
Julia Watson
Cabal Yarne
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
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.
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 March 2023
STAFF
CONTRIBUTORS
BOARD
CONTACT US
׉	 7cassandra://2JgfBJ-u5GanLw78CFIbA3ZCK4HUN3BKBs3CdOXmxBU"`` cw&M7_׉EPROGRAM UPDATE
VENDING
WITH
RAELENE
BY ELISABETH MONAGHAN
AS THE PROGRAM COORDINATOR for the Denver VOICE, Connie
Gaitan spends her days greeting vendors, distributing papers
and any Venmo payments vendors haven’t picked up, and
checking in with vendors that haven’t been by the office in a
while. When vendors are looking for services related to mental
or physical health, food, shelter, or other critical resources,
Gaitan connects them to providers who can help. Gaitan loves
her work and interacting with vendors who stop by, but as she
was stepping into her role as program coordinator, Gaitan
expressed how important it was to spend time with vendors
while they were out vending the VOICE.
Gaitan participated in her first “vending adventure,” when
she accompanied Denver VOICE Vendor Raelene Johnson on
a recent visit to Downtown Denver.
“I didn’t realize how much of an impact the COVID-19
pandemic had on the 16th Street Mall,” said Gaitan. “So many
businesses have closed, and the Mall is now pretty deserted.”
Johnson also commented on how different foot traffic on
PHOTOS: CONNIE GAITAN
the 16th Street Mall is compared to the last time she vended
downtown. “I was shocked at how empty it was,” Johnson said.
“The last time I was down here was for the Big Sell* in February
2020, but now, it’s really depressing.”
While Johnson expressed disappointment in seeing how
little traffic there was along the 16th Street Mall, she enjoyed
interacting with those she saw while she and Gaitan were out.
“There were some kids visiting from Canada, who wanted to
hear my story, so I told them about my years of being addicted
to drugs while sleeping under a bridge in Boulder, Colo,” said
Johnson. “They wanted to know more about street papers and
bought a paper from me to take back home.”
According to Gaitan, Johnson also spoke to a man who
overheard her on the 16th Street MallRide talking about the
VOICE and was inspired by her story. “The man explained that
he was a neuroscientist and was interested in learning more
about Raelene, the Denver VOICE program, and finding out
how he could contribute to the organization,” said Gaitan. Gaitan
also said she looks forward to the next time she can join Denver
VOICE vendors when they vend the paper.
Johnson said she appreciated Gaitan’s interest in the vendors’
work. “It means a lot to the vendors to have support from
Denver VOICE staff,” said Johnson. “Connie does good such
great work at the office, but it’s nice to have her out there seeing
what it’s like for us,” she said. “If any of our readers or supporters
would like to experience what it’s like to vend the paper, they
should call the VOICE office, and we can set something up.” ■
The Big Sell is an event held in different cities with street papers,
where local celebrities, business owners, and community leaders
team up with vendors to experience firsthand what it’s like to vend
street papers. The VOICE has not participated in the Big Sell since
2020 but plans to participate in 2024.
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.
March 2023 DENVER VOICE 3
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WISH LIST
Drop-offs are accepted Monday through Friday,
9 a.m. - 1 p.m., or by appointment.
NEW ITEMS NEEDED:
Socks
Toiletries (individual or travel-size)
Toothpaste, deodorant, chapstick
Bottled water
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
END-OF-WINTER DONATIONS
MADE EASY
During the winter, Denver VOICE vendors
experience increased heating and housing
costs. Meanwhile, their income decreases
because cold temperatures means less
foot traffic and fewer paper sales.
If you would like to help out your 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!
What do YOU want to ask?
If you have a question or issue you would like vendors to discuss, please email community@denvervoice.org.
@DenverVOICE
4 DENVER VOICE March 2023
LANDO ALLEN
I would love to finish working on my music and get my
art going more. Then, I’d start to work on building a
houseboat and a motorbike.
DAVID GORDON
I have a lot of interests in many things, but I would say
sports is my main hobby. I participated in sports many
years ago, but at this stage of my life, I am passionately
following basketball, keeping up with team rosters,
standings, and players, as well as watching game
recaps for most of the games.
STEPHANIE ROGERS
I love crafting and creating art. I’m huge on building
computer systems, and I love cooking barbeque and
swimming and jet skiing.
JERRY ROSEN
A hobby can be different for each individual. One of my
hobbies is traveling to different places – seeing my
relatives and other people I know.
I also like to read science books about different aspects
of space, and I like to help people, also.
A
REA BROWN
My favorite hobby is scribbling sloppy
on the walls at a friend’s house while they’re preparing
for a children’s party
or sticking smiley stickers on skull-covered Harleys
buying spray paint and showing the world I’m arty
going to an all you can eat restaurant
and leaving just as hearty
running a yellow light and handicap parking
falling asleep in a movie when it’s
just starting
being told “you have to go, this place is closing”
refusing to leave refusing to be frozen
I’m joking,
leaving coming back when it’s open
hoping nobody dies in the bathroom smoking
just coping,
yea that’s my hobby
JUST COPING,
along with laughing at some spoken word, spoken.
But truthfully, I mean honestly.
with a straight face without a grin that you can see
My favorite hobby is counting money
but it’s been hard to sleep that comfortably on the streets
around junkies
but if you would like to support my hobby,
feel free to VENMO me today before 11
and don’t forget to add the tag in the comment section
VENDOR REA BROWN 657
ASK A VENDOR
THIS COLUMN IS A PLACE FOR DENVER VOICE VENDORS TO
RESPOND TO QUESTIONS FROM OUR READERS AND STAFF.
THIS MONTH’S ASK A VENDOR CAME FROM DENVER VOICE VENDOR JERRY ROSEN.
What are your hobbies?
Q
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CREDIT: GILES CLASEN
CHARTING A
NEW COURSE
BY GILES CLASEN
PAUL IS A MAN WHO CAN’T ESCAPE HIS PAST, even as he pushes
to move forward and climb out of homelessness.
“I’ve got a lot of regrets,” Paul said. “You know, going back,
looking back doesn’t do you any good. You got to keep on
keeping on, but it isn’t easy when those regrets of your past
keep getting in the way of any possible future.”
The mistakes that keep him trapped and without options
are two felony convictions. These limit his opportunities to
find a job and housing.
Paul said the first strike against him was because of alcohol.
He started drinking at a young age, and his habit grew slowly,
becoming a problem before he realized what was happening.
He joined the Army in 1984, right out of high school and
worked his way up the ranks. He joined the Special Forces
at the beginning of the Gulf War in 1990, and he didn’t like
what he saw in the United States, once he was deployed.
“The United States runs around the world claiming to
do good, but I saw it. I saw us imposing our will on other
countries,” Paul said. “We’re actually the terrorists of the
world, in a lot of ways. We’re going around the world taking
CREDIT: GILES CLASEN
6 DENVER VOICE March 2023
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what we want and not caring about the costs on other people.”
By the time Paul returned to Fort Bragg in North Carolina,
he was drinking more, and he got a DUI.
“They took my security clearance right away. I had a top
secret they pulled because they can’t trust a drunk. I don’t
blame them for that,” Paul said.
He left the military because he felt his career in the Army
was over.
Not long after, Paul and his wife split. They were fighting
constantly and Paul felt isolated, away from his family in
Los Angeles.
“My wife and I were arguing so much. I just said, ‘I’m
taking off.’ I had to leave my wife, or things were going to
get much, much worse, real bad for all of us. I didn’t want my
little children seeing that.”
Paul moved to Denver to live with family. At this point,
Paul believes he had become a full-blown alcoholic. He
was arrested after an altercation for felony menacing and
attempted assault.
According to Paul, he
threatened someone in an
altercation to defend himself. He didn’t touch or take a
swing and walked away. But the threat was all that mattered.
Those few words were seen as acts of violence by the court.
He spent three years in jail and on parole. During that
time, he gave up alcohol and tried to chart a new course. He
said he didn’t have any troubles during those three years, but
the damage was done and he had two felonies on his record.
“Bam! They put a black cloud over me. I tried to find a decent
job, I tried to pay my own way,” Paul said. “I wanted to work
hard, but nobody would hire me after that. Nobody would
give me a chance. I was living in a whole new world where
every door was shut to me with those felony convictions.”
Paul said his new reality had little to no opportunities and
ultimately condemned him to the streets.
The felonies have prevented him from finding a job. No
one would hire him. The felonies also have prevented him
from finding housing. No one wanted to take a risk renting
to a person who had been convicted of a violent crime.
“My only option is Section 8 and government support.
When you take away someone’s ability to get a job there is
no choice. The government has to pay to support them, to
house them, and to feed them,” Paul said.
Paul would like to go back to work and create purpose
for himself. He doesn’t like the idle time on the streets. He
doesn’t like having frostbitten toes in the winter and facing
heat stroke in the summer. He would like a home with walls
and a roof to replace his makeshift tent.
But he is running out of hope.
“I’m healthy,” Paul said. “I’m 57 years old. I can work if
someone would give me a chance and give me a job. But that
felony, I don’t know. I don’t know if I’ll be stuck here the rest
of my life.” ■
MARCH MADNESS
BRACKET CHALLENGE
1ST PLACE - $500
2ND PLACE - $250
3RD PLACE - $100
$25 PER ENTRY
SCAN HERE TO ENTER!
CONTACT JAMES@DENVERVOICE.ORG FOR QUESTIONS
CREDIT: GILES CLASEN
March 2023 DENVER VOICE 7
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“SOME PEOPLE JUST WANT TO HAVE A CHAT,” SAYS DR HARRISON, “AND THAT LEADS US TO GIVING THEM A TREATMENT.”PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BIG ISSUE AUSTRALIA / INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF STREET PAPERS
MEDICS ON WHEELS:
PROVIDING HEALTHCARE TO
PEOPLE ON THE STREETS
BY DANIEL NOUR
BLACKTOWN IS TEEMING WITH PHARMACIES, GP clinics, medical
centers, and all the requisite facilities of health care. On
Blacktown Road, they’re hard to miss, and just two minutes
away stands Blacktown Hospital, a major in-patient care
facility of Sydney’s western suburbs.
But on this cold Saturday, it’s not the town center but
Blacktown’s Alpha Park that plays host to a mobile medical
service for people experiencing life on the margins. A van serves
as a free clinic, with a row of folding chairs in its waiting room.
Needles, vaccines, dressings, electrocardiography, ultrasound
machines, cannulas, and all manner of medications, including
antibiotics, penicillin, blood thinners, and other prescriptions,
line the walls of the van. This is not some no-frills sick bay for
casual care; this is a state-of-the-art, fully equipped medical
facility that happens to be parked next to a tennis court.
The brainchild of 27-year-old Dr. Daniel Nour, the 2022
Young Australian of the Year (who, providentially, shares my
name), Street Side Medics is here to support anyone needing
medical care and health advice.
Rose, a Mauritian woman in her sixties, with a wide smile
and a calm voice, has just had a consultation.
“I have high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol,” she
said. “The quality of care here is top. Everyone is welcome and
they see everyone the same. Here you are welcomed with a
smile like a family and, before they give you medication, they
check what is going on first and ask about your story.”
This van is one of two – with a third on the way – that
services communities in Blacktown, Parramatta, Manly,
Woolloomooloo,
Surry Hills, Hornsby,
and,
shortly,
Wollongong. The beauty of being on wheels meant a van could
also be sent to Lismore to assist during the flood crisis.
“When I looked at all the different challenges [in Sydney]
the solution I thought of was…taking the service to them,
removing as many barriers as we can,” said Dr. Nour, who
launched the service in 2020. The idea was planted a year
earlier when, walking home after his shift at Imperial College
London’s School of Medicine, he stopped to help a man having
a seizure. When he asked one of the man’s friends why he hadn’t
sought medical care earlier, she explained he would “never be
taken seriously” in a hospital, because he was homeless.
“That really slapped me in the face,” he said. “The [Australian]
healthcare system is one of the best in the world... Our system
is, however, under some stress and is tailored to the majority of
our population. It is not tailored to minority populations. This
includes the homeless population.”
Street Side Medics overcomes these barriers to access by
taking its vans to the people themselves, working with existing
community organizations. Here today, One Meal is loading
up plates as well as offering fruit and other items, including
blankets and teddy bears for children. They’re staffed by
volunteers, young and old, and from all ethnicities. Other
community groups, such as the Hare Krishna movement, have
also set up food stalls in the park.
It’s a system that works for Rose. “I come here every Saturday,
and [the first time] I came for the food service,” she said. “It’s
good because when you go to the medical center you have to
wait, but here you can have quick service.”
The vans are run by two teams of volunteers. Outside the van,
a social worker and other health professionals approach people
about their health concerns. Inside the van, a GP and a nurse
wait to see the patients.
“What we do outside the van, talking to people, is just as
important as what we do inside,” said David Ballhausen, Street
Side Medics CEO. “What the doctors love is that they can take
their time. Nobody is counting the minutes.”
Today, he is particularly worried about a young woman
with a recurring health issue, who’s here with her partner.
“She had some serious blood results but as she has some
addiction issues, now is not a good time,” he said hurriedly.
“With situations like that, you don’t give up, so I’ve offered
to pick them up or, as an alternative, to come to our clinic in
8 DENVER VOICE March 2023
׉	 7cassandra://wyxsUOFdkJffnc1sJtNdGogVQfnjIBPM1VnGm5FCUkc(=` cw&M7e׉EINTERNATIONAL STORY
PAGE TITLE
Parramatta tomorrow night. [I said to him], ‘Come on down
man, we need to see your partner.’”
It’s the precarity of people’s living situations that makes
ongoing care difficult, despite Street Side Medics’ informal,
walk-in, “come as you are” approach.
“People are couch surfing or living in temporary
accommodation, and some have social housing,” Ballhausen
said. You can sense his deeper frustration with the systemic
challenges people experiencing homelessness face every day to
access their most essential needs.
Access to bulk billing, capacity for travel to medical clinics,
the cost of specialist consults, documentation requirements,
stigma, embarrassment, and a rigidly structured appointment
system are just some of the roadblocks that the Street Side
Medics team is trying so hard to veer around.
“The assumption many of us carry around in our heads is
DR HARRISON GARRETT, ROSE AND NURSE KAHLI SILVER. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE
BIG ISSUE AUSTRALIA / INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF STREET PAPERS
that primary health care is really accessible, and yet what we’re
seeing is how it’s becoming harder and harder to get,” Ballhausen
said. “So, you peer into communities, see where they are ready to
gather, and say it’s free and no appointment required. You don’t
need to tell us who you are let alone have a Medicare card.”
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler recently
acknowledged that “primary care is in its worst shape
since Medicare began”, with basic health care becoming
increasingly unaffordable, especially for those on low
incomes or with complex conditions. According to the
Department of Health and Aged Care, only 35% of specialist
consultations were bulk billed in 2020-21, with less affluent
people disproportionately affected by these fees.
For Dr. Shanthini Seelan, who has been practicing for 25
NURSE KAHLI SILVER CHATS WITH ANTHONY. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BIG
ISSUE AUSTRALIA / INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF STREET PAPERS
years, the visa status of some of her patients prohibits their
access to Medicare. At her regular practice in the Sydney
suburb of Toongabbie, five different languages are spoken and
the clinic is focused on refugee health for Afghan, Sri Lankan,
and Iranian arrivals.
“I just saw a Sri Lankan refugee,” said Dr. Seelan. “He had a very
swollen hand and he doesn’t have access to GPs. It was quite
painful for him. “He’s been living here for 12 years. I’ve asked him
to come and see me. In Western Sydney, we are very multicultural
and we have wall-to-wall GPs that do pro bono care.”
Like some of the other doctors who volunteer their time with
Street Side medics, Dr. Seelan came across the service through
news reports.
“I read an article by Dr. Daniel and I was blown away. He is a
visionary,” she said.
“Dr. Daniel said that you start with sympathy, then empathy
and then you go to compassion. Everyone here has the right
to decent, safe health care,” she said in a rare moment of quiet
between patients.
“We don’t judge, and even if it’s a stop-gap or a bandaid
ROSE CONSULTS WITH DR HARRISON IN THE VAN. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BIG
ISSUE AUSTRALIA / INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF STREET PAPERS
solution, if it makes your life a little better, then that’s why we’re
here. Our patients need someone in their corner who doesn’t
judge and who gives them the help they need.”
Looking around today, it’s clear that there is a sense of
community. A young girl is playing on a swing, volunteers are
laughing, pouring hot drinks, or serving up plates, and the
patients themselves are unhurried, waiting near or around the
van while eating or chatting.
It’s a system that the Street Side team plans to roll out
nationwide. “Within five years we’ll be in every capital city
and every population center,” Dr. Ballhausen said. “We will
demonstrate what is possible.” ■
Daniel Nour is an Egyptian Australian writer and journalist
whose writing has been featured in the New York Times, SBS Voices,
Meanjin Quarterly, and Eureka Street. In 2020, he won the New
South Wales Premier’s Young Journalist of the Year Award.
Courtesy of The Big Issue Australia / International Network of
Street Papers
SIENNA AND HER MOTHER, AYESHA. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BIG ISSUE
AUSTRALIA / INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF STREET PAPERS
March 2023 DENVER VOICE 9
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DEATH ON THE STREETS: AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY
BY ISRAEL BAYER
IN THE WINTER OF 2017, Portland, Oregon was hit with an
unusually long ice storm. It would be deadly for people
experiencing homelessness. Four people would tragically die
of exposure. An older woman would walk into a downtown
parking garage and die an agonizing death alone in the
unforgiving storm. Another victim froze to death at a bus stop,
only blocks away from a family member’s home. The third and
fourth victims died alone in the doorway of a local business
and in a densely wooded area of the city.
If that wasn’t enough, another homeless woman gave birth
to a stillborn child in the freezing rain that dreadful week. After
giving birth, presumably alone, the woman was found by police
completely distraught and cradling her deceased child. She was
homeless and experiencing a mental health collapse. It was
more than devastating.
A local reporter was interviewing me about the deaths.
Did I know any of the victims that died? Has Portland ever
seen anything like this? What was it really going to take to
prevent these kinds of deaths on the streets in our community?
Did I have thoughts…?
My mind went blank. I didn’t have any answers.
“Israel, are you there,” the reporter asked.
“Yes, I’m here.”
“Are you OK?”
“Can I call you back?”
“Absolutely, but I’m on deadline.”
It’s hard to describe what homelessness does to the people
experiencing it, their families, their friends, and the people
working on the front lines of poverty.
The trauma of homelessness is more than overwhelming.
Reality is distorted. Logic is rare. Life is primal. There is nothing
remotely rational about the circumstances of homelessness in,
the USA, one of the richest countries in the world.
Every time I wrote a story about someone who passed away
on the streets, I would tell myself that the more stories like these
are read, the more the public and/or government might want to
take action to support housing justice in our community. Most
days though, I wasn’t so sure.
I had spent the better part of that week working on a story,
including doing interviews with the family of one of the
victims who had frozen to death on the streets. I was hoping
to provide a snapshot of the harsh reality the families of people
experiencing homelessness face when a loved one on the streets
passes away and why we should be prioritizing more affordable
housing in our community. Unfortunately, it was a story I had
written before.
At the last minute, the family decided they didn’t want the
story of their father and husband to be told through the lens of
a human being freezing to death homeless on the streets. While
I was disappointed with the family’s decision to not talk to me
on the record, I certainly couldn’t blame them.
If I was honest with myself, I’m not sure I would have wanted
a reporter presenting the legacy of my father or son through
this lens either, regardless of how thoughtful the writer might
have been. What a painful experience.
Having worked on the streets for the previous two decades,
the amount of trauma and death I had witnessed and reported
on over the years had shaken me to the core. I had spent many
sleepless nights at the bedsides of people on the streets that
found themselves on the edge of death. Pneumonia. Heart
attacks. Drug overdoses. Burn victims. Attempted deaths by
10 DENVER VOICE March 2023
know anything about depression. I didn’t know he was bipolar,
then eventually paranoid schizophrenic. I found out about
other mental disorders James was facing after I Googled all the
medication found in his backpack after his death. There were
voices in his head that wouldn’t leave him alone. Mental health
and addiction took hold of his life and held him until his very
last breath. Then, it was God that took him home.”
“The average person doesn’t always know how to deal with
addiction and mental disorders,” said Krista. “We feel stricken
with fear for our suffering family members. We feel disgust in
ourselves for not doing something more to help him.”
It’s something I would hear over and over from the families
A HOMELESS PERSON WHO PASSED AWAY ON THE STREETS OF MULTNOMAH COUNTY.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF STREET PAPERS
suicide. Sometimes people pulled through; sometimes they
didn’t. The experiences almost always left me completely
wrecked and lacking any kind of normalcy. My world felt
upside down.
I thought about the first person I had ever written about who
died on the streets: about a young woman who had taken her
own life, and her mother, who had visited me afterward. I kept
a worn-out copy of a poem I wrote about her tucked away in
my desk drawer. Sometimes after talking to a family member
who had died on the streets, or writing a story about homeless
deaths, I would read it to myself and think about that girl and
all the people who had died during my tenure of working on
the front lines.
For years my executive editor, Joanne Zuhl, and I had
been writing about the stories of people that had died on the
streets. Our collective work contributed to efforts by local
governments in the region to create a methodology and system
to track and report the number and causes of homeless deaths
in the region. Their stories were almost always heartbreaking.
Holding back tears, Krista Campbell, a mother whose
son had passed away on the streets talked to me about her
son’s experience. At 42 years old, James Michael Bostick had
lived a hard life. Her son had been battling addiction and
homelessness for more than 13 years.
“Some people might see him as just another homeless junkie
that died, but he was an incredible man,” said Krista. “He
had an incredible heart. He was my precious baby. I suppose
in the back of my mind I had been expecting the call for
years. I prayed for him every single day. When the call came,
nothing I’ve been through in my life prepared me for what had
happened. We’ve both lived a hard life. Still, I’ve lost my son. My
dear son.”
James left behind a mother, a brother, and three daughters.
There’s nothing that can prepare someone for that kind of
conversation. All you can do is listen and provide support. As
I held back tears of my own, not having any real answers, we
talked for nearly an hour. I listened to Krista laugh and cry,
telling me countless stories about James, sometimes pausing to
tell me she couldn’t believe he was gone. She told me about his
bright blue eyes and beautiful smile. She told me that he was a
kind and comforting man that loved Jesus.
Like many people, Krista said she didn’t understand the
mental health issues her son faced. “Demons grabbed hold of
my son years ago, and I felt helpless,” Krista would say. “I didn’t
of people who have passed away on the streets. Not only are
people dealing with the trauma of losing a child, but individuals
or families are also often grieving alone. The loss of a child or a
death in the family is never easy. It can be even harder when
the family member is homeless. The feeling of judgment from
peers and the stigmas attached to having a family member die
on the streets can be isolating and torturous.
The average age of homeless deaths in many communities
across the country hovers between 40 and 50 years old. One
would have to go back decades, possibly centuries, to find
another demographic of people that were dying that young in
America. The leading causes of death for people on the streets are
accidental drug overdoses, natural causes, and death by suicide.
“People experiencing homelessness die young, and from
often preventable causes,” said Paul Lewis, a former health
officer for Multnomah County. “You can’t help but conclude
that the lack of housing has contributed to these realities.”
Research has long shown living on the streets exacerbates
existing health problems and causes new ones. Chronic
diseases are difficult to manage under stressful circumstances.
Acute problems such as infections, injuries, and pneumonia are
difficult to heal when there is no place to call home.
It’s not uncommon in America for many people experiencing
homelessness that are dealing with life-threatening ailments to
be released straight from the emergency room right back to the
streets, or into a crowded shelter.
“Everyone’s family has a story, and this is part of our story,”
Mary, the sister of a man who died on the streets of Portland
once told me. “It’s a devastating story. We could have helped
him, absolutely. I’m not holding anybody responsible, but as a
society, we let him down.”
Research shows that at least 20 people in America die
homeless every single day. The numbers are absolutely
staggering. It’s unconscionable.
Needless to say, I never did get back to that reporter. I’m still
not sure what I would have said. After more than 20 years of
working on the front lines of homelessness, it’s hard to find any
kind of logic in a land where housing remains a commodity and
human beings on the streets hold no actual value in the eyes
of the federal government. A land where thousands of people
experiencing homelessness are left to die every year, alone and
forgotten. Their stories untold. Ghosts left to haunt our streets
with no safe place to call home. A real American tragedy.
We have such a long way to go. ■
Israel Bayer is an award-winning writer and housing advocate
and works with the International Network of Street Papers.
Courtesy of the International Network of Street Papers
׉	 7cassandra://pxmECfXPminmHNTuHkBiYs4OJM6ZB6vOpPsIdCple7g%)` cw&M7g׉ENATIONAL STORY
THE ETHICAL DILEMMAS BEHIND PLANS
FOR INVOLUNTARY TREATMENT TO TARGET
HOMELESSNESS, MENTAL ILLNESS, AND ADDICTION
BY KATHERINE DRABIAK
Over the past year, cities across the United States have unveiled new
policy plans to address homelessness amid rising concerns about
health and crime – for homeless people themselves, as well as for
surrounding communities. Notably, several proposals include civil
commitment, also referred to as involuntary treatment, for people with
severe mental illness or substance use disorders. But this has thrown up
important ethical questions.
OVER THE PAST YEAR, cities across the United States have
unveiled new policy plans to address homelessness amid rising
concerns about health and crime – for homeless people
themselves, as well as for surrounding communities. Notably,
several proposals include civil commitment, also referred to as
involuntary treatment, for people with severe mental illness or
substance use disorders.
In November 2022, for example, New York City Mayor Eric
Adams announced a plan to use mental health laws to facilitate
involuntary treatment when people are unable to care for
themselves, or when their actions endanger others.
Court-mandated treatment could include therapy, social
workers, housing referrals, medication, or other interventions,
either in hospitals or on an outpatient basis. New York’s plan
builds on other recent initiatives to connect more homeless and
mentally ill people with shelters or supportive housing.
Political leaders in California and Portland, Oregon, have
approved similar plans to use civil commitment laws.
HOW CIVIL COMMITMENT WORKS
Civil commitment laws have been around for decades. However,
they only recently appear to have regained traction as a strategy
for addressing the intersection of homelessness, mental illness,
and substance use disorder.
States have enacted these laws based on two theories. First,
under the doctrine of parens patriae, a Latin phrase that
means “parent of the nation,” states have a legal and ethical
obligation to step in and help vulnerable people who cannot
act for themselves. Second, in public health law, the concept
of police power means that states have a duty to pass and
enforce laws to preserve public health and safety, which can
be impacted by homelessness.
Every state has different laws outlining civil commitment.
Importantly, these laws are a civil mechanism for courts to
oversee a treatment plan for people with severe mental illness or
substance use disorders that meet specific criteria. For example,
a court could assess testimony and evidence from clinicians
that a person has such a severe substance use disorder that he
repeatedly loses consciousness, will not accept assistance, and
risks freezing to death outside. These laws do not “criminalize”
or punish homelessness.
During the initial assessment process, the person receives
care in a hospital, where clinicians determine their medical
needs. Afterward, the court may order a treatment plan that
would outline requirements for the person to accept shelter
and maintain weekly appointments such as attending therapy
or drug treatment. Treatment in inpatient hospitals is generally
only used in cases of severe illness, and laws require using the
least restrictive plan possible.
Civil commitment laws also require due process, or a fair
procedure for people to participate in the process, object, and
have assistance from legal counsel.
UNDERSTANDING CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS
What
is
often
called
“the
homeless”
population
is
actually multiple groups with different needs, including
youth, families, veterans, people with short episodes of
homelessness spurred by job loss or unexpected bills, and the
chronically homeless.
However,
the most visible population – those who are
chronically homeless without shelter – suffer from high
rates of untreated severe substance use disorders and mental
illness, though estimates vary.
The University of California’s
California Policy Lab analyzed
surveys of 64,000 people who
were homeless across 15 different
states and found that 78 percent
of the unsheltered homeless
suffered from mental illness
and 75 percent from a substance
abuse disorder. Fifty percent
experienced both.
Clinicians note that mental
illness and substance use
disorders can contribute to
homelessness, and worsen it, too.
ETHICAL ISSUES
Civil commitment aims to
improve the well-being of
individuals and communities.
A HOMELESS PERSON SITS ON THE STREET DURING COLD TEMPERATURE AND HIGH WINDS
IN MANHATTAN, AS DEEP COLD SPREAD ACROSS THE NORTHEAST UNITED STATES IN NEW
YORK CITY, NEW YORK, U.S., FEBRUARY 4, 2023. REUTERS/JEENAH MOON
March 2023 DENVER VOICE 11
But it raises difficult questions about core ethical issues such
as autonomy – people’s right to make medical decisions for
themselves – and beneficence, or ensuring that interventions
provide more benefit than harm.
Some experts oppose using civil commitment laws and assert
that states should rely on voluntary services. Voluntary treatment,
some of them contend, is just as effective but preserves autonomy
and the freedom to choose or decline treatment.
Critics also assert that involuntary commitment violates the
principle of beneficence because it can stigmatize homeless
people with severe mental health and substance use disorders
by implying that they do not belong in public. Others contend
it is cruel and coercive.
Advocates for plans like New York City’s, on the other
hand, assert that civil commitment laws are not only effective
at connecting people with help, but fulfill a moral obligation to
prevent people from suffering on city streets.
In most instances, healthcare workers and ethicists presume
that adults can make their own medical choices in line with
their values and needs. But people with severe mental illness
or substance use disorder may experience impairment in their
ability to deliberate, assess their needs, and make decisions,
which compromises their autonomy. Though involuntary
treatment violates autonomy, it can also help people regain it
through stabilization and recovery.
Many clinicians and outreach workers argue that glossing
over the impact of untreated mental illness and substance use
disorder violates the principle of beneficence, because avoiding
treatment may result in more health harm.
WIDER EFFECTS
Ethics debates must also grapple with how treatment affects the
surrounding community, such as safety – including for other
people experiencing homelessness. As one data point, the San
Diego District Attorney’s Office has compiled data showing
people who are homeless are far more likely to be the victims of
crime. Its data found that this population commits dramatically
higher rates of vandalism, arson, assault, and burglary as well,
although there are few nationwide studies. And while most
people who are homeless, have a mental health illness, or have
a substance use disorder are not violent, some studies suggest
people with a severe mental health illness are three to four
times more likely to display violent behavior.
Some evidence suggests that civil commitment can
increase follow-through with treatment plans, reduce acute
hospitalization and decrease violent behavior. Proponents
assert that despite the coercive nature of civil commitment, it
provides benefits as a step toward restoring the health of each
person, and of society. ■
Katherine Drabiak is an associate professor of health law, public
health law, and medical ethics at the University of South Florida.
Courtesy of The Conversation / International Network of
Street Papers
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BACK ON THE
STREETS
BY REA BROWN, VOICE VENDOR
SPRING
EQUINOX
BY BREEZ, VOICE VENDOR
REA BROWN. CREDIT: GILES CLASEN
BRIAN AUGUSTINE BELIEVED that there are four basic needs to live:
water, food, shelter, and love, which he
equated to human contact
a handshake or a hug.
But I will go further because for some, it’s a drug, a kiss
or sexual oneness unifying bliss.
Brian mentioned how mankind has few sources
from which to get love family, friends,
and those special people that win your attraction,
and although he spoke of puppy love,
I believe even Brian would agree
that pets are a source of love for everybody.
In other words, there’s no reason for anyone
to be without love.
I used to wonder why a homeless person would want a pet,
but now I think I understand a little
how the human heart works.
When COVID hit, it was the first time in my life
that I ever heard of the animal shelters being empty,
which says to me, people who are not used to loneliness
normally have a harder time than those that are.
So much so, that people from ALL walks of life,
for the purpose of mental health,
will seek out companionship in isolation.
How much more the poor
back on the streets
with no roof and no door
outcast and ignored. ■
ILLUSTRATION BY BREEZ
12 DENVER VOICE March 2023
׉	 7cassandra://9ba5ZE_aMjk1Fa5Qgilwmp_Q8rZo8KPoNqygI4uB6rw)` cw&M7i׉EEVENTS
WHEN: Mar 3, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
COST: Free
WHERE: 40 West Arts District, 1560 Teller St.
INFO: 40westarts.org
COURTESY OF
DEBORAH LASTOWKA
PUZZLES
COLFAX ART CRAWL: MARDI GRAS
Join 40 West Arts District for a free, family-friendly Mardi Gras street party. Event to include a
traveling brass band, beads, new exhibitions, food trucks, installations, and more. Costumes
are encouraged!
COURTESY OF STREETROOTS
ANSWERS ARE ON PAGE 15
COLORADO DRAGON BOAT FILM FESTIVAL
Founded in 2016, this four-day festival will feature in-person film screenings, community
conversations, and special events celebrating the power of filmmaking within Asian
communities.
WHEN: Mar 9 – Mar 12
COST: Prices vary; see website for details.
WHERE: Sie FilmCenter, 2510 E. Colfax
INFO: denverfilm.org
ACROSS
FRIDAY MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION
A regular meditation practice can help you cultivate kindness and inner peace—two things
we desperately need in these stressful times. Each class will include instruction on some
mindfulness themes, followed by 30 minutes of practice. All are welcome!
WHEN: Mar 10, 17, 24, and 31, 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
COST: Free but registration is required.
WHERE: Online
INFO: denverlibrary.org/events/upcoming
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING WITH JOHN ANZALONE
In Sudden Fear (1952), an ambitious actor insinuates himself into the life of a wealthy
middle-aged woman, then plots her murder with his mistress. Join film professor, John
Anzalone, for an in-depth look at this classic noir thriller.
WHEN: Mar 12, 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.
COST: Free but online registration is required.
WHERE: Online
INFO: denverlibrary.org/events
1. HS exams many colleges
no longer require
for admission
5. Achy
9. Declares
14. Actress Polo
15. Playing an extra
NBA quarter
16. First blank space
on a form
17. “Dies ___” (Judgment
Day hymn)
18. Heart of the matter
19. Unoriginal, in
modern slang
20. Cuts off at the pass
23. Carefully followed,
as a plan
24. Entertain
27. Farm division
29. Paperless boarding pass
31. Big month for the IRS
34. 50 years
36. Salacious look
38. Adverb suffix?
39. Lingerie item
40. Necessity for a
spy or fugitive
45. “Malcolm X” director
46. Immobile sculpture
47. It’s hailed by city dwellers
49. Garbage
50. Pie chart part
54. Separate (from)
58. Hasbro game that
says its own name
61. Like Jack Sprat’s diet
62. Are, in Argentina
63. Boredom
64. Carnival
65. Suffix with gang
66. Doctrine
67. Comrade in arms
68. School session
DOWN
1. Skunk defense
2. Cliffside dwelling
spelled very similarly
to 26-Down
3. “The Sound of Music”
family name
4. Sonora snooze
5. Madame, in Italian
6. “Don’t bet ___!”
7. ___ Hashanah
8. Kitchen extension?
9. Egg white protein
10. Railroad bridges
11. Lt.’s inferior, in the Navy
12. Outdoor gear retailer
13. Amniotic ___
21. Allergic reaction
22. Diminish
25. Feature of the
Jolly Roger
26. Bone-chilling
28. Say “y’all,” say
29. Big splash
30. Ilk
31. “Bummer!”, more
quaintly
32. Annoyances
33. Cut again
35. Devotee
37. Certain element in the
alkali metal group
41. Second Amendment
word
42. Building additions
43. Bricklayer’s craft
44. Board member, for short
48. Least welcoming
51. Spoonful, say
52. Aquatic mammal
53. Violate a peace
treaty, maybe
55. Italian car, briefly
56. Close, as an envelope
57. It’s rigged
58. It’s found in a
garden or river
59. Musical Yoko
60. JPG alternative
NERD NITE
If you’re a fan of TED talks, the Discovery Channel, and/or Wikipedia binges, Nerd Nite is the
show for you! Three experts will present on three different topics, while the audience drinks
and thinks along the way. Be there and be square!
WHEN: Mar 31, doors at 6:30 p.m., show at 7 p.m.
COST: $10 in advance, $15 at the door
WHERE: Bug Theatre, 3654 Navajo St.
INFO: bugtheatre.org
March 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
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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+
The Christian Foundation
Acorn Hill Foundation Inc.
$5,000 - $9,999
Bank of America Charitable Foundation
Francis Trainer and Trainer Family
Sustainable Housing and Development Foundation
$1,000-$4,999
Katherine Standiford
Walker Family Foundation
Alexander Seavall
Jill Haug
Whole Foods Foundation
Alex Salva
Russell Peterson
Pivotal Energy Partners USA, Inc.
Meek-Cuneo Family Fund
Chris and Susan Pappas
Michael Dino
Sidney B and Caleb F Gates Fund
Frederic K Conover Trust
Megan Arellano
Keyrenter Property Management Denver
SEI Giving Fund
The Credit Union of Colorado Foundation
Jana and Jim Cuneo
Kroger
Paul Manoogian
Lori Holland
Gaspar Terrana
Warren and Betty Kuehner
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
John Gibson
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
Donald Weaver
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
14 DENVER VOICE March 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
׉	 7cassandra://cf9KULrsrmldHCBbScbIkosztRvYG19eHnUVQQKr-Kw![` cw&M7k׉E'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
ATTENTION HOMES 303-447-1207; 3080 Broadway, Boulder; contactah@attentionhomes.org. Offers safe shelter,
supportive programming, and other services to youth up to age 24 attentionhomes.org
CITYSQUARE DENVER 303-783-3777; 2575 S. Broadway; Mon.-Thurs. 10am-2pm, Denver Works helps with
employment, IDs, birth certs; mail services and lockers citysquare.org
FATHER WOODY’S HAVEN OF HOPE 303-607-0855; 1101 W. 7th Ave.; Mon.-Fri. 7am-1pm. Six private showers &
bathrooms, laundry, lunch & more thoh.org
THE GATHERING PLACE 303-321-4198; 1535 High St.; Mon., Wed.-Fri. 8:30am-5pm, Tues. 8:30am-1:30pm.
Daytime drop-in center for women, their children, and transgender individuals. Meals, computer lab, phones,
food bank, clothing, art programs, GED tutoring, referrals to other services, and more. tgpdenver.org
HARM REDUCTION ACTION CENTER 303-572-7800, 231 East Colfax; Mon.-Fri. 9am-12pm. Provides clean
syringes, syringe disposal, harm-reduction counseling, safe materials, Hep C/HIV education, and health
education classes. harmreductionactioncenter.org
HOLY GHOST CATHOLIC CHURCH 1900 California St., help with lost IDs and birth certificates holyghostchurch.org
HOPE PROGRAM 303-832-3354, 1555 Race St.; Mon.-Fri. 8am-4pm. For men and women with HIV.
LAWRENCE STREET COMMUNITY CENTER 2222 Lawrence St.; 303-294-0157; day facility, laundry, showers,
restrooms, access to services homelessassistance.us/li/lawrence-street-community-center
OPEN DOOR MINISTRIES 1567 Marion St.; Mon.-Fri. 7am-5:30pm. Drop-in center: bathrooms, coffee/tea,
snacks, resources, WIFI odmdenver.org
ST. FRANCIS CENTER 303-297-1576; 2323 Curtis St. 6am-6pm daily. Storage for one bag (when space is
available). Satellite Clinic hours- Mon., Tues., Thurs, Fri. 7:30am-3:30pm; Wed. 12:30-4:30pm sfcdenver.org
SENIOR SUPPORT SERVICES 846 E. 18th Ave. For those 55 and older. TV room, bus tokens, mental/physical
health outreach, and more. seniorsupportservices.org
SOX PLACE (YOUTH SERVICES) 2017 Larimer St. Daytime drop-in shelter for youth 12-30 years old. Meals, socks,
clothing bank, personal hygiene supplies, internet access, intentional mentoring and guidance, crisis
intervention, referrals to other services. Tues.-Fri. 12-4pm & Sat. 11-2pm. soxplace.com
THE SPOT AT URBAN PEAK (YOUTH SERVICES) 2100 Stout St. 303-291-0442. Drop-in hours Mon.-Fri. 8-11am. If
you are a youth aged 15-20 in need of immediate overnight shelter services, please contact 303-974-2928
urbanpeak.org/denver/programs-and-services/drop-in-center
URBAN PEAK (YOUTH SERVICES) Youth 14-24 in Denver and Colorado Springs. Overnight shelter, food, clothing,
showers, case workers, job skills and training, ID and birth certificate assistance, GED assistance, counseling
and housing. 730 21st St. 303-974-2900 urbanpeak.org
FREE MEALS
AGAPE CHRISTIAN CHURCH 2501 California St., Sat., 11am
CAPITOL HEIGHTS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 1100 Fillmore St., Sat. lunch at 11:30am capitolheightspresbyterian.org
CAPITOL HILL COMMUNITY SERVICES Go to mealsforpoor.org for meal locations
CATHEDRAL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION 1530 Logan St.; sandwiches & coffee Mon.-Fri. 8:30am
denvercathedral.org
CHRIST’S BODY MINISTRIES 850 Lincoln; Mon. closed, Tues.-Thurs. 10am-3pm, Fri. 8am-11pm; groceries &
hot meal on Sat. at 2pm (at 16th & York); Sun. church service at 6pm, dinner at 7pm. christsbody.org
CHRIST IN THE CITY Home-cooked meal; Civic Center Park at Colfax & Lincoln at 1pm every Wed. & 2nd Sat.
christinthecity.org
CITYSQUARE DENVER 303-783-3777, 2575 S. Broadway; Food pantry Tues. 10am-6pm citysquare.org
CAPITOL HILL COMMUNITY SERVICES Hot meals served at 1820 Broadway (in front of Trinity United Methodist
Church), Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. 11:45-12:15 mealsforpoor.org
DENVER INNER CITY PARISH 303-322-5733, 1212 Mariposa St., VOA Dining Center for Seniors, free 60 yrs and
older, Wed.-Sat. 9am-12pm. Food Bank, Wed.-Fri., tickets at 9am, food bank open 10am-12pm. dicp.org
DENVER RESCUE MISSION 1130 Park Avenue West, 3 meals 7 days/week: 5:30am, 12pm, 6pm 303-294-0157
denverrescuemission.org
FATHER WOODY’S HAVEN OF HOPE 1101 W. 7th Ave. 303-607-0855. Mon.-Fri. 7am-1pm. Not open weekends.
Breakfast is at 8am, and lunch is served at 11am frwoodyshavenofhope.org
FEEDING DENVER’S HUNGRY Food service on the second and fourth Thurs. of each month; locations found at
feedingdenvershungry.org/events.html
FOOD NOT BOMBS Wed. 4pm/Civic Center Park facebook.com/ThePeoplesPicnic
HARE KRISHNA TEMPLE 1400 Cherry St., free vegetarian feast on Sun., 6:45-7:30pm krishnadenver.com
HIS LOVE FELLOWSHIP CHURCH 910 Kalamath, community dinner on Thurs., 6-6:45pm, men’s breakfast 1st Sat.
of the Month, 8-10am, women’s breakfast 2nd Sat., 9-11am. hislovefellowship.org
HOLY GHOST CATHOLIC CHURCH 1900 California St., sandwiches, Mon.-Sat., 10-10:30am holyghostchurch.org
JORDAN AME CHURCH 29th and Milwaukee St., Tues. lunch 11:30am-1:00pm jordanamedenver.churchfoyer.com
OPEN DOOR MINISTRIES 1567 Marion St., Sat. morning breakfast: 8am, Sun. dinner (required church
attendance at 4:30pm) meal served at 6pm. 303-830-2201 odmdenver.org/home
ST. CLARE’S MINISTRY AT ST. PETER AND ST. MARY 126 W. 2nd Ave., dinner at 4pm on Tues. Also offer a change of
clothes, toiletries and sleeping bags when available. 303-722-8781 stpeterandmary.org
ST. ELIZABETH’S Speer Blvd. & Arapahoe St. on Auraria campus, 7 days/week, 11:00am; food, coffee.
stelizabethdenver.org
ST. FRANCIS CENTER 2323 Curtis St., Wed. & Fri. 3-4:30pm (except third Wed. of each month). sfcdenver.org
ST. PAUL’S LUTHERAN 1600 Grant St., Street Reach meal Mon. 1-4:30pm. Grocery room open at 11:30am every
Mon. saintpauldenver.com
SAME CAFÉ 2023 E. Colfax Ave. Restaurant serving mostly organic food—not free, but pay what you can or
work off your meal in the kitchen: Open Mon.-Sat., 11am to 2pm, Closed Sun. & holidays, 720-530-6853
soallmayeat.org
SENIOR SUPPORT SERVICES 846 E. 18th Ave. 3 meals, Mon.a-Fri. 7am-7pm; Sun. 11am-4pm. 55+
seniorsupportservices.org/programs
URBAN OUTREACH DENVER 608 26th St., Thurs. dinners, 6pm-7pm lovedenver.org
VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA 2877 Lawrence St., breakfast (8am), lunch (11:30am), dinner (5pm) Mon.-Thurs.,
12pm on Fri., 1pm on Sun. Food & clothing bank 9:30am-4pm Mon.-Thurs.
voacolorado.org/gethelp-denvermetro-foodnutrition-themission
CAREER SERVICES
COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CENTER Level 4, Denver Central Library, 14th Ave. & Broadway. 720-865-1706.
Hours: Mon. & Tues. 10am-8pm; Wed., Thurs., Fri. 10am-6pm; Sat. 9am-5pm & Sun. 1-5pm; FREE services
include computer/internet use, wifi, computer classes, job search/resume classes and one-on-one tech help
appointments. denverlibrary.org/ctc
THE WESTSIDE ONE-STOP CAREER CENTER Denver Department of Human Services, 1200 Federal Blvd., Mon.Fri.,
7:30am-4:30pm; Services include: employment counseling, assisted job search, résumé preparation,
job/applicant matching, phone bank for calling employers, access to computers, copiers, fax, etc.
careercenteroffices.com/center/231/denver-westside-workforce-center
March 2023 DENVER VOICE 15
DON’T LOOK NOW!
PUZZLES ARE ON PAGE 13
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1111 N Broadway
Denver, CO 80203
SUNDAY, MAY 7
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
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JOIN THE DENVER VOICE FOR OUR ANNUAL RISE & THRIVE BREAKFAST!
This complimentary event, put together by some of Denver’s best breakfast and brunch locations,
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