Homelessness

Why the Denver Cruisers put the brakes on a homeless-themed ride

Reader: Can't we do better in 21st-century America?

Homeless women in Denver: Struggles of an undocumented immigrant seeking shelter

In September, Erica Guzman, twenty, and Stefanie Cardwell, 23, spent nights sleeping in their car. The two women, who have been dating for four years, say they had nowhere else to go. The search for shelter is especially difficult for Guzman, an undocumented Canadian immigrant. We spoke to the coupl ... More >>

Homeless women in Denver: Julie Hale tells her story about the struggle to survive

In this week's feature, "Bed Check," we take an in-depth look at the services available in Denver for homeless women, some of whom describe a daily struggle filled with high-stakes lotteries to find sanctuary. For the piece, we spent time with members of the Women's Homeless Initiative, a coalition ... More >>

16th Street Mall is no party, says one critic

The 16th Street Mall turned thirty yesterday, and it's looking better than it has in years, with the best yet to come as work continues on the Union Station project. The mall's official birthday celebration will be Tuesday at Skyline Park -- but some critics won't be coming to the party.

Reader: Richard Koca, StandUp For Kids founder, never acted inappropriately with me

This week, StandUp For Kids founder Richard Koca was arrested on suspicion of child-sexual assault. Given Koca's devotion to working with homeless youth, he had plenty of access to kids over the years, as police note. But one reader says Koca never took advantage of her, despite having many opportun ... More >>

Michael Hancock praises early impact of urban camping ban

Just a few weeks after Denver began enforcing its urban camping ban, Mayor Michael Hancock said the new policy is going well, adding that some of the folks who were sleeping on the street have since gone to live with friends and family. And they haven't gone to the suburbs, he said.

The urban-camping ban doesn't solve the Bumuda Triangle problem

Reader: Is it really a great idea to photograph homeless people?

Photographer Scott Russell has documented the lives of Denver sign-fliers in Cardboard & Concrete, a show that debuts this weekend at Wazee Union, and puts a face -- actually, eleven faces -- on the city's controversial homeless issues. But the show itself is stirring some controversy.

Reader: Snooze's tax dollars support homeless people who are harming its business

Kelsey Whipple's post about an Occupy Denver protest at Snooze over the weekend has produced lotsa strongly expressed opinions on both sides of the issue. Here's a comment from a reader who understands why Snooze supports an urban camping ban.

Photos: Occupy Denver protests Snooze, plans Downtown Denver Partnership sleep-in

Breakfast and politics don't always mix -- but Occupy Denver waits for no muffin. After Brianna Borin, co-owner of downtown early-morning eatery Snooze, spoke in "strong favor" of the proposed (and preliminarily passed) urban camping ban at last Monday's eight-hour City Council meeting, the local mo ... More >>

Reader: Albus Brooks is wrong about Kenya

Speak up for the homeless on the Denver Voice silent auction site

Although Albus Brooks crafted the proposed anti-urban camping ordinance, he supports help for the homeless. In fact, Brooks gave a shout-out to the Denver Voice in his recent Westword interview. And tomorrow night, Brooks will be on hand at a benefit to raise funds for this organization, a Westword ... More >>

Urban camping ban: Denver Police Department promises restraint in enforcement

At a city council meeting yesterday afternoon, Police Chief Robert White outlined what he called a "passive" plan for the Denver Police Department to enforce the urban camping ban if it is passed. As drafted, the strategy calls for law enforcement to partner with outreach workers, and White promises ... More >>

Occupy Denver, ACLU and Coalition For the Homeless team to oppose urban camping ban

Although Denver's proposed urban camping ordinance is not scheduled for final consideration until May 7, the sides for and against it are already preparing for battle. Last week, the ACLU of Colorado organized an online petition against the ban, with Occupy Denver taking a stance this weekend. In a ... More >>

Urban camping ban: Denver's Road Home outlines a violations response plan

Packed with opposition in orange "Homes Not Handfuffs" buttons, yesterday's City Council committee meeting initiated the first public discussion of Denver's proposed, hotly debated urban camping ban. With the proposal come as many accusations as questions, many of them involving concerns it could cr ... More >>

Urban camping ban heats up packed city council committee meeting

"Everyone take a deep breath." So began today's first public meeting about the proposed urban camping ban, organized by City Council's Land Use, Transportation & Infrastructure Committee in front of a group so large it breached fire code. While organizers stressed its purpose as an informational mee ... More >>

Video: John Baker, homeless singer in Aspen, seeks TV and movie deals

Famous for its ski bums, Aspen also has a modest contingent of real bums -- although the homeless shelter downtown isn't exactly as celebrated as the haunts of the 1 percenters. But that may soon change. Fresh on the heels of the uproar over the new sociology study The Slums of Aspen, aspiring songw ... More >>

Occupy Denver: Homeless protesters interrupt Mayor Hancock during homeless vigil

By now, it's public knowledge that about 30 Occupy Denver supporters interrupted Mayor Michael Hancock's speech during a vigil for the homeless last night on the steps of the City & County Building. This is true. Little, however, has been shared about the decision-making process behind last night's ... More >>

Pizza Fusion will open in Denver this May as part of Colorado Coalition for the Homeless's vocational program

​Hot off the heels of the announcement made by Naked Pizza that it'll bust into the Mile High market comes word from another green pizza chain that Denver's its next stop: Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based Pizza Fusion will open its first restaurant in Denver in May, in conjunction with Colorado ... More >>

Dwight Henson: A Denver mayor's race profile

Dwight Henson.​With John Hickenlooper having taken office as Colorado's governor, we know Denver will have a new mayor this year, and the race is wide open. To introduce you to the players, we're offering profiles of official candidates. Next up: Dwight Henson. "A lot of people say, 'Don't ju ... More >>

When your office is a wi-fi network, what are your options?

​For those of you who work from your laptops (ahem), getting an Internet connection is a daily requirement. There are two companies who will provide Internet to your home/apartment here in Denver and a few types of places you're likely to seek out if you're looking to walk out your front door ... More >>

Jeff Puckett's helicopter gets Denver closer to God

Homeless camp vandalized by cops? Grand Junction activists say "yes"

Courtesy of GJPDexposedAn unkind cut.​Grand Junction isn't the likeliest spawning ground for progressive organizations. But the Western Slope community is the place to find a growing number of activists like Jacob Richards, who acts on behalf of the homeless in the area, even if it means gett ... More >>

Ted Pascoe goes home again

Ted Pascoe during his homeless strike.​Ted Pascoe ended his homeless strike last week. The director of Senior Support Services, a day shelter for homeless seniors, walked back through his own front door for the first time in a month, drove his car again, took a shower in his own bathroom. On ... More >>

Hickenlooper finds more library funding -- by taking a chunk out of his homeless plan

Jeanne Faatz.​Moments from now, Mayor John Hickenlooper will be meeting with the media to talk about a revision in his budget plan -- additional bucks to save the Byers library , which had been marked for closure, and keep other branches open for longer hours. And where is he getting the dough ... More >>

Word of the week: Caramba!

Free beer and funky tunes, courtesy of U.S. Pipe and Flying Dog

As if you needed another reason besides the band's funky tunes to head down to the Bluebird this Thursday, February 19, for the U.S. Pipe CD-release show (check out Jon Solomon's Backbeat feature on the band from this week's paper if you haven't already), you can grab yourself a free beer and help o ... More >>

Welcome to Hotel Martino: The homeless love it, the neighbors hate it

Street Dreams

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Capsule reviews of current shows

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Capsule reviews of current shows

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Capsule reviews of current shows

Letters to the Editor

From the week of 3/15/2007

A Bumpy Ride

They promised a hot party. They didn’t say how hot it would get.

Full Circle

Eddie Maestas gave his heart to the Larimer neighborhood. Now his name is at the heart of it.

Terms of Endearment

Give me a C! Give me a U! What do you have? The start of the year's biggest scandal.

Kids Picture Homelessness

Views of the world’s homelessness are vividly displayed in the Home/Life exhibit.

Best Free Entertainment

People-watching on the 16th Street Mall while we still can

Best Charitable Ladies' Cause

Knit for the Homeless, Shivering Sheep/Coppélia's Needlepoint

Garden of Eden

Drummer Donnie Eden wants to make a difference in the lives of young people, one note at a time.

Voices Carry

The homeless find harmony -- and hope -- in music.

Best Reuse of a Historic Building

Gates Mansion, now Dave's Place

Artbeat

Brief sketches of what's happening in the Denver art scene.

Best Rockies Parking

Colorado Coalition for the Homeless

Best move by Mayor Wellington Webb

Homeless shelter for women and families

Soup With a Smile

Their mission is to help the homeless, but now the Catholic Workers are trying to keep a roof over their own heads.

Begging for a Living

U.S. Mission supports a network of professional beggars who go door-to-door to pay their rent.

LETTERS

THERE GO THE NEIGHBORHOODS

DENVER'S PLANNING DEPARTMENT IS ACCUSED OF PLANNING OBSOLESCENCE.