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QUESTIONS AROUND DENVER’S HOMELESS AND THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION
Friday, July 18, 2008
By superadmin :: 85 Views
Denver, CO - STATEMENT FROM THE COLORADO COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS REGARDING QUESTIONS AROUND DENVER’S HOMELESS AND THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION
Will the Rights of Homeless Individuals be violated During the DNC?
Absolutely not. We’ve obtained commitments from the City & County of Denver, Denver’s Road Home (the Mayor’s Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness) and the Denver Police Department that they will not “sweep” homeless people away or try to hide them, but will seek to engage them in the process. We’ll carefully monitor security activities to ensure that the rights of all homeless individuals are protected.
Is Denver Hiding the Homeless?
Absolutely not. We’re not hiding the homeless, we’re housing the homeless. Ensuring the homeless have short and long term housing has always been the priority of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. This is not new for the Democratic National Convention (DNC). Service delivery will be “business as usual” with a few extras during the convention to make sure everyone wanting shelter has a place to go.
Is Denver Using Movie Tickets to Hide the Homeless?
Absolutely not. Several nonprofits have put together a small number of tickets to involve the homeless in various events in the downtown area – a very small part of our overall program to keep the homeless safe and well cared for during the DNC. This is not unusual. Denver’s homeless providers routinely offer access to cultural events, such as sporting events, theatrical productions, and so on.
Is Denver Using Bus Tokens to Move the Homeless Out of Downtown?
Absolutely not. However, just like the housed residents in downtown Denver, homeless residents may feel some disruption to their routine due to security plans or demonstrations. So we’ve doubled our street outreach staff and volunteers to help connect people to needed services and resources. For example, some of the shelters and day centers will be open for longer periods of time. And, If someone is looking for a brief escape from the heat or excitement, a small number of movie tickets to a centrally located theater will be made available. |
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