How an emergency food network grew out of the coronavirus crisis to deliver 90,000 free meals to Coloradans

The Denver Metro Emergency Food Network hopes to deliver 250,000 meals by June 1. And they want to extend the network far beyond the coronavirus crisis.

Colorado Sun 4/27/20

 
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Homeless camp sweeps run counter to CDC guidelines. Denver officials stand by their decisions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s coronavirus guidelines recommend that if individual housing options are not available, people living unsheltered should be allowed to remain where they are to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Colorado Newsline, 12/2/20

 

Colorado’s laws historically have favored landlords over tenants. A bill at the Capitol could balance the scales.

A slew of measures being discussed at the Colorado Legislature this year aim to permanently strengthen legal protections for Colorado renters by putting limits on how much a landlord can charge in rental late fees, extending grace periods for paying back owed rent, and rebalancing the legal power tenants have.

Colorado Newsline 3/17/21

 

More Housing Clips

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Cellphones Are a Lifeline for Unhoused People—But Barriers Abound
Cellphones Are a Lifeline for Unhoused People—But Barriers Abound

A lack of internet access and charging stations makes it challenging for unhoused folks to maintain a working cellphone, posing a threat to their safety and ability to follow up with service providers or connect with employers.

Shelter Force 11/1/23

“We have nowhere to go”: Hundreds of thousands of Coloradans at risk of eviction
“We have nowhere to go”: Hundreds of thousands of Coloradans at risk of eviction

For one Aurora family, eviction could come as soon as this week. The case against them was filed before Gov. Jared Polis’ executive order pausing evictions went into effect.

Colorado Sun 6/19/20

Every week for a year, this group has provided water and trash services to Denver’s unhoused
Every week for a year, this group has provided water and trash services to Denver’s unhoused

Headwaters Protectors hopes the city will take note of their compassionate – and cheap – services.

Colorado Newsline 8/2/21

Supportive housing has proved successful for addressing chronic homelessness. Why isn’t there more in Colorado?
Supportive housing has proved successful for addressing chronic homelessness. Why isn’t there more in Colorado?

A newly funded housing project in Denver is a small step in expanding programs that couple affordable housing with substance abuse and mental health treatment.

Colorado Newsline 4/4/21

Colorado’s housing crisis touches every inch of the state. Lawmakers hope $400 million will help.
Colorado’s housing crisis touches every inch of the state. Lawmakers hope $400 million will help.

State lawmakers this session set aside $400 million in federal coronavirus relief funds to try to alleviate the growing housing pressure seen across the state. The challenge now will be coming up with solutions that address the unique challenges urban, mountain and rural communities are facing.

Colorado Newsline 7/23/21

‘Way more students’: Spike in homelessness feared in Colorado school districts
‘Way more students’: Spike in homelessness feared in Colorado school districts

Last year, 22,224 students attending Colorado K-12 public schools were considered homeless. Housing advocates worry students are “falling through the cracks” during remote learning.

Colorado Newsline 9/10/20

‘Not acceptable, whatsoever’: Medicaid mismanagement draws lawmaker scrutiny
‘Not acceptable, whatsoever’: Medicaid mismanagement draws lawmaker scrutiny

As of June 2020, the state agency had 17 noncompliance issues — 14 of which are deemed high priority — the highest number of any state agency, according to an annual report released by the Office of the State Auditor in December.

Colorado Newsline 1/26/21

‘I want to see the plan’: Denver residents press city officials over inaction on homelessness
‘I want to see the plan’: Denver residents press city officials over inaction on homelessness

During Wednesday’s meeting, many unhoused residents detailed the inhumane treatment they’ve experienced at homeless shelters and during encampment clearings, commonly called homeless sweeps. Others talked about how, even with stable employment, they can’t afford rent or food or laundry services and that they’ve been on affordable housing waitlists for years.

Colorado Newsline 4/1/21

Key to disrupting Denver’s homeless-to-jail pipeline? Permanent supportive housing, study finds.
Key to disrupting Denver’s homeless-to-jail pipeline? Permanent supportive housing, study finds.

The city of Denver embarked on a five-year experiment in 2016 to see if it could disrupt the city’s robust homeless-to-jail pipeline by providing permanent supportive housing, which couples housing with services such as substance use and mental health treatment.

Colorado Newsline 7/16/21

‘One step forward and two steps back’: Navigating housing instability during the pandemic
‘One step forward and two steps back’: Navigating housing instability during the pandemic

Prior to the pandemic, Erika Joye had never missed a rent payment. The economic crisis spurred by the virus has made it increasingly harder for her to get back on her feet and remain in her home. “It just feels like I can’t get ahead of the game. I can’t even catch up. I can’t even walk on the field,” she said.

Colorado Newsline 10/19/20

These five Colorado counties account for more than 73% of evictions filed this year
These five Colorado counties account for more than 73% of evictions filed this year

Thousands of evictions have been filed throughout Colorado since January, highlighting the gaps in both state and federal eviction protections put in place throughout the pandemic.

Colorado Newsline 8/17/21

Colorado’s child poverty rate was improving pre-pandemic, but that trend is likely to change
Colorado’s child poverty rate was improving pre-pandemic, but that trend is likely to change

Colorado’s child poverty and unemployment rates had been steadily falling prior to the pandemic, and median family income was on the rise. But all of that progress came to a halt in March 2020 after the spread of COVID-19 triggered stay-at-home orders and mass layoffs, which propelled the percentage of U.S. children with an unemployed parent to a 50-year high.

Colorado Newsline 8/26/21