by Walkerasurus
Guess what... the homeless in Denver are getting organized. Expect some change.
Case in point. On Friday April 24th, People Working Against Poverty (PRAP) sponsored a town hall entitled THE STATE OF THE UNHOUSED at the RedLine art gallery. Upwards of 300 people attended the four-hour event. To get an idea of the scope and breadth of the event you only need to look at the organizations that are predominantly comprised of homeless and formerly homeless individuals that ran the event. These include Denver Homeless Out Loud, Right to Dream (Portland), The Homeless Advisory Council, and Cities of Refuge. Also involved were other organizations that advocate for homeless rights, including Prax(us), Bayaud Enterprises, Boycott the Urban Camping Ban, Denver Food Rescue, and El Centro Humanitario.
Something to note about the event was the absence of large institutionalized (“big box”) service providers in the organization of the event. (Certainly members of these organizations were in attendance as participants but they were not “at the helm.”) The homeless community in Denver did this one on their own. They even attracted established homeless advocates from other states, in town for a national meeting, who wanted to take part. The result was rather striking: engagement, involvement and a sense of hope that comes from a community learning to empower itself. You could literally feel it. This was the voice of the homeless community in Denver getting organized.
Denver... expect some change.
When you consider some of these organizations were at the same time sponsoring a national convening of homeless advocacy groups from across the nation--these guys are on it!
The State of the Unhoused event included food (of course), music and art as people gathered and mixed to start off the event. The focus of the event (the six working groups) was introduced, and the facilitators of each working group presented a brief overview of their topic. These topics included food, employment, housing, transportation, anti-criminalization, and hygiene. Then the event broke out into these working groups to discuss various issues that concern the homeless community and suggest solutions.
In the breakout groups, people were eager to participate, share and listen to each other as the various topics were addressed. At the end, spokespeople reported back to the whole group.
Just a few of the many issues discussed were: wage theft; employment discrimination against people with a criminal background; combating the stigma against homelessness; establishing a safe, legal camping zone; the lack of affordable housing; diversity of needs among those experiencing homelessness; the need for public restrooms, showers, laundry and storage facilities; ways to provide wholesome, nutritious food while avoiding food waste; RTD’s discrimination against homeless people; and making public transit affordable for all.
I was impressed by how well facilitated this large event was. Too often at larger events you get that ole “top-down” facilitation style that can often disenfranchise many of the participants. This was not the case at the State of The Unhoused event, where the voice of Denver's homeless community was the centerpiece of the work, activities and spirit of the event. (as was the purpose I presume).
This event was not the endpoint. Rather, it was a start for further work and further organizing. At the end of the Town Hall Marco Nunez, director of El Centro Humanitario de los Trabajadores and an experienced community organizer, introduced participants to some basic organizing principles and concepts. As a follow-up to this initial event, on May 15th at El Centro, Marco and others presented Organizing 101, an introductory training for all who want to work together on issues of homelessness.
The forethought and presence of mind demonstrated by these events is evidence of how serious and committed the homeless community is about getting organized to protect their rights. As the homeless community continues to grow and as needed services become scarcer, the importance of organizing and working together for the benefit of all becomes more acute.”
They are seeing to it that their voices are heard and are working towards getting their rights protected and their needs met.
Case in point. On Friday April 24th, People Working Against Poverty (PRAP) sponsored a town hall entitled THE STATE OF THE UNHOUSED at the RedLine art gallery. Upwards of 300 people attended the four-hour event. To get an idea of the scope and breadth of the event you only need to look at the organizations that are predominantly comprised of homeless and formerly homeless individuals that ran the event. These include Denver Homeless Out Loud, Right to Dream (Portland), The Homeless Advisory Council, and Cities of Refuge. Also involved were other organizations that advocate for homeless rights, including Prax(us), Bayaud Enterprises, Boycott the Urban Camping Ban, Denver Food Rescue, and El Centro Humanitario.
Something to note about the event was the absence of large institutionalized (“big box”) service providers in the organization of the event. (Certainly members of these organizations were in attendance as participants but they were not “at the helm.”) The homeless community in Denver did this one on their own. They even attracted established homeless advocates from other states, in town for a national meeting, who wanted to take part. The result was rather striking: engagement, involvement and a sense of hope that comes from a community learning to empower itself. You could literally feel it. This was the voice of the homeless community in Denver getting organized.
Denver... expect some change.
When you consider some of these organizations were at the same time sponsoring a national convening of homeless advocacy groups from across the nation--these guys are on it!
The State of the Unhoused event included food (of course), music and art as people gathered and mixed to start off the event. The focus of the event (the six working groups) was introduced, and the facilitators of each working group presented a brief overview of their topic. These topics included food, employment, housing, transportation, anti-criminalization, and hygiene. Then the event broke out into these working groups to discuss various issues that concern the homeless community and suggest solutions.
In the breakout groups, people were eager to participate, share and listen to each other as the various topics were addressed. At the end, spokespeople reported back to the whole group.
Just a few of the many issues discussed were: wage theft; employment discrimination against people with a criminal background; combating the stigma against homelessness; establishing a safe, legal camping zone; the lack of affordable housing; diversity of needs among those experiencing homelessness; the need for public restrooms, showers, laundry and storage facilities; ways to provide wholesome, nutritious food while avoiding food waste; RTD’s discrimination against homeless people; and making public transit affordable for all.
I was impressed by how well facilitated this large event was. Too often at larger events you get that ole “top-down” facilitation style that can often disenfranchise many of the participants. This was not the case at the State of The Unhoused event, where the voice of Denver's homeless community was the centerpiece of the work, activities and spirit of the event. (as was the purpose I presume).
This event was not the endpoint. Rather, it was a start for further work and further organizing. At the end of the Town Hall Marco Nunez, director of El Centro Humanitario de los Trabajadores and an experienced community organizer, introduced participants to some basic organizing principles and concepts. As a follow-up to this initial event, on May 15th at El Centro, Marco and others presented Organizing 101, an introductory training for all who want to work together on issues of homelessness.
The forethought and presence of mind demonstrated by these events is evidence of how serious and committed the homeless community is about getting organized to protect their rights. As the homeless community continues to grow and as needed services become scarcer, the importance of organizing and working together for the benefit of all becomes more acute.”
They are seeing to it that their voices are heard and are working towards getting their rights protected and their needs met.
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