Denver's New "Green" Lofts For Homeless People

For all of you talking about taking over old abandoned buildings, and empty homes, this is important to think about, including that is used both public and private funds:

Making Denver's East Colfax Avenue better (but not too much better)
The street's best new designs bring hope, but respect the urban realities
By Ray Mark Rinaldi
The Denver Post
Posted: 01/28/2011 03:28:16 PM MSTUpdated: 01/31/2011 01:50:25 PM MST

(snip)

At Pearl Street, rethinking the affordable. The latest Colorado Coalition for the Homeless project aims to change lives while fitting in. The $17 million building uses the latest green technology.

Lofts for the homeless? Yes, and plenty of windows to let in the light, picturesque views of the cathedral next door, brightly painted hallways, 10-foot ceilings, a shared computer lab and on-site counselors. The roof is covered with energy-converting solar tubes, and hyper-efficient elevators, and mechanical systems keep utility bills low for residents who need that the most.


Floor-to-ceiling windows in the hallways frame views of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception nearby.


The goal is to integrate homeless people into the community and for the building itself to provide a "revitalizing uplift" to the neighborhood, coalition president John Parvensky said. While half of the units will be reserved for coalition clients, the rest will lease to folks who make $35,000 or less a year. Rents will range from $250 to $600 a month

Designed by Humphries Poli Architects, the building links to the sidewalk through five storefronts where retail tenants get a rent discount if they offer jobs or training to residents. Due first: an outlet of the trendy, earth-friendly Pizza Fusion chain.

Design-wise, the building tries to accomplish a lot. On three sides it is a modern loft development, with exterior sections of stucco, corrugated metal and composite siding — an uncomplicated box that adds a touch of this era to a street that has developed in various styles over a century.

Rooftop photovoltaic tubes will generate electricity for the building. The lofts were constructed to current green standards with energy-efficient elevators and appliances.


John Parvensky, president of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, in the courtyard of the Uptown Lofts, the nonprofit's 15th residential project. (Photos by Cyrus McCrimmon, The Denver Post )exaggerated finials.

More at the link, including the new LGBT Center next door
http://www.denverpost.com/entertainment/ci_17221050

Treating people like human beings!

What a concept!

I hope this lights a few fires around here!

NO to tents.. YES to HOUSING!

I learn again never to give up on the human spirit...

NO TENT CITIES!

NO CRIMINALIZING PEOPLE!

Everyone here can do their part to make this work!

How 'bout writing an LTTE to your paper today?

we can't repeat that too many times.

:applause:

Have graphic talent?

but like you I share the need to point out the truth. And people only need to look around them to see we're right. Who makes folks live in tents when there are foreclosed houses in every neighborhood sitting empty? In fact, who "forecloses" on houses? As far as I'm concerned housing should be a human right along with health care. This nonsense about certain folks amassing billions of dollars while others live in tents is crazy.

housing, health care, food, water, warmth...recreation even?

While I understand why people are saying it, continuing to repeat that homeless people should be in the empty houses really isn't an answer. As a matter of fact, it puts us further behind.

Those homes, abandoned or not, have OWNERS, and trying to change that will waste money time and effort.

On the other hand, working to build nice buildings like this will be a BENEFIT. These apartments will now remain low-income, and this can be done in every locale if progressives care enough to make it a priority.

And of course Bobbolink's post is really inspiring.

And, I told you what you could do with yours. ~~gigglesnort~~

:hi:

...it is about time!

Cat in Seattle

it could happen to anybody, and those apts are awesome...

Well, I guess they are for people earning less than $35,000.

THIS is why I have been so adamant about doing it right, and doing it NOW.

This is doable, if people have the will.

small towns around Montana. The housing ended up being used primarily by the very aged living on fixed incomes and handicapped people. I was glad when the towns recognized the need and worked to meet the need. Of course it was never enough. There is really enormous need right now.

This looks like a nice building and I hope that it will go a long ways anyway to meet the need.
K&R Thank you for posting this!

Our work is not done yet.

People are depending on us to get busy and do this!

Wonderful concept- living, jobs and counseling all in one place.

It is downtown, so there are jobs in that area. It was a good way to spark up an old neighborhood, and create low-income housing and please environmentalists, all at one time!

--have those problems BECAUSE homelessness can drive people crazy. Fix the homelessness, and sanity returns. Those who have mental health issues that cause homelessness are a minority, I suspect.

homelessness. THere are plenty of seriously mentally ill people who are NOT homeless.... the difference is MONEY.

As for the other side.... yes, you are right.. it is a minority.

Sixteen percent. 16%.

Yet, people want to keep equating homelessness with mental illness. Everytime Thom Hartmann does that, I want to throw something at the radio! Get. Educated. Thom!

The "drug use" meme is nonsense too. If people with drug and alcohol problems have someplace to live, they'll find it far easier to get a handle on their problems. And if not, everyone deserves shelter regardless.

When you are poor, there is no margin of error.

" If people with drug and alcohol problems have someplace to live, they'll find it far easier to get a handle on their problems."

I don't know if you saw the OP a few days ago about the "wet" housing. It is for homeless alcoholics, and nobody tries to get them to quit. It is just how it is, and giving them a safe place to live is not only more healthy for them, but it costs the cities less. How hard it is to think clearly about these simple things!

I didn't mean to be nit-picky about the "cause" thing... it is just that there is so much ignorance, and people who keep repeating things that make life harder and more painful for homeless people. Thank you for understanding, and using a different term. As Lakoff has taught us, wording can make a big difference.

We really don't need for it to be this way!

just thanks to a safe, clean place to live and eat -- with the amenities, at least a shower, a stove, a refrigerator and indoor sanitary facilities of all kinds.

Homeless is not a character trait. It is just a situation. Homeless does not define a person. It just describes the injustice of a society.

In a nation of compassionate people, there could be no homelessness.

a magazine article for The Nation, RollingStone, etc.

OR, a book title.

I hope you write it, because it sounds to me like you have a LOT to say that neeeds to be heard.

At least write an LTTE, OK?

:yourock:

to put them to use in much the same way.

That's wonderful; thanks.

:kick:

Good for the world.

La tabla rasa, the fresh start for humanity.
Genius.

Here in California, the homeless don't freeze to death so much, and Californians are snotty about helping the homeless, with the NIMBY people and the false argument that helping is "enabling."

May this catch on.

We need to get active, and we can all do that.

Even writing a LTTE to your local paper about this can open a few eyes! Willing to give it a try?

in the Los Angeles Skid Row and downtown areas.

http://www.srohousing.org/

http://www.srdcla.org/

Here is a Catholic-funded shelter

http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/opp825977.jsp

http://www.losangelesmission.org/Home.aspx

Thanks for the thread, bobbolink.:thumbsup:

They got the funding together, and Denver isn't in good financial shape, but they did it, so it can be done across the nation.

Now, if we can get people in other cities to do this.... obviously it can be done!

How about writing an LTTE for your local paper about this?

KnR !

:thumbsup:

solutions to problems than just cutting and/or ignoring those in need.

Those who are obstructionists aren't going to come to it on their own.. they have to be PUSHED.

We can do the pushing!

Do you know?

be fixed.

MYTH. And one that hurts.

According to the article, it is a mixture.

It's probably not their intention to vilify the homeless, but just following the money

Sadly, there's money in the new HCR act for a lot of agencies to end up perpetuating poverty without that being their actual intent.

Counselors? Send the counselors to the burbs!

:-)

:applause: :bounce: :toast::applause: :bounce: :toast::applause: :bounce: :toast::applause: :bounce: :toast::applause: :bounce: :toast:

You are SO right! I see so many more deeply screwed up affluent people than poor people!

Get 'em the help they need to reclaim their humanity!

I'm hoping you could speak to this since you certainly know a lot more about it than I do. Most homeless folks I've met are indeed perfectly normal people just like anybody else who've simply had bad luck and I would definitely not assume that they have some kind of inherent flaw that requires counseling.

That said, I feel like if I had to endure homelessness for any significant length of time, particularly if I were in a situation where I were isolated and had no friends or family with me, I might get pretty depressed and need some therapy to fix that.

As I said though, you know a lot more than me about this both from a knowledge and practical standpoint and I'd like to hear your thoughts on this matter.

Indeed I would certainly not want to go to a counselor for depression and have them try to "fix" something else they assume is wrong with me because I was homeless.

I believe what you are describing is the harm that is done to people psychologicially by being tossed out as garbage in this sociey. There is, indeed, pain that comes from that situation, and the way that we are treated on a daily basis (including by "progressives!)

Of course people would do much better if that pain was healed. If there was caring and nurturing.

But that is NOT what counseling is all about. :(

First off, counseling goes through fads, like everything else. The fad for quite a while now is "responsibility". They make a societal problem into a personal problem, and then put on the "responsibility" trip. So, on top of the pain and feelings of worthlessness, guilt is added. That is in no way helpful.

Then, there are the drugs. That is how "problems" are dealt with now. That's where the $$$ is. You *do* know that the US has more people per capita on these drugs than any other country, right? Those drugs, besides NOT dealing with the problem, have a lot of other negative effects, too, which we won't go into now. (And this will likely get all the "BUt *I* was helped with drugs! Are you telling me you don't want me to take my meds?". sigh...

I have a background in psychology and I can tell you that I am disgusted with much of what I see in the profession now.

What I have always thought should be the primary mission of a counselor is to put themselves out of business. There is no big secret formula to the part of what a good counselor would do. It is what we can ALL learn to do, and if we really wanted to build a healthy movement, if we wanted to created a healthier society instead of griping about the teabaggers, this is exactly what we would do. Its not hard, its nothing mystical, and it is worth the effort.

I would suggest beginning with a really good book called "The Good Listener", by James Sullivan.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_37?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=the+good+listener+by+james+e+sullivan&sprefix=the+good+listener+by+james+e+sullivan

It would make an excellent group study and practice and I highly recommend it.

WE can not only be our own media, but we can learn to be our own societal healers.

We really can.

Thank you for asking.. the kind way you asked shows that you are already on the way to listening!

:yourock:

I'm unemployed(not homeless) and I sure could use an on-site counselor (in fact I am seeing someone). Counseling is not about being flawed or even broken...it's about being wounded. And many homeless people are wounded.

That is NOT how it is anymore. :cry:

The "counselors" are there to PRY and "FIX" people. There are many DUers who can attest to that!

We wounded have to learn to help each other.

are good people who want to help.

Myself, I am dealing with post-traumatic stress from being bullied at work, and then getting into an accident shortly after the job end.

It manifests itself as a fear of working or looking for work. And that's not something that I want to live with. I am wounded, and I want to heal. I am not lazy (like many people assume I am)but i need a hand.

I wouldn't doubt a lot of homeless people deal with similar things. Being kicked around a lot, you start to doubt your own worth. And that's not normal, and it's not something we have to live with. Counseling helps you see that, and overcome it.

You also know that the US prescribes a hell of a lot more pills as an "answer", too, right?

I could write a book on this, but I hope you begin to get the picture.

We WISH we had what you have... cherish it, and fight for it!

What do you mean that "counselors try to FIX" you? Do you mean they try to prescribe antidepressant (here in Canada, only psychiatrists can do that, counslers and pyschologists can't)? Do they do other bad things? I'm trying to understand how therapy is done with homeless people in your experience.

I'm glad it is working for you THERE.

Homeless people are NOT, as a population, FLAWED.

You did explain that in the U.S. people are just given drugs. I was just hoping for an expansion on it, or a personal story from you, seeing as how you are in the position of being homeless.

give you the personal details you want.

You'll have to look elsewhere for that.

Ha.....I'd hope no one attacks me, since I just shared that I'm seeing a counselor for pstd.

I get the feeling that you think I have some sort of ulterior motive. I don't. I just wanted to learn about the specific topic of counseling for homeless people from another point of view. However, I understand that you may have adversaries on DU and won't pursue the topic.

Didn't see it till now. Thanks.

profit profit profit ...

but I do like the idea of actually housing people rather than leaving them on the streets. About time.

This is the kind of world we can create. This is how it is supposed to be!

Can we become this? Yes we can!

These are the kinds of projects being funded by the Obama administration's homelessness initiative.

HUD SECRETARY DONOVAN ANNOUNCES $ 1,041,139 IN NEW HOMELESS AID TO COLORADO

This needs to go viral.

viral!

How can we do that?

Can you share this around?

Can you write an LTTE about this?

:hi: :hug:

Let us know the results of the LTTE, OK?

:hi:

will read soon... sounds promising

Great news, and a great idea.

Let's hear it for Denver and the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless!

:applause:

HOMES FOR ALL!

And, in areas besides Denver, also.

We CAN do this!

Reposted too :)

wow...if only we could see more of this, and perhaps take an empty lot in the neighborhood and start a gardening project...

Maybe if we keep visioning the world better off, it will eventually match up!

I hope every city follows this example. :thumbsup:

and they will get more respect just by having an actual home of their own. And green technology to keep the utility bills down. Impressive.

I hope and pray that this experiment works out well and it reproduced all over the country. Every time some RW idiot starts to spout off about taking all the government money from the poor, stopping welfare programs and food stamps and housing assistance, all I tell them is that I do not want to live in a country so full of homeless people that you have to step over them on sidewalks. No one should have to live in the streets.

:kick:

It takes having the WILL to do it.

K&R

It's been lost recently so thanks for posting and spreading this fantastic news.

Nice to see it off the drafting board.

:applause:

But I'm biased since, you know, Mom. Do they have community vegetable gardens and hire those who want work to help restore/maintain the buildings, too? That would be awesome!

In the city for which Mom wrote her plan, small community vegetable gardens would be possible downtown, but I'm not as familiar with Denver. Even if vacant lots were only available for one growing season at a time, I wish this project would look in to it - pretty cheap and (for some) enjoyable way to get healthy, tasty food into the meal plan without breaking the budget. Even better if there was enough space to grow surplus to sell to restaurants or farmers market, but that's just dreaming.

impossible.

That's why there needs to also be buildings in other parts of the city, but the affluent Dems are prejudiced.

NIMBY.

This is a godsend for the homeless and those a hair's breadth away too.

This is the sort of thing that needs to spread and grow.

certain communal rooms such as a room for computers.

I'm wondering how large and how well outfitted the "units" are. I also wonder whether a nominal rent is charged for homeless people and, if not, just how the rentals by the homeless are funded. That is an important detail.

The article mostly talks about the artistic merits of the architecture. I'm very interested in the organization of the funding and the lifestyles made possible for the homeless in the building.

Sounds great so far, but I would love to know more.

i'm not seeing the novelty except the window.

50 units for the homeless.

"green".

it sounds like a good project, but i'm not seeing the epochal nature of the thing.

maybe i'm missing something.

To me, everything in our society is so fragmented, so anything that includes integration of all members of society with respect and compassion is great progress, imho. This combines affordable housing, a green approach, and a system to integrate those who are struggling the most with businesses and the rest of the neighborhood, with incentives to help one another. :)

at $175,000 per unit, you have to wonder at the cost. There's an existing 102 unit complex for sale currently in Denver for 4,900,00 ($48,039) per unit. That would have left them $12,000,000 for other projects while delivering the a greater number of units on this project.

http://www.loopnet.com/xNet/MainSite/Listing/Profile/Profile.aspx?LID=16829326&SRID=1688200410&StepID=101

Unfortunately not enough developers (for-profit and non-profit alike) seem interested in using the existing structures that are all over the country - and available at 1/3 the cost of new construction

Thanks for the info.

And, yes, this drives me crazy:



One of my (many) dreams is to create a Citizens Development Cooperative. Pool enough resources and ingenuity, including resources from the local "haves," and do this ourselves.

I know...easier said than done, but still...

:dem:

Housing for all!

:kick:

in many other communities!

Make this story more visible to the Powers That Be in our communities?

Maybe a mailing to people on this list?

http://www.nahro.org/board-governors

:shrug:

..if we make it so.

It is up to us.

You can start with an LTTE in your local paper.

Thanks, Bobbie!

How you bean?

:pals:

and we here in CA are with you all the way with the legal cannabis measures in 2012 (yours and ours) The tax revenue will help the homeless too among many other things.

that this is a sign that people are tired of being "rude and arrogant", and instead find joy in helping people.

Maybe it will take power away from the extreme right wing if we actually ENJOY helping others.

O8)

with the city of Denver, and working with private donors.

It certainly shows that it can be done, and it isn't about taking an abandoned warehouse and making substandard and shoddy housing from it.

This sort of project can be done anywhere, including in rural areas!

Thanks for your thread, also, Shireling! :hug:

I can't believe that this hasn't been asked yet, but since you're homeless, do you know the process to apply for housing there, and are you going to try and get an unit at this new place?