Denver, CO. SWEEPS update week of 5/24/21-5/28/21

SWEEPS this week began on Tuesday 5/25/21 on Broadway between Blake St and 28th St. This encampment had many handicapped individuals. None of them were offered housing. One adult black female camp resident broke down crying and pleading with DPD officer Wilson for where to go? Office Wilson was in this case able to provide her and her partner with a motel room for 3 days, knowing that no shelter resource exists in Denver for couples. A volunteer offered to store their belongings for the 3 days so they would not lose it. This volunteer went above and beyond and took their wet soiled clothes and laundered them before storing them (we have the best community of volunteers y’all!!) Approximately 20 people were traumatically displaced. The city used 4 waste water trucks to powerwash the area and all of the dirty water ran into the storm drain and into our water system. 

SWEEPS continued on Wednesday 5/26/21 at Grant St. Between 9th and 11th. These were really two separate camps but the city is continuing the habit of lumping large areas together and calling them one camp rather than several small ones. One camp was at 9th and Grant and the other at 11th and Grant. There was one woman at 9th and Grant who had only been on the street for 3 days with her cat. It was her first SWEEP. After being informed of this, several more experienced residents assisted her with packing up and finding a new spot. This is what community looks like!!! Approximately 20 people were traumatically displaced.

SWEEPS concluded today, Thursday at Pennsylvania Ave. between 17th and 18th Streets. DOTI worker Ralph began the morning at 4:30am verbally harassing residents yelling “you lazy shits, you should be ashamed of yourself…” to wake them up for their traumatic displacement. Ralph continues to  abuse his position with no direction from Supervisor Adam Abeyta. No one was offered housing. Approximately 12 people were traumatically displaced.

SWEEPS don’t solve homelessness! Homelessness ends with housing. Until we can procure enough affordable, safe and accessible housing we need to plan for our unhoused! It is irresponsible not to! Everybody poops! We march onward towards Rights, Dignity, Housing….

Contact:
info@denverhomelessoutloud.org
720-940-5291