Can ‘Safe Outdoor Spaces’ Be A Permanent Part Of Our City?

On our show last Friday, we featured a deeply human story from one man, David Gordon, about his experience living inside one of the most important new efforts to address Denver’s homelessness crisis. After a three-month stay at a Safe Outdoor Space, he said Denver should absolutely invest in this housing option.  But the leases at the first two locations are up at the end of the month, and it’s unclear whether there’s much appetite for making this temporary pandemic relief measure permanent. On the show today are Cole Chandler, executive director of the Colorado Village Collaborative, the organization administering the SOS program, and Pastor Nathan Adams of Park Hill United Methodist Church. Host Bree Davies asks them how South Park Hill is reacting to their decision to invite unhoused neighbors into the community, why they believe in this new type of shelter, and how you can help make it permanent.

The best way to reach Nathan is through Park Hill United Methodist Church, which you can learn more about here. You can donate to Colorado Village Collaborative here. 

Hey, don’t forget to listen to our first part of this conversation about Safe Outdoor Spaces with Denver VOICE vendor David Gordon who lived in the one on Pearl St. for three months.

Are you an Old Elitch’s person? Or a New Elitch’s person? Use Voice Memos, Voice Recorder, or another app to record your Elitch’s memory and send it to us at [email protected], and we might play it on the show. Just remember to say your name and whether you’re an Old Elitch’s person or a New Elitch’s person.

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