Facing Homelessness
The Facing Homelessness campaign was a response to an affordable housing and homelessness crisis in Denver.
When developed in 2017-2018 Denver was one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation with housing and rent prices skyrocketing. While many residents were benefiting from the boom many were suffering from it. A wave of affluent transplants were filling up new apartments, even though rents had risen more than 3 times the national average. Skyrocketing property values flooded the city with increased tax revenue, yet it didn’t have enough affordable housing for those needing it. Meanwhile, many current residents at the time were being priced out of the housing market and builders had minimal incentive to build affordable housing.
When you walk with those like Jerry who have been living on the streets you begin to see that the problem isn’t just about individual circumstances or a crisis around affordable housing but is systemic to how we have organized ourselves to care for people in a city.
At some point when our systems break down under the weight of a crisis, “We” the “People”, the “Community” need to step up and step in to do what is right.
Synopsis
The Facing Homelessness Campaign was produced under the Public Peace Initiative, a collaborative community that builds bridges of unity, reconciliation, and hope for our world.
Work
Developed a campaign and produced an important advocate story highlighting the injustice and humanity of our neighbors living on the streets.
See examples:
Actions
- Developed a campaign and produced an important advocate story highlighting the injustice and humanity of our neighbors who are living on the streets
- Produced a video and multimedia website for the Facing Homelessness Campaign
- Produced two public forums on affordable housing and homelessness in partnership with the Incarnational Leadership Initiative and Creative Mornings
Result
From August 2017 – July 2018
Developed and launched a website and campaign to address the housing and homelessness crisis in Denver. The advocate story of Jerry Burton was published in Westword Magazine:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10155796021817795