Meeting the Moment – Denver’s Great Challenge in 2021
- Dear Friends,
Fifteen years ago, the city of Denver made a bold commitment to end homelessness. Resources were prioritized, and gifted people dedicated themselves to the work.
The presence of people sleeping on our streets reminds us that we didn’t end homelessness. Indeed, the challenge may be greater now than ever.
One less visible aspect of this crisis is that many, many families in every part of the city are homeless or whose housing is profoundly insecure. Experts warn that a flood of evictions in the wake of the pandemic could push many moms and dads, and their children, into homelessness.
The causes of this crisis are more complex than we might think. Shifting economic realities combine with personal tragedy, trauma and health challenges. A big factor in Denver is affordability, where the cost of renting an apartment increased by nearly 65% over the last decade. Needless to say, wages did not match that increase.
We may not have “solved” homelessness, but we have witnessed inspiring dedication and creativity…
- Our friends Lauren and Adelle Funk used their wealth to build a townhome community and moved in with formerly homeless families.
- Pastor Bob and Eddie Mae Woolfolk are building apartments for men coming out or prison. The Colorado Village Collaborative turns borrowed land into tiny-home villages.
- Churches, including our partners at Denver Community Church, are hosting carefully-managed tent camps as an alternative to makeshift camping on the street.
- Corbyn and Caroline Small bought a duplex so that they could share cheap housing with a family in need.
All of these do more than just provide housing; they build community. This is critical, because the overarching crisis of our day – spanning all income levels – is loneliness and isolation.
We’ve been thrilled – and honestly a bit surprised – at the way our Joshua Station community rallied together during the struggles of 2020. As they navigated the threat of the virus and as each worked to stabilize their own situation, our families found ways to encourage one another. Crazy as it sounds, 2020 may have been the best year ever at Joshua Station.
As we step into 2021, we are committed to building more opportunities for this kind of community. Safe and compassionate community that promotes healing and belonging. Places where neighbors can expand their economic capacity and we can all deepen our spiritual connectedness.
We call this work peacemaking: community development that expresses love of God, love for our neighbors, and simple practices that cultivate lives of generosity, peace, and self-emptying love. We’re grateful for your part in this good life.
