So many causes in Denver are deserving of community support, especially when it comes to homelessness. But one organization has a unique model for putting people experiencing homelessness to work and elevating their voices at the same time.
The Denver Voice has served the community for decades as a non-profit “street newspaper.” Vendors experiencing homelessness hawk the newspaper for donations. Current and former people experiencing homelessness write for the newspaper, which produces quality journalism under the leadership of its editor, Elisabeth Monaghan.
But for now, all the employees have been laid off – the bank account dwindled to zero, according to board chair Robert Davis. The good news is that just in the past week, the Voice has raised $15,000 from private donations. That is enough to print the October version of the newspaper.
Editor had just asked me to write for them
The newspaper’s demise caught me by surprise. Monaghan had just asked me a few weeks ago if I wanted to write for them. I have my hands full with my current writing obligations, but I was flattered she asked.