The Longest Night:  "We Will Remember."
 
Tonight before the City and County Building of Denver two hundred gathered in his name.  It could easily have been 200,000 or a million and filled the space between the State Capitol and the City and County Building of Denver but many people of all places and descriptions said that they knew about this event too late, or they were too tired, or they forgot, or they scheduled some other appointment, or they had no time.  As we passed out flyers before and after the memorials for the last three days and went to encampments, places of refuge, and places where homeless people were hanging out no one seemed to know that there is a national day of mourning for the most vulnerable, which is the longest night.  People felt at ease that this was the same time and place that is designated when the Savior was born in a manger.
 
Many of those who wrote, called, and responded to wave upon wave of entreaties, not realizing that the person who is responsible for the four gospels is the same as all of the 150 people whose names were recited with the words, "We will remember," after each name.  Many did not understand that as long as we have no place that is fit for the least of our citizens that this is the most important and worthy task of our society to adjust.
 
City Hall wouldn't lower the flag to half mast for the reasons that are given by many that it takes too much time and too many number of calls to make this happen, even though a significant number of those persons whose names were read were veterans, children, as young as two months and elders of as much as eighty-one years of age.
 
This was a night of solemnity and tears, a night of painful admission that we have failed the people who we have set out to restore to a place of safety; that all are responsible for this situation including the people who do not have a fixed, stable and secure place to live. It was said at the memorial from Mother Jones, "We bury the dead and we fight like hell for the living."  We all must rise.  We all must feel that every place that we walk is hallowed ground.  Each step, each breath is a prayer, an unspoken testament to the grace and gift of life. For twenty-five years we have awaited the day, the time, the circumstance when there is no one left to mourn who had died thirty-five years before their time.
 
When the next ceremony for those who have died comes will you be in bed, or sipping a martini at the bar?  When the vigil comes and the names are read will you, like the Acting Mayor Guillermo Vidol say that in your youth that you were scared and that your father fretted about whether you would be without a safe and stable place to live?  Will you rise, as the benediction was read and come and join a sea of people stretching from one end of the City Park to the other proclaiming that no matter what time and place, that no one will be in an unsafe and unwanted place; that certainly no child will feel the sting of being left outside, and where there is such wealth and squalor side by side that we not just share a meal but make a bed and allow the poor to lie down and rest?  There is a responsibility of us all to ensure that there is a permanent home for all our children.
 
The story is the oldest of all parables.  The refrain is the same, "There is nothing that cannot be done that we cannot accomplish together, this night and the rest of the days of our lives."  We can live in loving compassion by both forgiving and loving.  We can find a way to make a place for the most vulnerable by holding them in our heart as we walk home, and open the door.  We can take the time, as Acting Mayor Bill Vidol stated, "By putting aside the risks and responsibilities of our lives," by looking into one another's eyes; feeling the connection; knowing the truth;  understanding that every human being, every sentient being, no matter how they have lived,  is worthy,  and that we demand that the person next to us, our neighbor lives with dignity and grace; even when this person may not be of this mind or see that their life is blessed. 
 
A nun outside a soup pantry and shelter once reminded me as she left, "You are loved and you are special."  Can we take the time to remind every single person who we encounter on the Road to Jericho, that you belong here, there are no exceptions?  We can embrace these 150 people whose names were read saying, "We will never forget," take these words to your heart every night that you lay your head down, remembering that across the land someone is dying a little tonight.

DENVER, December 16, 2010 - The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless and Renaissance Housing Development Corporation, its housing development subsidiary, announce the opening of the Coalition's 15th integrated residential community - Renaissance Uptown Lofts.

In spite of a tough economy in which residential development is sluggish, the Coalition remains one on the most innovative and successful housing developers in the nation as it expands its Renaissance Housing Model to a new location in Denver, minutes away from the State Capitol. This approach blends supportive housing for families and individuals experiencing homelessness - with affordable housing for working individuals who otherwise could not afford quality housing in desirable locations.

Today, Renaissance Uptown Lofts opens the door to 98 households. The Coalition is also announcing a new program to create training and employment jobs for homeless individuals and residents of the Renaissance Uptown Lofts.

Human services, high design standards, environmental sensitivities, community involvement and a desire to honor the historic and architectural elements of the surrounding neighborhood are all factors that have guided our work.

Integrated Community

Renaissance Uptown Lofts features 98 studio, one- and two-bedroom rental apartment homes targeted to a variety of income levels. Approximately half of the homes will be reserved for individuals being served by the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless.  The remaining will be targeted to persons at or below 30 to 60 percent of the area's median income ($10,000 to $35,000).  Rents will range from $250 to $600 per month.

Formerly homeless households will pay rent based on 30 percent of their income. Public grants and private donations will be utilized to subsidize rents of homeless individuals and keep rents as affordable as possible.

Amenities in the building include a community center, computer center, laundry facilities, counseling offices, and an undesignated area that can be used for meetings, training activities or an exercise room - at the discretion of the residents.  A second floor courtyard offers a dramatic view of the state capitol dome, a space that's expected to foster hospitable surroundings for neighborly interactions. 

Integrated Supportive Services

The Coalition will provide residents a combination of on-site services with access to other health and supportive services through its Stout Street Clinic. On-site staff will provide or assist residents in obtaining any medical or mental health care as well as substance treatment services and employment, vocational and other supports necessary to move from the street to a home.

Healthy Environment

Renaissance Uptown Lofts provide a safe and healthy environment for its residents. The Coalition adopts building practices that minimize moisture, provide proper ventilation and avoids unsafe and toxic materials. Non-toxic primers, paints, sealants and adhesives, natural fiber carpeting and compound wood products that do not contain any urea formaldehyde are used throughout the building.

The Coalition believes that energy efficiency and environmentally friendly construction can become the benchmark for affordable housing. Built to Enterprise Green Communities™ and LEED® standards to keep energy costs and environmental impacts low, Renaissance Uptown Lofts will deliver greater energy and water efficiencies, better indoor air quality and space use that will be sustainable over time.

The development utilized recycled and locally available materials whenever possible.  Fifty percent of the construction waste was recycled and site runoff was controlled to avoid water contamination. The building's "C" footprint and orientation maximizes natural light through south and west exposures and protects against buffeting northwest winds. Roof top photo-voltaic (PV) panels will generate 89,000 kWh of electricity annually. The building's Ecospace elevators use one third of the energy required for hydraulic lifts and don't need oil.  Energy Star appliances and light fixtures in all units further conserve energy while low-flow toilets, faucets and showers save water. Blow-in cellulose insulation and e-coat glazing in the windows provide an energy efficient building envelope. For low-income residents, utility costs can quickly overtake a household budget.

Building a Strong Economy

Renaissance Uptown Lofts has been a boost for the local economy. The $17 million construction budget created 52 construction related jobs and five on-going housing and service jobs, with more than 475 different individuals working on the site for 12 months, including formerly homeless individuals.  The direct funds expended through the project generated approximately $32,300,000 in total economic activity, including $461,000 in local taxes. This new supply of supportive and affordable housing is also expected to reduce social service and emergency related costs as fewer people will be living in homelessness, or will be at-risk of becoming homeless. 

Creating Jobs through Social Enterprise

The Coalition is also launching a new social enterprise program - Renaissance Works - that will partner with businesses to provide job training and jobs for homeless persons served by the Coalition.  Renaissance Works will ensure that homeless persons will have access to the employment opportunities created through new housing construction developed by the Coalition.  Each contractor will be required to hire persons trained by the Coalition for a portion of the new jobs created through its initiatives.

In addition, the Coalition will be developing and operating a new Pizza Fusion restaurant at the Renaissance Uptown Lofts. Pizza Fusion is the number-one Green franchise in North America. Based out of Fort Lauderdale, FL, the all-natural pizza restaurant chain offers fresh, natural, and healthier foods in all its eco-friendly, LEED® certified locations worldwide. Pizza Fusion's mission is to uphold the highest level of integrity in all they do, from the quality and origin of their food to their care for the health of their customers and the environment.

The Pizza Fusion restaurant at Uptown Lofts will provide on-the-job training for homeless individuals, as well as expanded employment opportunities for residents and others served by the Renaissance Works program.

Mark Begelman, CEO of Pizza Fusion commented, "I could not be more honored to be partnering with the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless as they are an organization who has truly made a positive difference not only in thousands of individual lives, but in Colorado's communities as a whole. We feel there is a natural affinity between both organizations as we each strive to provide healthier solutions for those we serve on individual, communal and environmental levels."

Pizza Fusion's motto, "Saving the Earth One Pizza at a Time" aligns well with the Coalition's mission of ending homelessness, one person at a time.

HAVE YOUR ART DISPLAYED AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE

This is a SHOUT OUT to any and all NCAB consumer members to submit your artwork to be displayed at the next NHCHC Conference in Washington DC in June 2011. Please send response to challoriginals@msn.com. I am an artist myself and my art has been recognized by exhibiting it at the conference.  Maybe you're a little shy about showing it but give it chance. The current plan is to display consumer art in the resource room

Just because we were or are homeless doesn't mean we're not talented, doesn't mean we can't express ourselves, and certainly doesn't mean that nobody else cares. This is not a contest. It's an exhibit and all is appreciated. Take this opportunity to share your art and your expression with others.

We need you!!! Hopefully, in our upcoming issues you, the readers, will send in your personal stories, poems, and articles regarding how you started your board and how it is running today. Please send any helpful comments on what you would like to see in the newsletter that might help others to ncab@nhchc.org

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