David Heitz

1 week ago | newsbreak.com | David Heitz

People who don’t speak English summonsed to court in Aurora would face steep interpreter fees if they failed to appear under a new ordinance proposed by the City Council. The safety committee of the council last week approved moving the proposed law to the full City Council study session for discussion. Aurora is home to thousands of non-English speaking residents as the most ethnically diverse city in the state, according to census data.

1 week ago | newsbreak.com | David Heitz

Housekeys Action Network Denver, a homeless advocacy group, held a vigil Wednesday at the intersection of Broadway and Lawrence Street for all homeless LGBT people who have died. The location, in front of the dog park, marks the spot where police shot and killed a trans woman who charged them with a knife last year. Ana Miller of HAND shared her own story of being trans on the street and being afraid to come out of the closet.

1 week ago | newsbreak.com | David Heitz

One of Denver’s harm reduction providers for people who use drugs operate a meth and crack pipe and needle wagon, too. One such mobile unit comes to my building, a former hotel turned into apartments for people who experienced homelessness. The fact that a truck full of paraphernalia pulls up weekly sort of boggles my mind. But with passage of a recent state law, paraphernalia is legal for those who get caught with pipes or needles they can show came from a needle exchange.

1 week ago | newsbreak.com | David Heitz

The Safety, Education, Housing and Homelessness Committee of the Denver City Council voted Wednesday to approve $19.2 million in homeless hotel contracts with the Salvation Army to run through the end of this year. The organization has been providing the services without a contract since the beginning of the year. The Salvation Army will continue to operate the Tamarac Family Shelter and the former DoubleTree and Best Western homeless hotels on Quebec.

1 week ago | newsbreak.com | David Heitz

The Safety, Education, Housing and Homelessness Committee of the Denver City Council voted Wednesday to approve $19.2 million in homeless hotel contracts with the Salvation Army to run through the end of this year. The organization has been providing the services without a contract since the beginning of the year. The Salvation Army will continue to operate the Tamarac Family Shelter and the former DoubleTree and Best Western homeless hotels on Quebec.