DENVER — The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless is providing free haircuts to continue their outreach services for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
The group striving to help end homelessness in Denver, partnered with barber Taza “T” Gillespie to offer haircuts and food at the Renaissance Off Broadway Lofts in downtown Denver for people going through a tough time. Kai Griffin is a case manager in the coalition’s Family Support Services department who believes that helping people get back on their feet begins with building trusting relationships.
“They could be having a bad day and feeling stressed out about something,” Griffin said. "My job is to make sure I’m providing the resources and assistance in a time of need so that they could feel a sense of someone does care and someone is looking out for their best interests.”
The Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI) 2024 Point-in-Time (PIT) count showed a 10% increase in overall homelessness and a 6% increase in unsheltered homelessness across the Denver metro area.
The count took place on Jan. 22 and surveyed Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson counties. Unsheltered homelessness in the city of Denver dropped 11% in the last year, according to the data.
Gillespie started cutting hair for the homeless in 2017 on Thanksgiving Day. It was a tradition that grew into him setting up shop on the sidewalk of Lincoln Street between 14th and Colfax Avenues every Monday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. where he would get about 30 customers each session. He said Tuesday, he’s glad to help.
“When they’re down, they always need somebody to help pick them up,” Gillespie said. “I’m giving this person a free haircut, making them feel good, making them want to do better and letting them know there are really people out here who care.”
Ashley O’Sullivan has been a resident at the Off Broadway Lofts since November. She’s experiencing homelessness after she was in a bad car accident and ended up in a wheelchair making it difficult to get around. She said the offer of a free haircut was needed.
“I can’t get down to the haircut place for transportation reasons, mobility reasons,” O’Sullivan said. “It makes me feel really happy because I went through a phase in my life where I didn’t think anyone cared so to meet people who actually do care is really nice.”
The group provided 16 free haircuts during the event and hope to provide more in the future. The group plans on offering haircuts every quarter to help more people feel special.
“Make them feel like we care for one another as a community as a whole," Griffin said. “And that we are looking to build trusting relationships longevity, a thing that they can look forward to in the future.”