The City of Denver is looking at new options to help people experiencing homelessness.
Through Denver’s Road Home and the Office of Housing & Opportunities for People Everywhere or HOPE, the city will offer storage space to people trying to find a job and get health care.
“Those experiencing homelessness have told us that not having a place where they can safely store their belongings can be barrier to them obtaining a good job, shelter at night, and good health," said Office of HOPE Executive Director Erik Soliván in a news release. "We listened, and we’re bringing that barrier down."
Some of that storage space is inside 10 large lockers, added as part of a new sidewalk storage program. The large lockers have been installed along Lawrence Street and Park Avenue West.
People using the lockers will have to get a permit, must be involved in workforce training or seeking health and shelter services, and can only use the lockers for 30 days at a time.
Currently, six out of 10 large lockers are being used. Marcus Parker is one of them.
"I'm the person who did go to work with all of my personal belongings," Parker said. "It was embarrasing because I got everybody asking me 'what's this stuff in here' so this locker helps me out tremendously."
Parker was in Denver when police swept the streets where he was living. He says he was skeptical about the accessibiity and privacy of the lockers but has changed his mind after using it.
"It's actually working, I like it and I love it," Parker said. "With a locker, it's like four or five things taken off your mind that you don't have to worry about anymore."
The lockers are 49 inches high and 30 inches wide, making it possible for most people to fit inside. It's against the rules for people assigned to the lockers to use drugs, sleep or have pets inside them, officials said.
There are windows on each locker door so it should always be possible to see what's inside, Solivan said. Human Services did not say if police would patrol the storage units.
Denver Public Works will run that pilot program. Officials will test this pilot project for 90 days.
Next month, 200 small and medium-sized lockers will be installed at the Saint Francis Center employment office.
The program is part of a larger project aimed at tackling issues surrounding homelessness in Denver.
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock announced that the city has a total of 30 short-term initiatives to help the homeless this year. Officials plan to announce plans for the initiatives in the next couple of months.
