Centennial Citizen 020223

Our in-depth look at the housing crisis

Laurie Halaba becomes first female bureau chief Sheri Brown leads ceremony

BY TAYLER SHAW

TSHAW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Moments after making history at the Arapahoe County Sheri ’s O ce, Laurie Halaba hugged her daughter and wiped away tears.  She had just been sworn in as the agency’s newest bureau chief, becoming the rst woman to ever hold the position at the Arapahoe County Sheri ’s O ce.

“It’s a little overwhelming,” Halaba said following the Jan. 24 ceremony.

“When I started 23 years ago, if you would’ve told me that I would be the rst female bureau chief, I would’ve laughed.”

High home prices, lack of supply sever metro residents from communities

work

BY ROBERT TANN COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

When Chris Laney moved into his new three-bedroom home last

summer, he felt like he’d won the lottery. After more than a decade of chasing the cheapest rent across the metro area, the Littleton bartender nally has a house to call his own.

“I almost feel guilty that I have it,” said Laney, 49.

Laney is one of a handful of residents who have secured housing through a subsidized program aimed at helping lower- and

INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | CALENDAR: PAGE 11 | SPORTS: PAGE 20

middle-income people live where they work. But as cities and towns contend with historically high home costs and a lack of supply, residents like Laney have struggled to live in their communities.

“I’ve always felt like I was just passing through instead of living somewhere, putting down roots,” said Laney. He has worked

SMALL GOALIE, BIG HEART

As bureau chief, Halaba will command the Public Safety Bureau, which encompasses the patrol operations, special operations and investigation services, the sheri ’s o ce said in a statement. She will also oversee the law enforcement contract for the City of Centennial.  e previous bureau chief, Glenn ompson, recently retired. Sheri Tyler Brown said Halaba was on the radar for the position “probably from about week one that I was here at the sheri ’s o ce.”

“Laurie is a consummate professional when it comes to (being) a member of command sta . She has been an example for so many, and

Low- and middle-income people struggle to live where they

Suspect in alleged assault peacefully surrenders

After SWAT stando

BY TAYLER SHAW TSHAW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Following a stando with SWAT for several hours in Aurora on Jan. 26, omas Jon Kelsen surrendered peacefully and was arrested on charges related to him allegedly assaulting family members in Centennial the previous night.

At approximately 4 p.m. Jan. 25, deputies responded to a home in the 4600 block of East Lake Avenue in Centennial, where a 48-year-old woman and her 78-year-old mother live, Ginger Delgado, a public information o cer for Arapahoe County Sheri ’s O ce, said via email. e suspect, who is the son of the 78-year-old woman and brother of the 48-year-old woman, reportedly arrived at the residence “and a family dispute began,” according to the

email.

Kelsen, 45, allegedly pushed his mother and violently hit his sister with a weapon before then leaving the scene, per the email. In a Jan. 27 tweet, the Arapahoe County Sheri ’s O ce said Kelsen is accused of striking his sister in the throat with a hammer.

e sister reportedly called 911 after she was struck, Delgado said. She was allegedly seriously injured and transported to a local hospital.

Around 7 a.m. Jan. 26, deputies learned the suspect was at his home in the 18800 block of East Colorado Drive in Aurora, Delgado said. Arapahoe County Sheri ’s O ce deputies arrived on scene and asked the Aurora Police Department’s SWAT team to take over since it was their jurisdiction.

Delgado said the police evacuated the two homes next door to the house and tried to communicate with the suspect for several hours by

public address system, or PA system, but did not get a response.

“We obtained a search warrant and arrest warrant around 1 p.m. and the SWAT team proceeded to breach a window. at’s when the suspect surrendered peacefully,” Delgado said.

Kelsen surrendered before anyone from the SWAT team entered the residence, Delgado said, and there

Kelsen was arrested on suspicion of three charges: second-degree assault, crimes against an at-risk elder and rst-degree burglary. When asked about the burglary charge and what was reported stolen, Delgado said she did not have that information.

As of Jan. 26, Kelsen was at the Arapahoe County Detention Facility.

Dead body found in homeless camp

No foul play suspected

BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

A dead body was found at a homeless camp on Little’s Creek Trail under Rapp Street on Jan. 23. The Littleton Police do not

believe there was any foul play or criminal activity, spokesperson Sheera Poelman said.

Littleton Code Compliance workers found the body on Tuesday morning while they were conducting a cleanup at the camp, Poelman said. They called the police around 11 a.m., she said.

Littleton Code Compliance,

part of the Community Development Department, is responsible for investigating complaints and addressing code violations, according to the city’s website. A homeless camp cleanup involves contacting individuals to move their belongings, giving them notice before the cleanup and removing items from the area for

individuals to pick up from a safe location, Poelman said.

When the police arrived on scene, they secured the scene and examined it for evidence of a criminal cause of death, Poelman said.

Officials transported the body to the coroner, where an official cause of death will be determined.

Englewood police looking for hit-and-run suspect

BY TAYLER SHAW TSHAW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Englewood police asked the public for help in locating the suspect of a hit-and-run incident that happened Jan. 25 near South Broadway and West Floyd Avenue.  e suspect is believed to be a white male in his 30s with brown hair, the Englewood Police Department said in a news release.

O cers responded to an “auto vs. pedestrian” hit and run at approximately 8:58 a.m., the police department said in the release.

The vehicle was initially involved

in a minor accident with another vehicle.

When the drivers went to exchange information, the suspect allegedly fled the scene, “running over the victim, causing injury to their leg,” according to the release.  e involved vehicle was a 2011 white Dodge Ram 1500 that was reported stolen out of Adams County, per the release. e Englewood Police Department said via Facebook that the vehicle was located in Denver on Jan. 25, but the suspect was still at large.

If anyone has information, police ask that they call (303) 761-7410.

Police have reached out to the public for help in apprehending a bank robbery suspect.

minor political party

It’s all about No Labels

BY ALEJANDRO A. ALONSO GALVA COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO

e Secretary of State’s o ce has certi ed the “No Labels Party” as the state’s newest political party.

It gained minor party status by submitting more than 10,000 signatures from potential supporters, making No Labels Colorado’s sixth minor party.

e designation means Colorado voters can register with the party. It also means the No Labels-ers will be able to place nominees on Colorado’s general election ballots without candidates having to individually petition on each campaign cycle.

e national group behind the party says it’s attempting to gain access to general election ballots in all 50 states ahead of the 2024 presidential season.

Where the No Labels Party stands on the big issues

No Labels promotes itself as moderate with cross-partisan appeal. On its national website, a list of policy statements includes balancing the national budget, reducing regulation, shifting federal programs to the states and ensuring energy security, in part by increasing fuel e ciency standards.

On immigration they push for expanding guest worker programs and creating a path to legal status for undocumented immigrants “who meet strict conditions such as learning English, paying back taxes and passing rigorous background checks.”

On health care they advocate for purchasing health insurance across state lines, allowing Medicare to negotiate with drug companies and expanding the use of nurse practitioners “and other mid-level health care workers providing a wider scope of medical services, such as writing prescriptions.”

No Labels has some history in Colorado e group has been active in previous Colorado elections, including supporting former Republican Sen. Cory Gardner in 2014.

No Labels also created a minor controversy during last year’s midterms when it sent out emails inviting supporters to a private event at Democratic Sen. John Hickenlooper’s house featuring Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia.

No Labels also invited GOP U.S. Senate candidate Joe O’Dea — who was running against Hickenlooper’s fellow Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet — to the event, according to the O’Dea campaign.

Hickenlooper’s o ce denied ever being involved with the No Labels event.  e political action committee associated with the party did not contribute to any Colorado candidates in the last election.

How No Labels got its minor party status, and what’s next

To gain its minor party status, No Labels submitted 18,046 signatures, of which the Secretary of State’s o ce deemed 11,821 valid — meaning they came from registered Colorado voters. e Secretary of State’s o ce approved No Labels’ petition Nov. 4, 2022, and the group submitted their signatures Jan. 4.

In order for No Labels or any minor party to maintain their status in Colorado at least one party nominee for statewide o ce must receive 1 percent of votes cast in the last two general elections or it must have at least 1,000 registered voters a liated as members. Colorado has ve other minor parties: the American Constitution Party, the Approval Voting Party, the Green Party of Colorado, the Libertarian Party of Colorado, and the Unity Party of Colorado. is story is from CPR News, a nonpro t news source. Used by permission. For more, and to support Colorado Public Radio, visit cpr.org.

A voter drop o a ballot the morning of the Nov. 8 election. PHOTO BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON

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GRAMMY®-NOMINATED, MULTIPLATINUM SINGER/SONGWRITER OF THE INTERNATIONAL HIT SINGLE “ONE OF US.”

CU’s Street Medicine team assists homeless patients

the sidewalks,” Harpin said.

BY DANA KNOWLES, LINDSEY FORD, WILLIAM PETERSON ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS

Health care is often a low priority in a person’s life if they are experiencing homelessness; surviving hour to hour is their main concern, explained 53-year-old Guy Neiderwerfer.

He lost his job, his apartment, and has been surviving on the streets for several days. “When you’re looking for medication even, you’ve got to go through so many steps just to get help,” Neiderwerfer said. is is not the rst time Neiderwerfer has been in this situation.

“It feels like there is no hope, and it makes you feel doom and gloom. You feel lonely and you feel hopeless,” he said. “It’s a common loop to walk around and feel like ‘What am I doing and what kind of help can I get?’”

Neiderwerfer said that access to food, medical care and employment is often so spread out that without access to transportation, seeing a health care provider moves to the bottom of the to-do list.

CU Street Medicine’s mobile health care clinics aim to eliminate some of the barriers to health care for the unhoused by literally meeting people where there are.

Scott Harpin is the co-faculty advisor for the program and an associate professor of nursing at the CU College of Nursing.

“ e CU street medicine program is a grassroots students group that organizes around meeting the medical needs of people experiencing homelessness in our community, speci cally rough sleepers and people who have to survive in locations like this, like parks and bikeways, and trails and downtown on

Nearly 7,000 people are currently unhoused across the state, according to the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. After working for the Coalition and then graduating from CU College of Nursing, Kiera Connelly decided to volunteer for the CU Street Medicine Program.

“It’s extremely important for us to be out here because people experiencing homelessness have more co-morbidities and a higher risk for pretty much everything than the the housed population,” Connelly explained. “ at being said, they also have the most barriers to accessing health care.”

Connelly frequently visits hiking trails in the Commerce City area along with other CU Street Medicine volunteers to administer health care for the unhoused. She said before o ering any kind of treatment, the team must rst build trust with the patients, which can take time.

“Once people get comfortable and open up, we will do blood pressure checks, wound care, blood sugar check,” Connelly said. “We also check and treat frost bite, and then make recommendations for them for navigating the health care system.”

Connelly said not only is the goal is to make health care more accessible to those who might need it the most, but also to show the patients that some people are trying to help.

“As a nurse, being able to show that ‘Someone does care enough to come out here and talk to me about my heath problems and wants me to get better or wants to help me maintain my health’ — I think that’s huge.”

is story is from Rocky Mountain PBS, a nonpro t public broadcaster providing community stories across Colorado over the air and online. Used by permission. For more, and to support Rocky Mountain PBS, visit rmpbs.org.

Guy Neiderwerfer knows from experience just how hard medical care is to come by for unhoused people. “You feel lonely and you feel hopeless,” he said.

PHOTO BY WILLIAM PETERSON / ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS

Care providers meet people where they are

POLICE

she’s the right person for this position,” Brown said.

“On top of that, she is also the rst female member of our command sta , and in the 165 year history of our agency, she’ll be the rst female bureau chief,” he added, prompting cheers and applause.

Halaba has worked in every segment of the sheri ’s o ce, Brown said.

She started working with the agency in 1999 as a deputy in the detention facility, according to a statement from the sheri ’s o ce.

In 2001, she became a patrol deputy. After three years, she took on the role of a school resource o cer.

By 2006, she returned to working as a patrol deputy for another three years, per the statement.

A decade after her law enforcement career began, in 2009, Halaba was promoted to sergeant, according to the statement. As a sergeant, she worked in the detention bureau, patrol division and the o ce of professional standards.

Halaba continued to move up

the ranks in 2012 when she was promoted to lieutenant, and she worked as a watch commander on patrol, the sheri ’s o ce said in the statement.

en, in 2014, she made history for the rst time at Arapahoe County Sheri ’s O ce when she was appointed as the agency’s rst female captain. Halaba oversaw the detention administrative section for six years.

In 2020, she became the agency’s Captain of Patrol Operations, a position she held until being sworn in as bureau chief.

“I know you’ve been an inspiration for so many here at the sheri ’s o ce and so many young women across the state in law enforcement,” Brown said before swearing Halaba in.

Women make up less than 13% of total law enforcement o cers and “a much smaller proportion of leadership positions,” according to a 2019 National Institute of Justice report.

“I can’t say that it didn’t have its challenges, because it did. Being a woman, a female, in this type of work where predominantly it’s all males, it can be challenging at times,” Halaba said. “But it also is

very rewarding. I work with great people, and I always have, that supported me.”

Her advice to women interested in a career in law enforcement is to nd a woman in the eld they can talk to about the job.

“ ey’ll tell you everything that we go through. And, you know, sometimes being a mom and a cop can be challenging … nding that balance,” Halaba said.

Halaba has a 24-year-old daughter, Elisabeth Pevler, and 16-yearold son, Tyler Riedmuller. ey both beamed with pride during the swearing-in ceremony.

“We’re just very proud of her and her long career,” Pevler said. “Denitely an inspiration, obviously — and hopefully being a leader myself, someday, like her.”

Following in her mom’s footsteps, Pevler is a deputy at the Arapahoe County Sheri ’s O ce. She said she wanted to pursue a career in law enforcement for the same reason as her mom — to help others and make the agency and county a better place.

Halaba’s passion has also inspired her son who has joined the Explorer program at the Arapahoe County Sheri ’s O ce, which is an educa-

tional program for young people who want to learn more about a career in law enforcement.

“She brought me to all the events when I was growing up, and it made a huge in uence on me,” Riedmuller said, explaining he wants to work at the sheri ’s o ce in the future.

Halaba’s husband, Robert Losciale, added, “She de nitely supported me when I wanted to make a change in careers almost six years ago.”

Losciale is a deputy with the Denver Sheri Department.

“It has taught me a lot seeing her work and … her work ethic and how she handles her people as a leader — has de nitely made me a better deputy with Denver and a better leader,” Losciale said.

Re ecting on the progression of her career, Halaba said she wanted to make things better for the people she works with.

“I love this job — that’s why I’ve stayed here for almost 23 years,” she said. “I think for us females in this type of work that, you know, we’re powering through this male-dominated industry and we’re slowly getting more and more.

“But just keep powering through,” she added. “ e sky’s the limit.”

Arapahoe County Sheri Tyler Brown, left, and Bureau Chief Laurie Halaba flashed bright smiles after Halaba was sworn in Jan. 24 at the Arapahoe County Sheri ’s O ce. PHOTOS BY TAYLER SHAW

Bureau Chief Laurie Halaba smiles alongside her family after being sworn in Jan. 24. From left: Elisabeth Pevler, Laurie Halaba, Robert Losciale and Tyler Riedmuller.

Walk with a Doc brings physicians, patients together

South Denver Cardiology hosts event

BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

On Saturdays, doctors from South Denver Cardiology trade out their white coats for baseball hats, t-shirts and sneakers.

ey meet up with patients and other community members in the northwest corner of the parking lot at the South Denver Heart Center in Littleton. en, together, they all go for a walk.

Since October 2018, South Denver Cardiology has been holding these events through the national organization Walk with a Doc, which aims to inspire communities through movement and conversation with physician-led walking groups.

“You don’t have to be our patient; it’s open to everyone,” said cardiologist Ira Dauber, who started the South Denver Cardiology chapter after seeing the event hosted by a colleague at National Jewish Health in Denver. “We walk and we talk and we just sort of

like to show everybody that exercise is good — we’ll tell you why. Exercise is easy — we’ll show you how. And exercise is safe at many levels of ability.”

Snacks, education and exercise e South Denver Cardiology walks take place the rst Saturday of every month from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Before the walk, sta members arrive to set up snacks, co ee, a sign-in table and a station for free blood pressure checks, according to business development and marketing manager Randy Cupps.

After the walkers mingle and have some food, the physician leading the walk gives a short informal talk about a health topic.

“We have some serious topics, like what are of the signs of a heart attack and, you know, should you take aspirin and should you get vaccinated,” Dauber said.

“But we also try to do diet, exercise, healthy lifestyle — we try to make it fun and lightweight.”

Once the health talk is nished, the group sets o for an out-and-back walk, which can be up to two miles long.

“We walk o our property and take a little trail that connects us to the High Line Canal,” Cupps said.

“So pretty much 90% of our walk is along the High Line Canal… People don’t have to do the whole two miles, they can do half of it and turn around so they can do

it at their own pace.”

Benefits

Diet and exercise are important medications for any heart disease, Dauber said. Outside of heart disease, exercise can help a person manage Type II diabetes, improve cholesterol levels and better mental health, according Rachael Habash, chief operating o cer at Walk with a Doc.

“ ere’s so many diseases and ailments that can be prevented or even healed from participating in regular physical activity,” Habash said.

According to South Denver Cardiology’s website, some research shows that a person could gain two hours of life for each hour that they exercise regularly.

Walk with a Doc has more than 500 locations across the world in 46 states and 34 di erent countries, according to its website. While some chapters are led by practices like South Denver Cardiology, others are led by single practitioners, hospital systems or community agencies, Habash said.

In addition to the physical and educational bene ts of the program, Habash added that the walks have a positive social impact on

their participants. Just like in any group, the walkers form connections with each other, she said.

e events also personalize healthcare for patients who join the walks.

“A physician is no longer there with their white coat, treating a set of symptoms,” she said. “ ey’re there in their baseball cap and sneakers, they’re a human being as well, right? And so we’re learning about each other’s hobbies and families and dogs... It’s really humanizing that healthcare experience.”

For Dauber, the program is important because it teaches patients how to have a healthy lifestyle.

“I think it really shows that you know, taking care of your heart health takes place outside of the hospital and the o ce,” Dauber said. “I think probably the most important thing is we teach people you can do this yourself.”

People can sign up for upcoming walks with South Denver Cardiology at https://southdenver.com/ walk-with-a-doc/. Other metro Denver Walk with a Doc chapters include National Jewish Health and Dr. Kyle Knuppel at Blue Heron Park in Littleton.

‘There’s so many diseases and ailments that can be prevented or even healed from participating in regular physical activity.’

Rachael Habash, chief operating o cer at Walk with a Doc

Stories on Stage features Peter Heller

Stories on Stage will present an afternoon with Denver author Peter Heller at 2 p.m. on Feb. 19 at Su Teatro, 721 Santa Fe Drive, Denver. Allison Watrous and Tim McCracken will read stories from Heller’s books and the author will read from his novel “ e Dog Stars.” Tickets cost $24 at storiesonstage.org or at the door. A virtual performance will be streamed beginning Feb. 23 at 7 p.m.

Ticket holders for the virtual performance will receive a link and it can be watched at any time thereafter. Tickets cost $24 and are available at storiesonstage.org or by calling 303-494-0523.

Art at Town Hall

“Romance in the Air” is the title

Eastern CO 719-822-3052

Denver author Peter Heller’s stories will be center stage at a Stories on Stage event Feb. 19.

of the next Littleton Fine Arts Guild exhibit at the Stanton Gallery in Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main St., Littleton. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and during performances. 303-794-2787.

United Auditions 2023

Colorado eatre Guild presents United Auditions 2023 on April 23, noon to 8 p.m. and April 24, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Curious eatre Company (must be a eatre Guild member

Nebraska & Iowa 402-426-5022 712-600-2410

to attend). Producer requests to attend: open now until lled. Actor submissions: Open Jan. 9-March 10. uni eds.coloradotheatreguild.org.

Buntport Theater

Buntport eater’s newest original play, “Death of Napoleon,” plays through Feb. 18. Friday/Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 12 at 3 p.m. 717 Lipan St., Denver. Name your price for tickets, buntport.com.

Exhibit at church

“International Art Show” at St. Andrew UMC, 9203 S. University Blvd., Highlands Ranch. Starting on Feb. 11. Free. Reception on Feb. 12, 10 a.m. to noon.

History presentation

Highlands Ranch Historical Society meets from 7-8:30 p.m. on Feb. 20 at the Southridge Recreation Center, 4800 McArthur Ranch Road. Presentation on George and Martha Washington by Mary Sudman Donovan. Register: thehrhs.org/

WP/event/ rst-family-the-lifelongromance-of-martha-and-georgewashington.

Littleton Museum

Littleton Museum is showing “Nature’s Blueprints: Biomimicry in Art and Design” through March 15. Mingles art and design with environmental science using artifacts, artworks and photography, Interactive leaning stations. Free. 303-795-3950.

Englewood Arts

Englewood Arts Presents Colorado Symphony String Quartet performing quartets by Borodin and Dvorak at 2 p.m. on Feb. 25 at Hampden Hall, Englewood Civic Center, 1000 Englewood Parkway. Tickets: englewoodarts.org.

Town Hall Arts Center

“I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” opens Feb. 17 at Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main St. in Littleton. 303-794-2787, ext. 5, townhallartscenter.org.

Eastern Wisconsin 920-889-0960 Western Wisconsin 608-988-6338

SONYA’S SAMPLER

Momentous treaty coming to Denver

BY SONYA ELLINGBOE SELLINGBOE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo transformed what is now the western United States, and pages of that document will arrive at History Colorado Museum, 1200 N. Broadway, Denver to accompany the exhibit called “Borderlands.”

The document came from the National Archives in Washington and will be exhibited only until May 22, because the paper is old and fragile. The treaty’s arrival in Denver is timed for Feb. 2, the 175th anniversary of its signing.

I visited this exhibit in Pueblo when it opened there several years ago and had a chance to see the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo then. It really is a good experience to see those actual old documents instead of settling for a photo!

well as a large part of western and southern Colorado. Present borders were taking shape then. Redrawing boundaries did not change linguistic, ethnic or geologic boundaries that were in place prior to the treaty.

This exhibit, first presented at the Pueblo History Museum several years ago, will be of interest to history buffs of all ages. It includes maps, documents and numerous related artifacts, including clothing, guns, kitchenware, photographs of those early hardy types, items that will interest children of all ages, as well as their parents..

A number of early southern Colorado residents were Mexican citizens, who eventually lost their lands and wealth. And Mexican women lost many rights they had under Mexican law, since American women could not own land at that time.

IF YOU GO

The treaty was signed on Feb. 2, 1848, marking the end of the Mexican-American War. By shifting the U.S. borders south from the Arkansas River to the Rio Grande and west to the coast of California, Mexico relinquished 525,000 square miles of territory to the United States.

The land became all or part of Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, as

Dawn Di Prince, History Colorado’s executive director, said: “In some ways, it is hard to fathom that old handwritten pages would wield such power over the lives and lands of so many in this part of the world, but this treaty dramatically altered the lives of many families who call southern Colorado home today.

“The document is also connected to the displacement of indigenous tribes and has been referenced in hundreds of court cases ranging from international border disputes to water and mineral rights claims.”

History Colorado is at 1200 N. Broadway in Denver. Parking is available across the street in the garage attached to the Denver Art Museum. Admission charges vary. 303-HISTORY, HistoryColorado.org.

These homes sat atop Pueblo’s Goat Hill, or Smelter Hill, an area of Colorado that was adjacent to Mexico until the border shifted after the Mexican-American War. This William Henry Jackson photo dates to 1900. COURTESY OF HISTORY COLORADO

Historic document ending war with Mexico created much of American West

BEST OF THE BEST VOTING STARTS

Supporting local groups

BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Arapahoe County has awarded over $2 million to nonpro t organizations in the region to support their work in serving the county’s at-risk and underserved populations.

After recommendations from county sta based on submitted applications, the Board of County Commissioners selected 12 organizations out of over 50 applicants for the competitive portion of program. In addition, they funded ten agencies through the safety net portion of the program, which annually supports organizations that supplement the county’s existing safety net services.

is year’s grants range from $8,000 to $400,000, according to the county’s website.

e grants aim to support work in several focus areas including transportation, food assistance, case management, substance abuse treatment, mental and behavioral health treatment, shelter, domestic violence support, a ordable housing and employment skills training, according to the website.

vocate on sta and work to address social determinants of health, which is a subset cause of mental health issues.

“Receiving this grant helps to keep Doctors Care as an access point for Littleton and Arapahoe County,” she said. “It’s helping us to address the mental health crisis.”

Other competitive grant recipients included Ability Connection, Integrated Family Community Services, Second Chance Center, Inc., Justice and Mercy Legal Aid Center and more.

rough the safety net program, Gateway Domestic Violence Services received $300,000.

e money supports all of the organization’s work, including emergency shelter services for those leaving abusive situations, an extended stay program, a court advocacy program and counseling and emotional support services, executive director Karmen Carter said.

“Without (Aid to Agencies) funding, we would really have to look at signi cantly cutting back on our programming,” she said. “ ey really allow us to be able to continue to look each year at what we can do continue to keep our all of our programs active and moving in important ways in the community.”

“

e big thing about Aid to Agencies is it’s these (agencies) help with the quick response on things because that’s what they’re built to do in those categories,” county spokesperson Anders Nelson said.

It is challenging for a county to quickly respond to all community challenges on its own, so funding nonpro ts helps the county team up with organizations that are more specialized to respond to community needs, he added.

Doctors Care, a Littleton-based healthcare nonpro t organization, received $14,888 through the competitive grant program.

“Doctors Care is very excited to once again be a recipient of the Aid to Agencies grant,” Elizabeth Hockaday, development and marketing director, said. “For us, it shows true partnership in the community to receive the grant.”

She said the grant money will go towards a new behavioral health ad-

Other large grant recipients in safety net portion of the program included STRIDE Senior Dental Services with $400,000 and Aurora Mental Health Center — Detox with $280,000.

“

ere is no way the county can fund every organization to the level of their need every year, but we do try to spread our resources throughout the county on a variety of e orts in such a way that the greatest number of Arapahoe County citizens receives assistance,” District 3 Commissioner Je Baker wrote in an email statement.

Nelson said the funds for the program come from a designated portion of the county’s budget each year. is year, the budget included $2.6 million for the Aid to Agencies program and the county used $2,079,500 for grants. e money the county did not use for grants will be shifted to other areas of need, Nelson said.

Arapahoe County gives more than $2M to nonprofits

Arapahoe County’s annual budget has steadily increased year-over-year, now nearing nearly half a billion dollars.

PHOTO BY ROBERT TANN

Thu 2/09

Cooking with Elle @ 5pm Feb 9th - Mar 2nd

Heather Gardens Clubhouse, 2888 S. Heather Gardens Way, Aurora

ARTS: Valentine Tea @ Southwest @ 6pm Denver Parks and Recreation (SOU), 9200 W Saratoga Pl., Denver. 720-913-0654

Featured

Vanimal Kingdom Duo at Lincoln Station @ 6pm

Lincoln Station Coffee/Pizza/Mu‐sic, 9360 Station St, Lone Tree

Larry & Joe: WORKSHOP: Venezuelan Strings @ 6pm

Swallow Hill Music, 71 E Yale Ave, Denver

Outta Nowhere

@ 7pm Stampede, 2430 S Havana St, Aurora

Joe Troop: Swallow Hill Music

Association - Larry & Joe @ 8pm

Swallow Hill Music Association, 71 E Yale Ave, Denver

Fri 2/10

Dead On A Sunday @ 7pm

Moe's Original BBQ, 3295 S Broadway, Englewood

Sat 2/11

The Atomic Drifters: 105 WEST BREWING COMPANY WILL RO-C-K @ 6:30pm 105 West Brewing Company, 1043 Park St, Castle Rock

Rubblebucket @ 8pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Englewood

Spaceface @ 9pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood

Rubblebucket @ 9pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood

Sun 2/12

Parker Parks and Recreation

Love 'em or Leave 'em

Valentine's Day 5K/10K @ 10am / $40-$50

11920 Motsenbocker Rd, Parker

Halfway There Bon Jovi

Tribute: **MegaShow Alert** Bon Jovi and Journey Tributes Take Over Wild Goose Saloon @ 7pm Wild Goose Saloon, Parker

Super Sunday Fun Run 5K @ 10am / $20

6745 S Santa Fe Dr, 6745 South Santa Fe Drive, Littleton. SarahN@ ssprd.org, 303-483-7034

RAZA COSTENA @ 9pm

Stampede, 2430 S Havana St, Aurora

Gran Baile Costeno @ 9:30pm / $55

Stampede, 2430 South Havana, Aurora

Tue 2/14

Stop Motion AnimationMackintosh Spring 2023 @ 3:45pm / $200

Feb 14th - Apr 25th

Mackintosh Academy, 7018 S Prince St, Littleton. 720-996-0894

Fitness: HIGH Fitness Valentine's Party (13+ yrs) Feb. 14 @ 11:15pm

The King Stan Band in Paradise @ 7pm

Paradise Tavern, 9239 Park Mead‐ows Dr, Lone Tree

Amor y Cumbia

@ 8:30pm / $49

Stampede, 2430 South Havana, Aurora

ARTS: DIY Valentine Card Making @ Harvey Park @ 11:30pm

Harvey Park Recreation Center, 2120 S. Tennyson Way, Denver. 720-913-0654

Cory Michael @ 2pm

Wide Open Saloon, 5607 US-85, Sedalia

Kids Cooking Valentine Surprises @ 4pm PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Avenue, Parker

YS: 3-4 Sports Experience @ Southwest @ 5:30pm

Feb 11th - Mar 4th

Southwest Recreation Center, 9200 W. Saratoga Pl., Denver. 720-913-0654

Halfway There @ 7:30pm

Wild Goose Saloon, 11160 S. Pikes Peak Drive, Parker 0xxKBxx0: KBS FRIENDS TOUR: SINGLES VALENTINES @ 8pm Old Chicago, 16990 E Iliff Ave, Aurora

Parker Recreation Center, 17301 E Lincoln Ave., Parker

Wed 2/15

Casino - Bally's @ 2:45pm Heather Gardens Clubhouse, 2888 S. Heather Gardens Way, Aurora

Thu 2/16

ARTS: Mini Picasso @ Harvard Gulch @ 5pm

Feb 16th - Mar 16th

Harvard Gulch Recreation Center, 550 E. Iliff Ave., Denver. 720-913-0654

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Average is OK

Being average is OK. I will say that again. Being average is OK.

I recently started listening to the book “ e Subtle Art of Not Giving a F#@@.” I have to admit my husband recommended it a couple of years ago. However, the vulgar title turned me o a bit. en, recently, my brother recommended it after I was complaining about something that bugged me. He said I let too much bother me and this book might help get some perspective.

I started listening to it — and was impressed with how the author, Mark Manson, really pegs our society, our struggles and the unrealistic expectations we put on ourselves and each other.

But, as he teaches me how to maybe set realistic expectations and not care about so much that really does not matter in the big picture — the book is also great at putting in perspective how being average is OK because, frankly, the majority of us are just average.

As parents we want our children to be great at everything, have all the opportunities and succeed at everything they do. In reality, we are all good at what we are good at. We are all not great at everything we try.

I may be good at writing, but I am de nitely below average when it comes to trying to solve math problems when I help kids with homework. In college, getting a C in math was a blessing, really.

According to Manson, “Being ‘average’ has become the new standard of failure. e worst thing you can be is in the middle of the pack, the middle of the bell curve. When a culture’s standard of success is to “be extraordinary,” it then becomes better to be at the extreme low end of the bell curve than to be in the middle, because at least there you’re still special and deserve attention.”

When the expectations are set so high — How can anyone live up to them? at’s become part of society’s problem and probably a contributing factor to mental illness and depression rates skyrocketing. When we set these high expectations that we really cannot reach — We feel like failures.

When we see on Facebook and other social media how friends and family are living these amazing lives — We judge our own as failures. Never mind that in reality, people are only sharing their best days, their best moments on these social outlets. at does not matter. It only means we do not measure up.

As a society, imagine what would happen if we started being realistic in our goals and expectations. My son loves hockey. He’s not the best at it — he’s average. For me, that is OK.

My daughter is never going to be great at school. She is average. at is OK.

I am the poster child for setting too many expectations for myself. With each thing I fail at — I only work harder, set more goals and try more.

For my children, however, I have started working toward setting realistic goals. Play hockey if you love it. Who cares if you are great at it as long as you are doing your best and trying?

Try out for the school play. Who knows, you may be great at it, but just have fun.

If, as a society, we start realizing the majority of us are average — We might start feeling a lot more OK with ourselves and the world around us.

elma Grimes is the south metro editor for Colorado Community Media.

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher

lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

MICHAEL DE YOANNA Editor-in-Chief michael@coloradocommunitymedia.com

THELMA GRIMES South Metro Editor tgrimes@coloradocommunitymedia.com

TAYLER SHAW Community Editor tshaw@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Playing through the pain

Th e game was close, there was less than two minutes to go, and the field was a mix of snow and slush. On the previous play, his hand had been caught between two helmets as he attempted to make the tackle. When the play was over and he made his way back to the defensive huddle, he refused to look at his hand because he knew it had been broken. He didn’t want to come out of the game. As he took up his position as an outside linebacker, the opposing team threw a pass play in his direction, and with his good hand he was still able to make a play on the ball and deflect the pass. He played through the pain.

That story was shared with me about a high school athlete who had the heart of a lion. After that last play his coach called him to the sideline as he knew something wasn’t right and he took him out of the game. And indeed, his hand was broken. Each of us has probably lived through at least one season of life, if not many where we also played through the pain. It might have been personally or professionally, but we knew that no matter how much it hurt, we had to rise to the occasion and play through the pain for those around us. If these last few years have taught us anything, they have taught us that things in life are broken. Education, healthcare, the

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economy, relationships, things at work and just about every other part of life. Some things just aren’t working the way we would want them to. And it becomes frustrating as we do our best to muddle through only to hit the wall again and again.

We think that there must be a better way. We believe that there must be someone somewhere who has the insight and intelligence to fix the problems in our government, in society, in the workplace, and even at home. We ask ourselves, who is that person or where are those people who are supposed to have all the answers? And what can we do while we wait for those in charge to come up with a better plan and get things moving in the right direction?

We start playing through the pain.

Soon enough we will realize that the people who we believe have the solutions to our problems and challenges might be struggling themselves. And it’s not that they don’t know what they are doing, it’s simply that the problems and challenges require more time, money, resources, planning and processes to get some resolutions and to turn things around for the better. And while that is going on, we need to do our very best to do what we are in control of doing, making a play, even if it means playing through the pain.

We can remain optimistic in the face of negativity and pessimism. We can look at our stack of to-do items and get after

SEE NORTON, P13

Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Citizen. We welcome letters to the editor. Please include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone.

Email letters to letters@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Thelma Grimes

Radon: the leading cause of cancer in people who don’t smoke

GUEST COLUMN

Be ing a lifelong health enthusiast, health educator and fitness trainer — and married to a primary care physician — my family and I were blindsided by my Stage 3A lung cancer diagnosis in October of 2018. We were shocked as I had no respiratory symptoms and I have never smoked.

My cancer was found incidentally while investigating what later turned out to be a benign ovarian cyst.

It wasn’t until my son, an environmental engineer, asked me if I had ever tested our home for radon when I learned that virtually anyone with lungs can get lung cancer and that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. It is the first leading cause of lung cancer in people who don’t have a history of smoking.

Considering the risk for lung cancer is high, why aren’t people exposed to high radon levels eligible for lung cancer screening? The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends people ages 50-80 with a 20-pack year history of smoking, or have quit in the past 15 years, get a low dose CT scan, which is painless and takes only a few minutes.

Based on the conversation with our son, we tested our home using methods recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency and discovered that the radon levels in our home were elevated above the threshold of 4 pico curies (pCi/L). The EPA strongly advises that any radon level at or above 4 pCi/L should be reduced through a radon mitigation system. Radon mitigation needs to be done by professionally accredited operators and most health departments — including the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment — post lists of accredited mitigators. Radon is an invisible and odorless radioactive gas that can be found in many homes. It comes from the decomposition of

uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. When inhaled, radon can cause serious health problems including lung cancer. About half of all homes in Colorado have radon levels above the recommended limit of 4 pCi/L.

While there is no way for me to know with certainty if radon caused my lung cancer, I want people to know it is one risk factor that can be tested for and reduced to safe levels very easily. I also want people to know that smoking and exposure to radon are not the only risk factors for lung cancer and that many people develop lung cancer despite having no known risk factors. Exposure to secondhand smoke, family history of lung cancer and air pollution are risk factors for lung cancer. Report any persistent symptoms you have to your doctor. Being young and having no known history of tobacco use does not make you immune to lung cancer, even if the risk is low.

Despite the well-known risks of radon, it concerns me that there isn’t more public health messag-

ing about radon, especially given its high prevalence in Colorado and many other states. The EPA estimates that radon kills approximately 21,000 people in the U.S. every year and about 2,900 of these deaths occur among people who have never smoked. These numbers may be a low estimate, as I know my doctor never asked me if I knew the radon level of my home when I was diagnosed. In fact, only a small number of family physicians transmit radon information to their patients. Please consider testing your home for radon at least every two years as recommended by the EPA because levels can change due to movement of soil, or new cracks in the foundation. Even if you have a mitigation system, testing is still recommended. A mitigation system is like any other appliance, and it can malfunction or stop working. Learn more about radon and radon mitigation from the EPA and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

it without looking over at others who are paralyzed by the dysfunction. We can help those in our community who need help and do it generously and cheerfully knowing we are serving the greater good. Now don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t mean we don’t also feel the frustration and the challenges. It doesn’t mean the pain and the problems aren’t just as real for us. It just means that we have a choice to make, we can choose to get sucked into the vortex of doom and gloom, pointing to all the reasons why we cannot be successful, or we can choose to do our part in playing our position as best as we

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possibly can, even if it means playing through the pain at times. We are all part of a team somewhere. At work, home, school, church, in our community and in society. And it will never be perfect and will often be frustrating. As a part of a team or family, I would love to hear your story of how you deal with staying motivated in the face of frustration at gotonorton@ gmail.com. And when we can grit and smile, and play through the pain when we need to, it really will be a better than good life.

Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.

• Publication of any given letter is at our discretion. Letters are published as space is available.

• We will edit letters for clarity, grammar, punctuation and length and write headlines (titles) for letters at our discretion.

• Please don’t send us more than one letter per month. First priority for publication will be given to writers who have not submitted letters to us recently.

• Submit your letter in a Word document or in the body of an email. No PDFs or Google Docs, please.

• Include your full name, address and phone number. We will publish only your name and city or town of residence, but all of the information requested is needed for us to verify you are who you say you are.

• Letters will be considered only from people living in Colorado Community Media’s circulation area in Adams, Arapahoe, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Je erson and Weld counties.

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Heidi Nafman Onda is a cancer survivor and health educator

Heidi Nafman Onda

The most vulnerable of the housing crisis The Long Way Home

BY MICHAEL DE YOANNA MICHAEL@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Our monthlong series exploring the affordability and accessibility of housing in the Denver area takes a turn to one of the most perplexing issues facing our communities: the lives of those who have no homes. Point-in-time counts in Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson counties find 2,000 people living unsheltered and 3,000 in emergency shelters. Most of those people were found in Denver but many live in our communities and neighborhoods.

While panhandlers and tent cities are visible across the metro area, many of the unhoused are unseen and may not even be included in the numbers because they are sleeping on a friend’s couch or a family that’s living in a relative’s extra room. e federal government includes this status in its de nition of homelessness, along with those who are at imminent risk of losing a roof over their heads.  Homelessness has long

been a problem in the metro area and the soaring housing costs that we’ve tracked in our series certainly don’t help. Typically, a family shouldn’t spend more than 30% of their wages on rent and utilities. Elsewhere in our series, we’ve found that many people across the metro area are living paycheck to paycheck and struggling to afford a place to live. Minimum wage earners might spend upward of 60% of their paychecks on rent.

Across the Front Range, rising housing costs are worsening the problem. In Littleton, south of Denver, the price of single-family homes has jumped roughly $300,000 since 2017. Lone Tree saw increases in excess of $473,000.

In Brighton, $225,000.

Apartment rents have followed in recent years, part of a trend spanning the last two decades where median prices rose faster than median household incomes “in every Colorado county and city with 50,000+ residents,” according to Denver-based Root Policy Research, which analyzes housing affordability issues.

at Jake’s Brew Bar in Littleton since 2012.

“ is is where I want to be,” Laney said. “My friends and family are Jake’s.”

In numerous counties, residents — spanning a range of employment from the service industry to teaching — have faced the brunt of what many ofcials are calling a housing crisis.

e median price of a single-family home in the metro area has roughly tripled since 2010, according to an August 2022 report by the Colorado Association of Realtors. Back in 2010, the median price was about $200,000.

And wages have not kept up with home costs. Between 2000 and 2019, median rents rose at a faster rate than household incomes “in every Colorado county and city with 50,000+ residents,” according to a November 2021 report from Denver-based consulting rm Root Policy Research. e report also said that, as of June 2021, Colorado’s overall housing inventory was 13% of what is needed for a functioning sales market.

“Quite honestly, we just don’t have enough housing, whether it’s a ordable or otherwise,” said Kelly Milliman, city council member for Littleton’s District 4 and a member of the city’s housing task force. “It’s really vitally important to the overall health of our community going forward.”

Some of the most needy in our communities find homes through federal funding, like vouchers. But the system, reporter Nina Joss finds, is based on lotteries, where people in need of housing may wait for years before winning. Others wind up roughing it on the streets, as reporters Andrew Fraieli and Olivia Love discovered in an interview of a man who lost his legs sleeping under a highway bridge during a horrific snowstorm. There are consequences to it all, like how the mentally ill are especially vulnerable to homelessness and highly likely to find themselves in the criminal-justice system — meaning a record of police contacts for crimes connected to their situation, such as trespassing, becomes a barrier that prevents them from turning their lives around. There are costs associated with this to taxpayers, like those associated with providing more policing and beds in jails. Trends like those will be on the radar of Colorado Community Media’s newsroom in

Contributors to the project include:

e sentiment is similar for leaders in the neighboring cities of Englewood and Sheridan. ere, o cials said a ordable home options used to be more common.

“For the people that can a ord it, they have lots of choices in the metro area,” said Brad Power, Englewood’s director of community development.

“But we’re starting to see more gaps with people who are on the other side of the income spectrum.”

Devin Granberry, city manager for Sheridan, said

higher home costs have driven workers out of what he described as a historically blue-collar area.

“It leads to a very transient pipeline of citizenry and workforce,” he said. “ ere’s no sense of belonging, there’s no sense of ownership, and all of those are negative impacts on a community, the well-being of a community.”

Orchard Crossing Apartments in Westminster is an a ordable housing community that also includes housing for people with vouchers.

PHOTO BY ANDREW FRAIELI

Homelessness is a series of trapdoors and obstacles

BY ANDREW FRAIELI AND OLIVIA LOVE COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Jonathan Townshend Garner spent nine sleepless nights in 2017 covered in snow staring up at the bottom of a frozen overpass in Aurora. Just a few short months before, the 35-year-old was planning to purchase a condo with his girlfriend.

He never expected that a breakup would send him down a series of increasingly di cult trapdoors — without housing or insurance, each door became harder to climb through. Because of those cold nights in 2017, Garner even lost his legs.

What led Garner to homelessness is not unique. As homeless rates continue to climb in this country for people in many di erent situations, the causes can range from one lost paycheck to addiction or mental health issues with no money to support treatment.

In Garner’s case, he was in a stable housing situation that was reliant on two incomes. e loss of a girlfriend meant the loss of a second, necessary paycheck.

“I’m all of a sudden in a situation where I’ve lost half my income in regards to what’s going towards payments,” Garner said.

Homelessness a ects many types of people. It also comes in all forms from living on the streets to couch sur ng or sleeping in a car. Common among all situations that have forced someone into homelessness is the world around them not being designed to help.

According to HUD fair market rent data, rent for a studio apartment in the metro area has increased by more than $300 per month since 2019, but minimum wages have only increased by about $2.50 an hour — increasing the percent of wages needed to be put towards housing from 54 to almost 60%.

e National Low Income Housing Coalition — a nonpro t that aims to end the a ordable housing crisis through policy and data research — deems housing costing more than 30% of wages spent on rent and utilities as una ordable, placing workers at risk for homelessness.

is lack of a ordable housing acts doubly as a factor for becoming homeless and a barrier from escaping it.

Unable to deal with the breakup and loss of income, Garner said it triggered a dormant alcohol addiction.

“As soon as she left, I started drinking again too, which was probably one of the worst decisions that I made,” he said. “And I’m a hell of a drinker. It took me no time before I was drinking before work every day.”

His addiction became another trapdoor. He was evicted from his home as his costly addiction grew, losing his job within a few months, and he continued falling until he landed on the streets.

In 2017, he found himself buried by snowdrifts, numbed to the elements by frostbite and an empty bottle.

Over the next three and a half months, he was in an ICU burn unit,

where his legs were amputated for frostbite. What happened to land him there remains a blur, with Garner saying he was just lost in a blizzard of snow and substance abuse.

Garner had not looked for a shelter because he felt he deserved what he was experiencing on the street, his addiction giving him too much bluster to ask for help.

“And so when things have gotten so bad for me, I was like, ‘I guess that’s where you go when you’re at this place,’” Garner said.

But from Aurora to Lakewood, many who look for shelter have a hard time nding it — especially in winter.

The stick and carrot of winter shelter

“Police show up to tell you to leave, but don’t have an answer as to where we can go,” said Marshall Moody, who experienced homelessness in Lakewood over the summer.

He wasn’t hunting for winter shelter, but acknowledging how there were no shelter options in Lakewood, and describing how he felt harassed by police telling him to move along.

In Aurora, one of the only overnight shelter spaces is the Comitis Crisis Center.

“Comitis has, what, 30 beds? I’m sure there’s easily 200 homeless people in Aurora. Easily,” said Jason, 40, who declined to give his last name, pointing out the lack of shelter options.

Jason has been homeless since 2019, falling on hard times after breaking his back and not having the ability to a ord medical care.

Anna Miller, director of business development and public relations at Mile High Behavioral Healthcare — which Comitis Crisis Center falls under — has said before that the center has an outreach team that goes out every day working with the city and police department to inform

people on the streets about available resources. e organization was supportive of Aurora’s camping ban passed last summer.

But like the ban, these opinions are from the summer.

During the winter, many more people experiencing homelessness look for indoor shelter due to low temperatures, snow, rain and windchills causing regular, local shelters to ll up fast.  is is where short-term emergency weather shelters come in.

For much of the metro area, the “extreme weather” needed to open these emergency shelters — which vary from the Severe Weather Shelter Network across Je erson County that uses a network of churches, to opening some day-only centers for overnight stays — requires the temperature to be freezing or below with moisture, and 20 degrees or below without moisture.

In Denver, the required cuto is 10 degrees or six inches of snow — though, according to Sabrina Allie, the communications and engagement director for the Department of Housing Stability — or HOST — in Denver, the city council has asked the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment, which created the cuto , to revisit these regulations.

e issue is that cold-weather injuries like frostbite and hypothermia can set in as high as 45 degrees depending on wind and moisture. is is according to doctors from Denver Health and the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, which sent a joint letter to HOST and DDPHE asking the city to raise their cuto .

“Hypothermia and frostbite may develop in minutes and often occur in the setting of risk factors for heat loss or decreased heat production including pre-existing medical conditions, exhaustion, dehydration, substance use and

malnutrition, all of which are common among people experiencing homelessness,” doctors said in the letter.

Some see winter shelter as a carrotand-stick situation though, requiring the cuto to not be too comfortable for those experiencing homelessness.

“We do not want to enable, we want to empower,” said Lynn Ann Huizingh, executive director of development at Je erson County’s Severe Weather Shelter Network. “We do the best we can to provide some good relational development, but we also want to encourage people to pursue answers that would lead them o the street, and if they get too comfortable, they just don’t have any reason to try and pursue anything else.”

However, at all times, the goal is to keep people from freezing to death, Huizingh added.

Aurora’s policy, according to Emma Knight, manager of homelessness for the city’s Division of Housing and Community Services, is to open emergency cold-weather shelters at 32 degrees during wet weather, and 20 degrees otherwise.

In Garner’s case, freezing to death almost became a reality. Instead, he left the hospital as a double amputee — disabled, homeless, and penniless.

“And I wish I could have said that that was my rock bottom as well. But it wasn’t,” Garner said.

Police interactions and laws against homelessness

Over the next nine months, Garner continued drinking and using drugs while trying to condition himself to his surroundings.

“ ere isn’t a rock bottom, there isn’t some stable ground that you hit. It is a series of trapdoors that gets progressively lower on to in nity,” Garner said.

Some of these trapdoors take the shape of police interactions and the possibility of jail time due to criminalization of homelessness. In the summer of 2022, Aurora passed a camping ban, following in the footsteps of Denver, which passed a similar measure a decade ago.

“Can’t camp, but you have only one shelter in the city of Aurora,” Jason said, referring to the Comitis Crisis Center. “ e camping ban doesn’t mean we can’t be outside — that’s really the main point — the camping ban means we can’t be safe outside.”

Terese Howard, homeless advocate and founder of Housekeys Action Network Denver, said these bans just push people around, possibly into more dangerous and secluded areas if they don’t just move a block away from where they were before.

Police harassment often comes out of these laws as well, Howard said. O cers will tell people experiencing homelessness to “move along” without o ering alternatives, according to Howard.

Denver’s camping ban speci es “shelter” to include “blankets, or any

Jonathan Townshend Garner, 35, lost his legs to frostbite after spending days covered in snow while homeless.

PHOTO BY ANDREW FRAIELI

The di culties of using housing choice vouchers

BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

About a year and a half ago, David Hernandez received a call from a number he did not recognize. When he called the number back, he heard news that would drastically change his housing situation.

“I was confused,” he said. “At rst I was like, ‘What are you talking about?’ She’s like, ‘You got chose (from the) lottery, so we’d like to go forward with it.’”

At the time, Hernandez was living with his grandmother in Westminster. But then, after spending years unmoored, moving between states and staying with family members, Hernandez got approved for a voucher for government-subsidized housing.

“When I got it, it was a big relief,” he said. “It was so much stress that was taken o my conscience … It was kind of lifesaving, to be honest.”

e news was a complete surprise to him. What Hernandez didn’t know is that it took ve years for that call to come. His aunt had signed him up for a housing choice voucher lottery at Maiker Housing Partners, the public housing authority in Adams County, without telling him.

anks to her action, his unknowing patience, and, some would say, his luck, Hernandez became one of 2.3 million families and individuals in the United States to bene t from a housing choice voucher program, federally funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD.

Formerly, housing choice voucher programs were known as Section 8, but experts have widely replaced this language in an e ort to be more accurate about the type of rental assistance and to avoid the stigma the term carries with it.

Housing choice voucher programs, which are implemented by local authorities like Maiker, subsidize rent to help “very low-income families, the elderly and the disabled a ord decent, safe and sanitary housing,” according to HUD.

On one hand, vouchers make it possible for those without other options to have a roof over their heads. But, according to housing experts, the program is not a fast-track to housing for many people in need, as it faces a range of issues from lack of funding to scarcity of units.

Eligibility

Within housing choice voucher programs, vouchers may be earmarked by local authorities for di erent types of rental assistance.

For example, some public housing authorities o er vouchers speci cally for veterans or for families whose lack of adequate housing is the primary cause of the separation of a child from their family.

Another type is what HUD calls “project-based” vouchers. ese offer rental assistance that can only be used for speci c properties approved by the public housing authority. is is the type of voucher Hernandez received.

Hernandez said the voucher helped him nancially, emotionally, physi-

cally and mentally, but being tied to one apartment complex has its downfalls. If he could choose, he said, he would rather live in a place with di erent management. In his complex, he feels like he and his neighbors are treated poorly, partially because they have low incomes.

But the most common type of housing choice voucher allows a recipient to choose where they want to live among properties in the private market. A HUD senior o cial told Colorado Community Media in a call that after 12 months, participants in the project-based voucher program can typically request to have this type of voucher, which is more open-ended.

Properties for a typical housing choice voucher must meet standards of health and safety before a tenant can move forward with a lease. In addition, public housing authorities review rents to ensure they are reasonable for the speci c housing market, according to HUD.

Families with vouchers generally pay 30%-40% of their monthly adjusted gross income for rent and utilities, according to HUD. e public housing authority covers the rest.

In Colorado, landlords are required to accept housing choice vouchers and are not allowed to discriminate against rental applicants based on source of income, per a 2021 law.

e voucher approval process begins with an application, said Brenda Mascarenas, director of housing services and programs at Maiker.

“ e couple of things we look at under formal eligibility (are) background, income, and citizenship,” she said.

Generally, a household’s income may not exceed 50% of the median income for the county or metropolitan area. But most vouchers go to applicants with incomes much lower than that. By law, a public housing authority must provide three quarters of its vouchers to applicants whose incomes do not exceed 30% of the area median income, according to HUD.

In Adams and Arapahoe counties, a single person who earned no more

than $41,050 was eligible for a housing choice voucher in 2022, according to Maiker and South Metro Housing Options, a public housing authority in Littleton.

Wait times and lotteries

Unfortunately, the likelihood of getting a voucher is not solely dependent on whether a person is eligible.

Because of lack of funding for the program, HUD acknowledges “long waiting periods are common.” e o cial with HUD, speaking generally about the department, told Colorado Community Media that for households that receive a voucher, the average wait time is 28 months. e o cial noted that this number only includes people who actually receive a voucher, so the true average wait time is likely signi cantly longer.

Some public housing authorities use a lottery system to select voucher recipients. At Maiker, Mascarenas said the team aims to open their lottery pool every other year, meaning applicants could wait up to two years if they are selected from the lottery their rst time. If not, they might wait through several cycles.

At South Metro Housing Options, the voucher waitlist was last open in 2012, Executive Director Corey Reitz said. ey anticipate it opening again this year, more than 11 years later.

ese long wait times are not unique. Only two housing agencies among the 50 largest in the U.S. have average wait times of under one year for families that make it o of wait lists for vouchers, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a nonpartisan research and policy institute based in Washington, D.C.

To Hernandez’s bene t, he wasn’t aware he was waiting for his voucher. He said it would have been challenging to be in “limbo” for so long.

“If I would have known I’d have to wait ve years for that, I probably personally wouldn’t have done it,” he said.

Peter LiFari, executive director at Maiker,  attributes long waitlists at public housing authorities to lack of

federal funding and a massive demand for housing vouchers.

“It’s a program designed to exist in scarcity, which is really disappointing,” he said. “I get emails every day, basically from folks (saying) ‘How do I sign up?’ and ‘I’m homeless and I’ve never asked for help before and I’m ready now,’ and it’s like, unfortunately we don’t we don’t have the vouchers to be able to meet the need.”

Because of limited funding for HUD, designated by Congress each year, only 1 in 4 households eligible for a housing voucher receive any federal rental assistance, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

e HUD o cial interviewed by CCM agreed that a main shortcoming of the program is that there are not enough vouchers. e o cial said rental assistance programs are an outlier compared to other federal safety net programs in that many people qualify but do not receive the support. e o cial attributed the lack of funding to the fact that the voucher program was created in the 1970s, after other programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program were already underway.

Congress increased funding into the voucher program throughout the pandemic, but the funding generally went to special populations as opposed to the entire program, LiFari said. e American Rescue Plan Act, for example, provided 70,000 emergency vouchers to assist individuals in violent, dangerous or homeless situations. Mascarenas said Maiker received 46 vouchers from the funding.

Last year, the Biden administration awarded more than 19,000 housing choice vouchers to more than 2,000 public housing authorities. Twentynine of the authorities are in Colorado, including agencies in Adams County, Je erson County, Denver, Aurora, Lakewood, Englewood and Arvada.

But even with the extra funding, housing authority employees say it is challenging to keep up with the demand.

“One of the challenges with any … new sources of funding to support housing, it’s still administering the money and the funds and the vouchers,” said Reitz from South Metro. “So we still need sta to do so. And we’re no di erent than most other agencies or industries right now in terms of sta ng, so that’s a challenge.”

e demand for vouchers in Adams County is higher than Mascarenas has ever seen.

“I’ve been with Maiker for 30 years and I’ve never seen the market in such a bad condition,” she said. “I’ve never seen the need grow so great.”

Maiker has about 1,625 housing choice vouchers to distribute in Adams County. In July 2022, the last time their lottery was open for applications, over 3,500 people applied.

“Even two-parent households are still nding it very di cult to make ends meet with two incomes coming into the home,” Mascarenas said.

Next to his kitchen, David Hernandez has a DJ setup where he likes to mix music for fun.

PHOTO BY ANDREW FRAIELI

form of cover or protection from the elements other than clothing.”

“ ere’s this illusion that you need this stick to connect people to services,” Howard said. “ at’s a lie, it doesn’t work. You can just look back at the last 10 years of Denver to see the reality of that lie. It’s meant, rst and foremost, to push people out of sight, out of mind.”

According to one national study from 2013, criminalization can create a cycle of incarceration that perpetuates itself.

Noting a loop of jail time and homelessness, the report says: “Incarceration has been noted to increase the risk of homelessness” as it can weaken community ties, limit employment opportunities and make it more di cult to get public housing.

“ is bidirectional association between homelessness and incarceration may result in a certain amount of cycling between public psychiatric hospitals, jails and prisons, and homeless shelters or the street,” the report concludes.

A homeless count across the metro area

Nationwide, at the start of every year, a count is taken to try and estimate the unsheltered homeless population.

At the same time, a count is made of people who have stayed in a participating shelter at some point across the country. ese counts are run by HUD through volunteering shelters and local governments.

In the 2022 point-in-time count across Je erson, Broom eld, Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas and Denver counties, there were nearly 2,000 people living unsheltered, and just over 3,000 in emergency shelters.

According to the data, most of the homeless population is in Denver.  HUD’s de nition of homelessness includes those who are in imminent risk of losing their housing. However, the annual report does not include that data or consider people who are couch sur ng, or temporarily living at a friend or family member’s home.

Jason had been working, but with a broken back, he could no longer work or a ord needed medical care.

Like Garner, Jason requires a wheelchair to get around, which creates another level of di culties for those experiencing homelessness.

The cost of a disability

One day in the spring of 2018, Gar-

VOUCHERS

She attributed part of the higher demand to the pandemic, which impacted many workers and families.

Another theory comes from Reitz, who said higher demand could be because salaries and wages have not kept up with rising housing costs.

Unit scarcity

In addition to the lack of funding, LiFari said the lack of physical housing supply is a detriment to the function of housing voucher program.

“We just don’t have enough units,” he said. “We don’t even have enough housing to support folks that are above the poverty line … because we just abandoned building for one another.”

ner’s wheelchair got caught in some weeds in a eld. He spent hours there, yelling for help, until a couple happened upon him.

e couple befriended Garner, brought him some basic necessities, and got him into a detox facility. After a few stints, Garner has now been sober for more than four years.

“But the patience that these strangers showed me was something that was unbelievable to me,” Garner said. “I will never forget before they took me in the third time telling them: ‘Well, what if I just do this again? You know, what if I, what if you take me to this detox, you come pick me up, and I just start drinking again?’”

Garner said the couple told him they would keep trying. Services like detox are di cult to use for people with addictions and mental health issues, as they often have no support system to encourage them to go, as well as there often being little state support.

In 2019, a study showed that about 20% of all Americans were a ected by mental illness in the past year. According to e National Coalition for Homelessness the general e ects of various mental illnesses “disrupt people’s ability to carry out essential aspects of daily life,” as well as make social bonds.

“ is often results in pushing away caregivers, family, and friends who may be the force keeping that person from becoming homeless,” the report elaborated.

But the couple that helped Garner in

e lack of units creates scarcity in the housing market, LiFari said. With high demand, competition and rents increase across the region.

As a result, “lower-income Coloradans are left on the outside looking in,” he said.

“ e program can’t run unless there’s houses and units where people live, right?” he said. “So, without that, we’re just creating this ‘Hunger Games’ construct.”

After being chosen for a voucher, the competition begins. People have about two months to nd a home to rent and sign the lease. But that’s not enough time for many folks to nd homes and Maracenas elds many requests for extensions for as many as four more months.

Even with these extensions, LiFari said the highly competitive market presents a challenging dynamic for people to nd

that eld became his support, hosting him until they fell on hard times and divorced.

Eventually, Garner’s friend helped him get a studio apartment in Evergreen, helping to pay rent for the rst three months.

“So I stayed those rst three months and realized I didn’t want to leave,” Garner said.

Garner said without his friend helping with rst and last month’s rent and more in those rst three months, he wouldn’t have been able to a ord it. After the rst three months, Garner continued to stay in the apartment, getting help from friends. He got what he needed, he said, but it wasn’t easy, and it wasn’t how he wanted to live.

“I come from the salt of the earth, blue collar, working folk, you know, and really, at the bottom line, I’m just trying to work in any way I can,” he said. “All I’m trying to do is provide for myself.”

The housing and wage gap

Part of this di culty, especially in Evergreen, is the gap between wages and housing costs.  is lack of a ordable housing acts doubly as a factor for becoming homeless and a barrier from escaping it.

Adam Galbraith works as a bartender at Cactus Jack’s in Evergreen. He said the only reason he can save money at all is because his 1,100-square-foot apartment has four people in it.

“If you’ve got roommates, that’s the only way you’re going to save money,”

vacant units within the time frame. Part of this is because renters must be approved for leases by landlords and there are many barriers that can work against voucher holders – from the potential for discrimination to criminal records

Is it a solution?

In LiFari’s eyes, the housing choice voucher program “only exists as medicine for a misdiagnosed illness.”

Although it certainly makes a di erence in combating homelessness, he said American society and government need to focus more on the root of the problem.

“ e program is a function of how we value people and how we value where they live,” he said. “We refuse to address the root cause of the illness because then we have to view how we view poverty.”

For Hernandez, viewing poverty real-

he said. It’s also the only reason he can live in Evergreen, along with his landlord keeping rent lower than it could be at $1,500, “so locals would rent it.” Others he knows have seen their landlord sell the property and give them two months to get out — he’s had it happen to himself twice.

Evergreen isn’t really the place to perform hip hop on the corner, but Garner had a background in performance and music — participating in rap battles and the underground scene in his younger years under his stage name, LaKryth. After practicing, studying and preparing, he took to the streets with his guitar, not in his wheelchair, but instead standing on prosthetic legs.

“I’m a pretty damn good musician, you know, and I can sing pretty damn good too, but I’m not going to pretend like I’m oblivious to the fact that my disability and my prosthetics aren’t a contributing factor to the response that I’ve made in the community,” Garner said.

After getting attention on social media, he began to book more gigs, participate in rap battles, and through participating in Colorado Community Media’s housing series panel discussion, met the owner of Cactus Jack’s Saloon, where he is now host of the weekly open-mic night.

He said he can’t work a job “on paper,” and he still faces struggles with his health and well-being. Garner has a roof over his head and food to eat. He says that’s all he can ask for.

istically is important.

“Believe me — a lot of people don’t want to be depending on the government,” Hernandez said. “But at the same time, they need (vouchers) because it’s crazy out there.”

Although the housing choice voucher program is not perfect, LiFari said it still makes an impact.

“We have no other way that reaches the scale and has the complexity to be able to address individual housing markets, to drive housing stability and stave o extreme poverty and homelessness than this program,” he said.

And on top of that, Hernandez said it makes an important di erence in people’s spirits.

“It’s good for people to get (themselves) on the right track,” he said. “It’s a good thing to get your sense of, you know, you’re involved in society, you’re part of something.”

Jonathan Townshend Garner hosts an open mic night at Cactus Jack’s Saloon in Evergreen where he also performs.

PHOTO BY ANDREW FRAIELI

Searching for a home

After leaving the house he owned near Houston, Texas, more than a decade ago, Laney knew buying a home in Denver would be a near-impossible feat.

He was making good money at a medical diagnostics company and had been able to purchase a brand-new home in a Houston suburb for less than $150,000. But his mental health was su ering and he knew he needed a change. With friends living in Colorado at the time, Laney decided to move more than 1,000 miles north to Denver.

With his fresh start came the opportunity to dive into a longtime passion: wine. He took classes to become a sommelier — a trained wine professional. He sold wine to businesses across the metro area, worked part-time at a cozy wine bar and restaurant in the heart of Littleton’s historic downtown, and eventually landed a full-time job at Jake’s.

Laney settled on wherever he could nd the most a ordable apartment — something hovering around $1,000 per month, in places around Denver. e ones he found in Littleton were too run-down. As rents around the region rose, Laney moved ve times in six years.

“During this whole process I knew I wanted a house,” Laney said. “I wanted something that was my own, and it’s hard to build a home in an apartment, especially when you keep moving.”

Laney’s experiences came as Littleton residents expressed less con dence that their city was a ordable. From 2012 to 2022, residents who cited a ordable cost of living as a reason for living in Littleton declined from 30% to 14%, according to biennial city-issued surveys of hundreds of residents. Over those same years, residents who said a ordable housing and rental rates were a reason for living in the city went from 20% to 9%.

Laney said he worked, saved and kept his spending habits to a minimum during those years, staying laser-focused on his ultimate prize. Credit-card debt from college “really destroyed a lot of opportunities,” he said, but he kept “working, working, working.”

Even though Laney estimates he was making about $48,000 yearly, he says he was far short of what he needed for a down payment on even the least expensive of homes in Littleton.

He wasn’t alone. A 2020 analysis from Denver-based contractor Root Policy showed that individuals who earned $29,000 to $95,000 yearly in the metro area could not a ord the average price of a home, which was nearly $420,000 that year.

“It’s a pretty serious situation,” said Corey Reitz, executive director of Littleton’s housing authority, South Metro Housing Options. “ e list of folks who can’t continue to live here continues to grow.”

at list, according to Root’s analysis, in -

cludes workers in health care, education, construction, food service and more.

Essential workers risk being priced out

Sta ers at Swedish Medical Center in Englewood say the housing problem also a ects them. ey blame the shortage of essential hospital workers they’re contending with, in part, on the cost of housing.

“Absolutely the rising cost of housing here in Colorado is a topic,” said Dena Schmaedecke, the hospital’s vice president of human resources. “Colleagues are often bringing up those stresses.”

at housing-cost factor has caused hospital leaders to o er a $10,000 housing stipend to incentivize new employees, Schmaedecke said.

In Brighton, northeast of Denver, Michael Clow, chief human resources o cer for 27J Schools, said the cost of housing has impacted the district’s ability to maintain and support sta .

“We hear from candidates and from our new hires that the cost of housing and their ability to nd housing is a real problem,” Clow said. “ We recently had two math teachers (husband and wife) join us. ey were excited to live their dream and move to Colorado. After just one year and realizing they could not a ord to raise a family here, they moved back to their home state.”

Clow said the crisis has restricted the district’s pool of applicants graduating with teaching degrees, creating intense competition for sta and teachers.

“ e cost of housing is becoming a serious obstacle for us to maintain service levels and serve our mission,” he said.

Farther north, in Fort Lupton, the Weld R-8 School District has faced similar pressures.

Superintendent Alan Kaylor said the annual salary for a rst-year teacher in the district is about $41,000.

Kaylor bought his home in 1995 for $72,000. He said a home across the street from his was recently listed at $685,000. e price of that house across the street rose more than four times faster than the pace of in ation, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ in ation calculator.

“How can any family a ord that?” he asked. “Something has to give. After a while, you have to wonder how long people will tolerate living on teachers’ wages.”

Even for some residents making a larger income, housing remains elusive.

West of Denver, in Evergreen, husband and wife Bill and Charm Connelly bring in a combined six- gure salary.

Bill Connelly is an insurance agent and blackjack dealer for a Black Hawk casino. Charm is the front-house general manager for Cactus Jack’s, a bar and restaurant in Evergreen. e two rent a three-bedroom home and are struggling to save for a house. Even downsizing to something smaller, they said, would likely increase their spending by roughly $400 a month. e two currently pay $2,200 per month on rent.

“I feel like a failure. I nally get a good fulltime job making great money, and eight years ago, 10 years ago, we could easily have gotten something,” Bill Connelly said.

“Between the two of us, I see what we make,” Charm said. “We are making decent money, but I want to be able to save money and not blow it all on rent.”

For Adam Galbraith, a Cactus Jack’s bartender, the only way to keep his rent a ordable is to live with others.

“ e only reason I’m able to save money is because it’s a 1,100-square-foot place and we crammed four people in it,” Galbraith said, adding monthly rent is about $1,500. “If you’ve got roommates, that’s the only way you’re going to save money.”

A housing ‘limbo’

Near the end of 2019, Laney, the Littleton bartender, was beginning to feel more condent about reaching his goal for a down payment. He’d paid o his car and credit-card debt and said he “worked hard to keep it that way.” His savings account was beginning to bulk up. en came COVID-19.

Years of careful saving and unyielding restraint on spending evaporated in months. Laney was forced to drain his savings account during the beginning of the pandemic amid lockdowns. He received nothing from the federal government’s Paycheck Protection Program, though he would gain $3,200 from stimulus checks in the months to come. Still, he was hanging on.

It was “the community around Jake’s, our regulars, who kept us alive,” Laney said.

“I was there every single day, for damn near a year,” he said, with the bar able to do curbside orders even as its indoors remained shuttered.

Before the pandemic, Laney estimates he brought in about $4,000 each month before taxes. By the end of the month, after paying for rent, utilities, groceries and gas, he would be left with just $200 to $300, which usually went into his savings.

Living that way was “terrifying,” said Laney, who always felt he could be on the edge of losing his housing should he have a bad month.

e pandemic only exacerbated the uncertainty.

As his savings depleted, Laney’s dream of owning a home never seemed further away.

But his resolve didn’t waver and he used what federal relief he had to rebuild his savings because, as he put it, “I had a goal: I wanted a house. When I came out of the tunnel I knew what I wanted.”

By 2021, he started looking again. A townhome might come up on the market — far from perfect, but within Laney’s means — and he would ready himself to put down an o er. It never was enough.

“Someone comes in and puts 20k cash on the o er, or 30k or 40k,” Laney said. “I went through about a year and a half of that and I knew in my head I was not going to be able to

SEE PRICES, P19

get a house.”

A real-estate agent who came into his bar told Laney to apply for a $300,000 bank loan. He had good credit, the agent told him, and would be a shoo-in for the money.

“ ree hundred thousand dollars does not get you a townhome,” Laney thought to himself.

He was frustrated. More than frustrated. He felt depressed.

“I’d done everything right, everything I was supposed to do and it still didn’t matter,” he said. “I’m just stuck, like the hundreds of thousands of other people, in limbo.”

Laney’s luck began to turn near the end of 2021 when he heard there were about to be dozens of single-family homes for sale in Littleton for less than $300,000. He thought it was too good to be true.

‘We can’t all win the lottery’ at year, South Metro Housing Options, which manages a ordable properties throughout Littleton, sold 59 of its single-family homes to Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver, which pledged to renovate the units and sell them at a below-market price.

Laney’s hourly wage had slightly increased since the pandemic from $8 to $10, though 90% of his income still came from tips, he said. Still, Laney believed he met the nancial requirements for a Habitat home, which would only sell to peoplewho earn no more than 80% of the area’s median income.

But when Laney applied to be on a waitlist at the beginning of 2022, he was quickly denied. He was told his income, roughly $56,000 when he applied, exceeded the cap by less than $1,000.

Laney said he was actually making less than that, about $54,000, but because Habitat counted his “unrealized interest gains,” such as money held in stocks, Laney was over the threshold.

Habitat was also only looking at the income of recent months, Laney said, rather than his income over the past year. is made it look like he made more than he did because his monthto-month income would uctuate dramatically based on tips.  He applied again and was denied again, this time for making just $300 more than the cut-o . But, a slow month at work turned out to be a good thing. His income dipped just enough that by the third time he applied he made it on the waitlist.

at did not come with the guarantee of a home. Laney was in a line of people just like him and demand far outweighed supply. Number 10 was his position. Who knew how many more were behind him, he thought. en it happened. Laney was made an o er, a 1,275-squarefoot detached home near Ketring Park in central Littleton valued at $285,000, roughly a third of what similar properties sold for.

“I can’t even express how happy I was,” Laney said. “I’ve been living and serving this community for 10 years and I want to live here.”

Still, the program has some drawbacks compared to traditional homeownership. Laney cannot build as much equity as many of his neighbors because he does not own the property the home sits on. Instead, it is owned by something called a land trust — a collection of entities.

“ e beauty of the land trust is it removes the cost of the land from the equation from the cost of the home,” said Kate Hilberg, director of real estate development for Habitat for Humanity. “It allows the homeowners to pay on that mortgage for that home and improvements to that home but not the land.”

Land trusts are crucial tools organizations like Habitat use to lock in the a ordability of homes even as property values rise elsewhere. e owners of these units will see some equity from their homes, Hilberg said, about 2% each year. But it won’t be enough to match the likes of homeowners who have used their growing property values to build decades of generational wealth.

“A lot of families use this as a starter home option and they do gain enough equity and stability to turn that into a down payment on a home in the open market,” Hilberg said of homes under land trusts.

But fathoming a concept like equity is a luxury for those who still can’t buy a house on the market, Laney said.

While he’s thankful for what Habitat did for him, he fears the few dozen homes it manages in Littleton can only go so far to meet the demand of hundreds, if not thousands, of residents who have struggled as he has.

“ ere isn’t enough incomebased housing for people … the people who live and work in this community can’t a ord a house,” Laney said. “We can’t all win the lottery.”

Colorado Community Reporters Andrew Fraieli, Steve Smith, Tayler Shaw and Ellis Arnold contributed reporting to this story.

Small goalie makes big impact on ice

Emma gains support of teammates, fans

BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

As the opposing team grabs the puck and skates down the ice in a breakaway, parents and fans of the Arapahoe Warriors 10U Yellow team, or Golden Eagles, take a collective breath. As the goalie falls on the puck to secure the save, parents scream, “Good job, Emma.”

While those same parents are there to cheer on their own children, Emma Preston has quickly become a crowd favorite in the 2022-23 season.

While one could argue Emma may be one of the smallest members of the team, no one doubts she stands up to the pressure of having the biggest job on the ice as the lone goalie.

Emma is the lone girl on the 10-and-under team that is part of the Arapahoe Warriors recreational hockey program, which plays teams all over the Front Range.

“As a coaching sta , I’m not sure we’ve seen a goalie at this age level that has quicker lateral movement across the goalie crease,” said Head Coach Christopher Castelli. “Her ability to shu e from one side of the net to the other in the butter y position is second to none.”

For the Eagles, many of the players are in their rst year of competitive play, including Emma.

Emma said she got into hockey by watching the sport with her dad, noting that her favorite player is Marc-André Fleury, the goalie for the Minnesota Wild in the NHL.

Emma said watching Fleury made her want to try her hand at being goalie. She started training and joined the Eagles for a season that hasn’t always been easy.

“I really like getting out there and stopping the shots,” Emma said. “It’s hard but I want to keep working.”

At the start of the season as the new young team was coming together, many games fell on Emma’s shoulders. e Eagles faced some tough, lopsided losses in the early going.

“It can be hard, especially when the other team gets on a breakaway,” Emma said. “As the team has gotten better it feels good because there is less pressure on me.”

Castelli said Emma’s positivity is infectious.

“During game intermissions, we have one-on-one

chats about clearing the mind and having a positive thought process when she’s in the net,” he said.” In fact, she writes motivational quotes on her goalie pads to remind herself that we as a team believe in her and that she believes in herself.”

As the Eagles have improved on defense and as shooters Dennis Lisunov, who leads the team with 43 goals, and Lewis Chan started getting in a rhythm on their respective lines, the team is starting to win more games, even the close ones that would slip away in the nal seconds early in the season.

A season momentum builder came during the Arvada tournament in December. In a tough game, the Eagles pushed the score to a 3-3 tie at the end of regulation. For tournament placement, the game cannot end in a tie, requiring a shootout.

Emma said she got a little stressed before the shootout.

e Eagles started with three shots, with two of the players hitting it in to relieve some of Emma’s pressure. However, after blocking one shot, Emma missed two to keep the game tied.

In the second shootout, each team got one shot. Chan, who scored in the rst shootout, snuck it in to put the Eagles ahead again.

Emma said as an opposing player pushed the puck toward her, she just took position and watched the puck push to her glove, saving the goal and winning the game.

As she made the save and the crowd cheered, as is customary after each game, all of the Eagles players ran to hit Emma on her helmet in a big mob.

“As a team, we have preached about being one big hockey family, Castelli said. “Emma has the ongoing support of our players as well as the parents in the stands. I’ve had parents and opposing coaches come up to me after the game lauding her performance in the net. Her fandom among the team parents has become pretty special. e Emma chants with the blue and yellow pom-poms waving in the air after every save is an amazing site to see.” is December victory was not only big for Emma, but she said it was also big for her team as she’s had a great view from the goalie box in watching the Eagles grow and improve.

In Fort Collins in early January, Emma and the

Emma Preston gets prepared as the opposing team heads her way in a game during the 2022-2023 season.

PHOTO BY THELMA GRIMES

Emma Preston proudly holds the player of the game puck, which she has earned several times this season. COURTESY PHOTO

GOALIE

Eagles again shined. After a rough rst round where they lost a game they were expected to win, the team bounced back for two strong victories.

In the second round, Emma was on her game, allowing two goals on 26 shots, giving the Eagles a 3-2 victory.

e Eagles made it to the championship round where they lost a tight game 4-3.

In a game where the Eagles led 3-0, a tough second period changed momentum, starting with a controversial call where referees ruled a tripping incident was agrant. Instead of a penalty box punishment, the referee allowed the other team to take a free penalty shot. Emma came up short, as the goal slid past her leg.

Besides her strong play and the support earned from both her teammates and fans, Emma is also one of the most respectful players on the ice, even in a game where a referee call changed the course of play.

After each game, win or lose, Emma can be seen shaking the referees’ hands.

“]Ultimately, as Emma continues playing and learning, the young

player said she wants to eventually be a part of a championship team.

“I just want to keep doing this and be the best I can be for my team,” she said.

e Eagles will continue their season through February.

“ As the season progresses, (Emma) continues to close-out games for us,” Castelli said. “Another thing that has led to her growing con dence is the hard work the team puts into our practices. at team bond and unity has transferred to the ice.”

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Emma Preston is swarmed by teammates after a tournament victory. PHOTO BY THELMA GRIMES

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Senior Software Engineer (FT; Multiple Openings)

Job Location: Centennial, CO

Requirements: MS or equiv. in CS, CE, etc. + 2 yrs. exp. or BS + 5 yrs. exp. req’d. Exp. w/AWS, Hibernate, Java-Based Automation, Java, Spring, cloud dev., app server deployment, web design, REST & SOAP req’d. Salary: $151,500

Mail Resume: RingCentral, Inc.

Attn: HR Dept. 20 Davis Drive Belmont, CA 94002

Help Wanted

Visa Technology & Operations LLC, a Visa Inc. company, currently has an opening for Sr. SW Engineer (multiple openings) (REF56423Y) in Highlands Ranch, CO. Job duties include: Architect, design, build, develop, test, and/or implement software applications. Conduct business and technical analysis, code reviews, and unit testing. The estimated salary range for a new hire into this position is $94,700 USD to $146,700 USD.; Sr. SW Engineer (multiple openings) (REF56424L) in Highlands Ranch, CO. Job duties include: Architect, design, build, develop, test, and/or implement software applications. Conduct business and technical analysis, code reviews, and unit testing. The estimated salary range for a new hire into this position is $102,482 USD to $146,700 USD.; Staff SW Engineer (multiple openings) (REF56426L) in Highlands Ranch, CO. Job duties include: Responsible for the architecture, design, development, and implementation of software applications. Evaluate and introduce technology tools and processes that enable Visa to develop products and solutions, to embrace business opportunities and/or improve operational efficiency. The estimated salary range for a new hire into this position is $139,984 USD to $177,800 USD.; Staff SW Engineer (multiple openings) (REF56427C) in Highlands Ranch, CO. Job duties include: Responsible for the architecture, design, development, and implementation of software applications. Evaluate and introduce technology tools and processes that enable Visa to develop products and solutions, to embrace business opportunities and/or improve operational efficiency. The estimated salary range for a new hire into this position is $121,222 USD to $177,800 USD. All positions report to the Employer’s Highlands Ranch, CO office and may allow for partial telecommuting. Salary may vary depending on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location. In addition, this position may be eligible for an annual bonus and equity.

Accountant/Bookkeeper

Looking for Accountant/Bookkeeper to work in Castle Rock office approximately 2 days a week. Flexible schedule including some remote work. Must work in office at least one day per week and have QuickBooks accounting software experience. Very generous hourly rate and flexibility. Please call Kim Harrison at 303-941-9446 or email Kim@osbornecos.com

Enterprise Architect

Positions offered by Arrow Electronics Inc. (Centennial, CO). Responsible for enterprise architecture by ensur’g that common architecture decisions are implemented consistently across business & IT to support the business & IT strategy. Research, analyze, design, propose, & deliver IT architecture solutions that are optimal for the business & IT strategies in one or more domains. Employee reports to office in Centennial, CO. Position may work from home, but must live within commuting distance of stated office. We are offering a salary of $139,984 to $153,000 per year. Arrow Electronics, Inc. has a COVID-19 vaccination policy. For more information & to apply online, please visit: http://bitly.ws/xRvo.

Visa has a comprehensive benefits package for which this position is eligible that includes Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), Employee Stock Purchase Program, FSH/ HSA, Life Insurance, Paid Time off and Wellness Programs. Qualified applicants should apply by emailing resume to careersus@visa.com. Must reference job code.

DRIVER Class B CDL propane delivery truck driver for Spring Valley Gas, Elizabeth. P/T & F/T positions; responsible for propane delivery and customer service.

HazMat/Tanker endorsement.

Propane certification a plus. Insurance age requirement 26 with clean MVR. SVG is building a team, not just a job!

Starting salary based on experience & qualifications. Call 303-660-8810.

Help Wanted

Visa USA Inc., a Visa Inc. company, currently has an opening for Sr. SW Engineer (multiple openings) (REF55102F) in Highlands Ranch, CO. Job duties include: Architect, design, build, develop, test, and/ or implement software applications. Conduct business and technical analysis, code reviews, and unit testing. The estimated salary range for a new hire into this position is $94,700 USD to $146,700 USD.; Sr. SW Engineer (multiple openings) (REF55103L) in Highlands Ranch, CO. Job duties include: Architect, design, build, develop, test, and/or implement software applications. Conduct business and technical analysis, code reviews, and unit testing. The estimated salary range for a new hire into this position is $102,482 USD to $146,700 USD.; Staff SW Engineer (multiple openings) (REF55104Q) in Highlands Ranch, CO. Job duties include: Responsible for the architecture, design, development, and implementation of software applications. Evaluate and introduce technology tools and processes that enable Visa to develop products and solutions, to embrace business opportunities and/or improve operational efficiency. The estimated salary range for a new hire into this position is $139,984 USD to $177,800 USD.; Staff SW Engineer (multiple openings) (REF55105C) in Highlands Ranch, CO. Job duties include: Responsible for the architecture, design, development, and implementation of software applications. Evaluate and introduce technology tools and processes that enable Visa to develop products and solutions, to embrace business opportunities and/or improve operational efficiency. The estimated salary range for a new hire into this position is $121,222 USD to $177,800 USD. All positions report to the Employer’s Highlands Ranch, CO office and may allow for partial telecommuting. Salary may vary depending on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location. In addition, this position may be eligible for an annual bonus and equity. Visa has a comprehensive benefits package for which this position is eligible that includes Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), Employee Stock Purchase Program, FSH/ HSA, Life Insurance, Paid Time off and Wellness Programs. Qualified applicants should apply by emailing resume to careersus@visa.com. Must reference job code.

BOOKKEEPER

Titan Concrete, Inc. nA flatwork construction company in Sedalia, Co has an opening in Bookkeeping

- Quickbooks - Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable.

Weekly Payroll - 25 employees. Handle day to day office business. $25.00 per hour.

Part time - 20-30 hours a week - Flexible

Email resume to: Augie@titanconcreteinc.com

BVSD is committed to hiring diverse candidates who bring unique perspectives, backgrounds and skill sets that will strengthen our mission of delivering high-quality education to all students. We are committed to culturally responsive practices that challenge inequity and bias. School leadership and sta will be on hand to interview candidates in person at the event and virtually, and we will be making tentative employment o ers for the Fall 2023 school year. #WeAreBVSD

Help Wanted

LEGITIMATE WORK AT HOME

No Sales, no Investment, No Risk, Free training, Free website. Contact Susan at 303-646-4171 or fill out form at www.wisechoice4u.com

Software Development Engineer II Travelport LP seeks Software Development Engineer II positions in Centennial, CO. Provide crucial technical expertise at a high level and collaboration with teammates, Product Owners, and Scrum Masters. Design, development and maintenance work on an agile scrum team focused on delivering non-traditional air content to agency applications. Salary range will be $83,720 - $122,000. May telecommute.

Email resume: americasbusinesspartners@ travelport.com Ref. 6464238.

CLASSIFIEDS

Classifieds

Misc. Notices

WIDOWED MEN AND WOMEN OF AMERICA.

A social club offering many exciting activities and life long friendships. Social hours for all areas of Metro Denver. Visit Widowedamerica.org for details In your area!

2 bicycles, single bed complete never used, wheelchair, new poker table and shop vacuum. All for $500 or best offer. Will sell single items as well. Call 720-465-9022

Merchandise

Firewood

Split & Delivered $450 a cord Stacking $50 Call 303-647-2475 or 720-323-2173

Health & Beauty

VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS!

50 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00 100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW!

888-445-5928 Hablamos Espanol

DENTAL INSURANCEPhysicians Mutual Insurance Company. Covers 350 procedures. Real insurancenot a discount plan. Get your free dental info kit! 1-855-526-1060 www.dental50plus.com/58 #6258.

Medical

Attention oxygen therapy users!

Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. Free info kit. Call 877-929-9587

Miscellaneous

Become a published author. We want to read your book! Dorrance

Publishing trusted since 1920. Consultation, production, promotion & distribution. Call for free author`s guide 1-877-729-4998 or visit dorranceinfo.com/ads

Miscellaneous

MobileHelp, America’s premier mobile medical alert system. Whether you’re home or away. For safety & peace of mind. No long term contracts! Free brochure! 1-888489-3936

Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC home standby generator $0 Down + Low Monthly Pmt Request a free Quote. Call before the next power outage: 1-855-948-6176

DISH TV $64.99 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR included, Free Voice remote. Some Restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/21/23. 1-866-479-1516.

Scrap Metal, Batteries, Appliances, Wiring, Scrap Plumbing/Heating, Cars/Parts, Clean out Garages/Yards, Rake, Yard work done w/chainsaw, Certified Auto Mechanical / Body Work & paint available Also can do inside or outside cleaning 303-647-2475 / 720-323-2173

Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800245-0398

Safe Step. North America’s #1 Walk-in tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service.

Now featuring our free shower package & $1600 off - limited time! Financing available. 1-855-4171306

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debrisblocking gutter protection. Schedule free LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-833-6101936

Caring for an aging loved one?

Wondering about options like seniorliving communities and in-home care? Caring.com’s Family Advisors help take the guesswork out of senior care for your family. Free, noobligation consult: 1-855-759-1407

Miscellaneous

The Generac PWRcell solar plus battery storage system. Save money, reduce reliance on grid, prepare for outages & power your home. Full installation services. $0 down financing option. Request free no obligation quote. 1-877-539-0299

!!OLD GUITARS WANTED!!

GIBSON, FENDER, MARTIN, etc. 1930’s to 1980’s. TOP DOLLAR PAID.

CALL TOLL FREE 1-866-433-8277

Free high speed internet if qualified. Govt. pgm for recipients of select pgms incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet. Android tablet free w/one-time $20 copay. Free shipping. Call Maxsip Telecom! 1-833-758-3892

Switch and save up to $250/yr on talk, text & data. No contract or hidden fees. Unlimited talk & text with flexible data plans. Premium nationwide coverage. 100% U.S. based customer service. Limited time get $50 off any new account. Use code GIFT50. 1-855-903-3048

HughesNet– Finally, super-fast internet no matter where you live. 25 Mbps just $59.99/mo! Unlimited Data is Here. Stream Video. Bundle TV & Internet. Free Installation. Call 866-499-0141

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 855-761-1725

Attention Homeowners! If you have water damage and need cleanup services, call us! We’ll get in & work with your insurance agency to get your home repaired and your life back to normal ASAP! 855-7677031

Musical Instruments

Pramberger Baby Grand Piano Ebony Black. 10 years old. Rarely Used. Excellent Condition. Perfect for a school or church.

$16,000, negotiable. Michael 303-520-1000

CLASSIFIED AD SALES

303-566-4100

classifieds@coloradocommunitymedia.com

SERVICE DIRECTORY ADS

Contact Erin, 303-566-4074

eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com

DEADLINES

CLASSIFIED LINE ADS:

MONDAY, 5 P.M.

SERVICE DIRECTORY:

THURSDAY, 5 P.M.

LEGALS: THURSDAY, 3 P.M.

classifieds@coloradocommunitymedia.com SERVICE

Contact

PROMAID

Heating/Air Conditioning

TO ADVERTISE CALL 303-566-4100

COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

CLASSIFIEDS

Pro Painters is a residential painting company which specializes in exterior and interior painting. Our core values are honesty, integrity, service, quality and beauty and our focus is on delivering an outstanding customer experience. We currently include a full color consult, test pints and a detailed walkthrough with all of our paint jobs.

Helpful Ace

Public Notices

Arapahoe County Salaries

Arapahoe County Salaries

Legals

Public Trustees

COMBINED NOTICE - PUBLICATION

CRS §38-38-103

FORECLOSURE SALE NO. 0561-2022

To Whom It May Concern: This Notice is given with regard to the following described Deed of Trust:

On November 4, 2022, the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in the County of Arapahoe records.

Original Grantor(s)

Gregory J Hoffman, a married person and Louise

B Hoffman, a married person

Original Beneficiary(ies)

Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. ("MERS") as nominee for Coldwell Banker Mortgage, Its Successors and Assigns

Current Holder of Evidence of Debt

NewRez LLC, F/K/A New Penn Financial, LLC,

D/B/A Shellpoint Mortgage Servicing

Date of Deed of Trust

January 22, 2010

County of Recording

Arapahoe

Recording Date of Deed of Trust

January 25, 2010

Recording Information (Reception No. and/or Book/Page No.)

D0007694

Original Principal Amount

$417,000.00

Outstanding Principal Balance

$320,976.95

Pursuant to CRS §38-38-101(4)(i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Failure to pay principal and interest when due together with all other payments provided for in the evidence of debt secured by the Deed of Trust and other violations thereof

THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.

LOT 5, GREENWOOD HIGHLANDS FILING

NO. 2, COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE, STATE OF

COLORADO

Also known by street and number as: 4 Windover Road, Greenwood Village, CO 80121.

THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST.

If applicable, a description of any changes to the deed of trust described in the notice of election and demand pursuant to affidavit as allowed by statutes: C.R.S.§ 38-35-109(5) LEGAL DESCRIPTION HAS BEEN CORRECTED BY SCRIVENER'S AFFIDAVIT RECORDED 09/28/2022 AT RECEPTION NO. E2098930 IN THE RECORDS OF ARAPAHOE COUNTY.

NOTICE OF SALE

The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, described herein, has filed Notice of Election and Demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.

THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that I will at public auction, at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, 03/08/2023, at The East Hearing Room, County Administration Building, 5334 South Prince Street, Littleton, Colorado, 80120, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)' heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys' fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law. First Publication:

resenting the legal holder of the indebtedness is:

Erin Croke #46557 Steven Bellanti #48306

Holly Shilliday #24423

Ilene Dell'Acqua #31755 McCarthy & Holthus LLP 7700 E Arapahoe Road, Suite 230, Centennial, CO 80112 (877) 369-6122 Attorney File # CO-22-926956-LL

The Attorney above is acting as a debt collector and is attempting to collect a debt. Any information provided may be used for that purpose.

©Public Trustees' Association of Colorado Revised 1/2015

Legal Notice NO. 0561-2022

First Publication: 1/12/2023

Last Publication: 2/9/2023 Name of Publication: Littleton Independent COMBINED NOTICE - PUBLICATION CRS §38-38-103 FORECLOSURE SALE NO. 0577-2022

To Whom It May Concern: This Notice is given with regard to the following described Deed of Trust:

On November 8, 2022, the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in the County of Arapahoe records.

Original Grantor(s) Jessica M. Lujan-Ladow AND Joseph N. Ladow

Beneficiary(ies)

Federal Credit Union

Holder of Evidence of Debt

Federal Credit Union Date of Deed of Trust

17, 2015

of Recording

Date of Deed of Trust

22, 2015

D5145653

Original Principal Amount

DATE: 11/04/2022

Susan Sandstrom, Public Trustee in and for the County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado

By: Susan Sandstrom, Public Trustee

The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) rep-

$55,000.00

Outstanding Principal Balance

$55,436.44

Pursuant to CRS §38-38-101(4)(i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust

have been violated as follows: Failure to pay principal and interest when due together with all other payments provided for in the evidence of debt secured by the deed of trust and other violations thereof.

THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.

THE SOUTH 73.5 FEET OF THE NORTH 148.5

FEET OF THE EAST 125 FEET OF THE WEST 155 FEET OF THE EAST 300 FEET OF BLOCK 31, WINDERMERE - GALLUP'S SUBURBAN HOME SUBDIVISION , COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE, STATE OF COLORADO

Also known by street and number as: 5978 S. Louthan St, LITTLETON, CO 80120. THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST.

NOTICE OF SALE

The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, described herein, has filed Notice of Election and Demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.

THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that I will at public auction, at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, 03/08/2023, at The East Hearing Room, County Administration Building, 5334 South Prince Street, Littleton, Colorado, 80120, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)' heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys' fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.

First Publication: 1/12/2023

Last Publication: 2/9/2023

Name of Publication: Littleton Independent

IF THE SALE DATE IS CONTINUED TO A LATER DATE, THE DEADLINE TO FILE A

NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE BY THOSE

PARTIES ENTITLED TO CURE MAY ALSO BE EXTENDED;

DATE: 11/08/2022

Susan Sandstrom, Public Trustee in and for the County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado

By: Susan Sandstrom, Public Trustee

The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is:

Peter M. Susemihl #494 Susemihl, Mcdermott & Downie, PC 660 Southpointe Ct. Suite 210, Colorado Springs, CO 80906 (719) 579-6500

$67866.78

SocialCaseworkerB $60029.02

SocialCaseworkerA $31320.00

SocialCaseworkerB $65338.61

CAPSSupervisor $86668.11

SocialCaseworkerB $15489.38

SocialCaseworkerB $52556.80

SocialCaseworkerB $41558.40

SocialCaseworkerA $7560.00

SocialCaseworkerB $72915.95

SocialCaseworkerA $14040.00

SocialCaseworkerB $59907.51

SocialCaseworkerB $41563.93

notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Failure to pay principal and interest when due together with all other payments provided for in the evidence of debt secured by the deed of trust and other violations thereof.

THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.

SEE EXHIBIT A ATTACHED HERETO

Also known by street and number as:

3190 WEST BOWLES AVENUE, LITTLETON, CO 80123.

THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST.

NOTICE OF SALE

The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, described herein, has filed Notice of Election and Demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.

THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that I will at public auction, at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, 03/08/2023, at The East Hearing Room, County Administration Building, 5334 South Prince Street, Littleton, Colorado, 80120, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)' heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys' fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.

First Publication: 1/12/2023

Last Publication: 2/9/2023

Name of Publication: Littleton Independent

IF THE SALE DATE IS CONTINUED TO A LATER DATE, THE DEADLINE TO FILE A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE BY THOSE PARTIES ENTITLED TO CURE MAY ALSO BE EXTENDED;

DATE: 11/08/2022

Susan Sandstrom, Public Trustee in and for the County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado

By: Susan Sandstrom, Public Trustee

The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is:

Robert T. Cosgrove #12217

Burns, Wall and Mueller, P.C. 303 East 17th Avenue, #920, Denver, CO 80203-1299 (303) 830-7000

Attorney File # 3190 WEST BOWLES AVENUE

The Attorney above is acting as a debt collector and is attempting to collect a debt. Any information provided may be used for that purpose.

©Public Trustees' Association of Colorado Revised 1/2015

EXHIBIT “A” 0573-2022

Attached to and forming part of the Deed of Trust to Public Trustee, Security Agreement, Assignment of Leases and Rents and Financing Statement, dated March 8, 2022, from Cross Creek 3, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company as Grantor, to the Public Trustee of the County of Arapahoe, Colorado, for the use and benefit of Indicate Capital Fund 1 LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as Beneficiary. Description of

Property: LOT 1, BLOCK 1, WATSON LANE SUBDIVISION FILING NO. 1, ACCORDING TO THE CORRECTIVE PLAT RECORDED SEPTEMBER 5, 2002 AT RECEPTION NO. B2164681, COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE, STATE OF COLORADO. Also Known As: 3190 West Bowles Avenue Littleton, CO 80123

Legal Notice NO. 0573-2022

First Publication: 1/12/2023

Last Publication: 2/9/2023

Name of Publication: Littleton Independent

NOTICE OF UNCLAIMED OVERBID FUNDS CRS 38-38-111(2.5b)(3a,b,d)(5)

PUBLIC TRUSTEE SALE NO. 0320-2022

To: Obligor/Grantor(s) on the evidence of debt and/or Deed of Trust or other person entitled. You are advised that there are overbid funds due you. This Notice is given with regard to the following described Deed of Trust:

Name of Obligor/Grantor(s) on the evidence of debt and/or Deed of Trust

Dylan Dick Address of Obligor/Grantor(s) on the evidence of debt and/or Deed of Trust 15700 E Jamison Dr Unit 1-305, Centennial, CO 80112

Recording Date of Deed of Trust

October 22, 2020

Recording Information E0144226 Book: N/A Page:

Legal Description of Property

See Attached Legal Description

Street Address of Property 15700 E Jamison Dr Unit 1-305, Centennial, CO 80112

NOTICE OF UNCLAIMED OVERBID FUNDS

I sold at public auction, at 10:00 A.M. on 10/26/22, at The East Hearing Room, County Administration Building, 5334 South Prince Street, Littleton, Colorado, 80120, to the highest and best bidder for cash, the real property described above. An overbid was realized from the sale and the funds must be claimed by the Obligor/Grantor(s) on the evidence of debt and/or Deed of Trust or other persons entitled thereto within six months from the date of sale.

Pursuant to CRS §38-38-101(4)(i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Failure to pay principal and interest when due together with all other payments provided for in the evidence of debt secured by the Deed of Trust and other violations thereof

THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A

LOT 1, BLOCK 8, SOUTHCREEK SUBDIVISION, FILING NO. 1, COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE, STATE OF COLORADO

Also known by street and number as: 15902 E Nichols Ave, Englewood, CO 80112. THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST.

NOTICE OF SALE

The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, described herein, has filed Notice of Election and Demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.

THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that I will at public auction, at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, 03/22/2023, at The East Hearing Room, County Administration Building, 5334 South Prince Street, Littleton, Colorado, 80120, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)' heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys' fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.

First Publication: 1/26/2023

Last Publication: 2/23/2023

Name of Publication: Littleton Independent IF THE SALE DATE IS CONTINUED TO A LATER DATE, THE DEADLINE TO FILE A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE BY THOSE PARTIES ENTITLED TO CURE MAY ALSO BE EXTENDED;

DATE: 11/22/2022

Susan Sandstrom, Public Trustee in and for the County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado

By: Susan Sandstrom, Public Trustee

The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is:

Erin Croke #46557

Steven Bellanti #48306

Holly Shilliday #24423

Ilene Dell'Acqua #31755 McCarthy & Holthus LLP 7700 E Arapahoe Road, Suite 230, Centennial, CO 80112 (877) 369-6122

Attorney File # CO-22-947588-LL

The Attorney above is acting as a debt collector and is attempting to collect a debt. Any information provided may be used for that purpose.

©Public Trustees' Association of Colorado Revised

into the speaking queue.

If you need special accommodations or translation services to attend a public meeting or submit comments, or if you would like to request related documents in a language other than English, please contact Jeremy Fink (jfink@arapahoegov. com or 303 738-8062) at least 48 hours prior to the start of the meeting to ensure we can accommodate your request.

Legal Notice No. Arap 1147

First Publication: February 2, 2023

Last Publication: February 2, 2023

Publisher: Englewood Herald Littleton Independent and the Centennial Citizen

you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Failure to pay principal and interest when due together with all other payments provided for in the evidence of debt secured by the deed of trust and other violations thereof.

THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.

LOTS 13 AND 14, BLOCK 21, SHERIDAN SUBDIVISION, COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE, STATE OF COLORADO.

Also known by street and number as: 1810 W Girard Ave, Englewood, CO 80110.

THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST.

NOTICE OF SALE

The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, described herein, has filed Notice of Election and Demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.

THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that I will at public auction, at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, 03/01/2023, at The East Hearing Room, County Administration Building, 5334 South Prince Street, Littleton, Colorado, 80120, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)' heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys' fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.

First Publication: 1/5/2023

Last Publication: 2/2/2023

Name of Publication: Littleton Independent

IF THE SALE DATE IS CONTINUED TO A LATER DATE, THE DEADLINE TO FILE A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE BY THOSE PARTIES ENTITLED TO CURE MAY ALSO BE EXTENDED;

DATE: 11/01/2022

Susan Sandstrom, Public Trustee in and for the County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado

By: Susan Sandstrom, Public Trustee

The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is:

Alison L Berry #34531

N. April Winecki #34861

David R. Doughty #40042

Nicholas H. Santarelli #46592

Lynn M. Janeway #15592

Janeway Law Firm, P.C. 9800 S. Meridian Blvd., Suite 400, Englewood, CO 80112 (303) 706-9990

Attorney File # 22-028628

The Attorney above is acting as a debt collector and is attempting to collect a debt. Any information provided may be used for that purpose.

©Public Trustees' Association of Colorado Revised 1/2015

Legal Notice NO. 0554-2022

First Publication: 1/5/2023

Last Publication: 2/2/2023

Name of Publication: Littleton Independent City and County

Public Notice ARAPAHOE COUNTY, COLORADO

PUBLIC NOTICE & OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the general public and any interested parties are invited to provide comment and input regarding the County’s plan to utilize HOME Investment Partnerships Program-American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) funds to address community needs and provide housing solutions for people experiencing homelessness. The County’s HOME-ARP plan, which establishes funding priorities and allocations, will be completed as part of a substantial amendment to the 2021 Annual Action Plan.

Arapahoe County, Community Development Housing and Homeless Services staff will complete a business meeting with the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) to review the HOME-ARP funding opportunity and provide an opportunity for public comment, which will help guide HOME-ARP funding decisions for Arapahoe County.

The BOCC business meeting, which is open to the public, will be held in person on Tuesday February 7, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. or shortly thereafter in the East Hearing Room of the County Administration Building, located at 5334 S Prince Street, Littleton, CO 80120. Interested parties can view and access the public meeting through our website: https://www.arapahoegov.com/1617/PublicMeetings-Live-Streaming or https://arapahoe.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx. To comment virtually during the public comment period, interested parties may call 855-436-3656 and, when prompted to, press *3 to be entered

PROPOSAL: South Metro Fire Rescue Fire Protection District has prepared an amended and restated service plan for the fire protection district to address changes that have occurred since the initial adoption of the service plan in 1967. These changes have been primarily geographic in nature and since 1967 the fire protection district boundaries have shifted and grown through consolidation and expansion with other fire protection districts. This amended and restated fire protection district service plan reflects the historical changes in geographic boundaries, population and demographics, finances and services since the original district plan in 1967, and establishes the boundaries for the District as its existing service area. Persons owning property within the boundaries of the District may petition the Board of County Commissioners for exclusion from the District only as set for in CRS 32-1-203(3.5).

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on February 28, 2023 at 9:30 A.M., or as soon thereafter as the calendar of the Arapahoe County Board of County Commission permits, a public hearing will be held; at which, all interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard concerning the abovedescribed Case No. SD22-002, South Metro Fire Rescue District Fire Protection District / Amended and Restated Service Plan. The public hearing will be held at 5334 S Prince St., East Hearing Room, Littleton CO 80120, with the option to participate remotely. The agenda will typically be posted by the Friday afternoon preceding the hearing and can be viewed on our website at https://arapahoe.legistar.com/Calendar. You can also listen to, or speak at, the meeting by calling 1-855-436-3656. To join the speaking queue, press *3 on the telephone keypad.

More information about this proposal is available at the offices of the Arapahoe County Public Works and Development Department, Planning Division, 6924 S Lima St., Centennial CO 80112 (please call ahead to schedule an appointment if you plan to walk-in), by calling 720-874-6650, or by emailing planning@arapahoegov.com during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday).

Joan Lopez, Clerk to the Board

Legal Notice No. Arap 1141

First Publication: February 2, 2023

Last Publication: February 2, 2023

Publisher: Englewood Herald Littleton Independent and the Centennial Citizen

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Directors of the Foxridge General Improvement District, City of Centennial, Colorado (the “District”) will conduct a public hearing on Tuesday, February 14, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. at the City of Centennial Civic Center located at 13133 East Arapahoe Road, Centennial Colorado 80112 (“Civic Center”) regarding amendment of the previously adopted Foxridge General Improvement District 2023 Budget (“2023 Budget”) and a corresponding supplemental appropriation. Copies of the current and proposed amended 2023 Budget are available for inspection on the city’s website: https://www.centennialco.gov/Government/ Departments/Finance/City-Budget or at the Civic Center. Any interested elector of the District may file any objections on the proposed amended 2023 Budget with the City Clerk, in writing at cityclerksoffice@centennialco.gov any time prior to final adoption on February 14, 2023.

/s/Barbara Setterlind, MMC, City Clerk

Legal Notice No. 530999-60999

First Publication: February 2, 2023

Last Publication: February 2, 2023 Publisher: Littleton Independent and the Centennial Citizen

Any person, co-partnership, association of persons, company or corporation that has furnished labor, materials, team hire, sustenance, provisions, provender or other supplies used or consumed or any of its subcontractors or that has supplied rental machinery, tools, or equipment to the extent used by NORAA Concrete or any of its subcontractors in or about the performance of the work done within unincorporated Arapahoe County, whose claim has not been paid by NORAA Concrete or any of its subcontractors may file a claim with the Board of County Commissioners of Arapahoe County, 5334 S. Prince St., Littleton, CO 80120, at any time up to and including February 25, 2023.

This Notice is published in accordance with §3826-107, C.R.S., and all claims, if any, shall be filed in accordance with this statutory section. Failure on the part of any claimant to file such verified statement and/or claim prior to the aforementioned date for filing claims shall release Arapahoe County, its officers, agents and employees from any or all liability, claims, and suits for payment to NORAA Concrete.

Joan Lopez, Clerk to the Board

Legal Notice No. Arap 1142

First Publication: January 26, 2023

Last Publication: February 2, 2023

Publisher: Englewood Herald Littleton Independent and the Centennial Citizen

No. RB22-300

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of County Commissioners of Arapahoe County, Colorado shall make partial final settlement with Vance Brothers, Inc. for its work completed for Arapahoe County. The work performed under this contract dated March 9, 2022 and Change Order No’s. 1 through 3, generally consists of a Slurry Seal and Chip Seal Application on various streets in unincorporated Arapahoe County.

Any person, co-partnership, association of persons, company or corporation that has furnished labor, materials, team hire, sustenance, provisions, provender or other supplies used or consumed or any of its subcontractors or that has supplied rental machinery, tools, or equipment to the extent used by Vance Brothers, Inc. or any of its subcontractors in or about the performance of the work done within unincorporated Arapahoe County, whose claim has not been paid by Vance Brothers, Inc. or any of its subcontractors may file a claim with the Board of County Commissioners of Arapahoe County, 5334 S. Prince St., Littleton, CO 80120, at any time up to and including February 25, 2023

This Notice is published in accordance with §3826-107, C.R.S., and all claims, if any, shall be filed in accordance with this statutory section. Failure on the part of any claimant to file such verified statement and/or claim prior to the aforementioned date for filing claims shall release Arapahoe County, its officers, agents and employees from any or all liability, claims, and suits for payment to Vance Brothers, Inc.

Joan Lopez, Clerk to the Board

Legal Notice No. Arap 1145

First Publication: January 26, 2023

Last Publication: February 2, 2023

Publisher: Englewood Herald Littleton Independent and the Centennial Citizen Public Notice ARAPAHOE

NO. ITB-20-25, 2020

Project No. RB22-110

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of County Commissioners of Arapahoe County, Colorado shall make partial final settlement with Elite Surface Infrastructure, Inc. for its work completed for Arapahoe County. The work performed under this contract dated March 25th, 2020, and through Change Orders 1- 5, for the removal of the top 1”-3” of road surface with a milling machine (both full width and edge milling) at various locations in unincorporated Arapahoe County.

Any person, co-partnership, association of persons, company or corporation that has furnished labor, materials, team hire, sustenance, provisions, provender or other supplies used or consumed or any of its subcontractors or that has supplied rental machinery, tools, or equipment to the extent used by Elite Surface Infrastructure, Inc. or any of its subcontractors in or about the performance of the work done within unincorporated Arapahoe County, whose claim has not been paid by Elite Surface Infrastructure, Inc. or any of its subcontractors may file a claim with the Board of County Commissioners of Arapahoe County, 5334 S. Prince St., Littleton, CO 80120, at any time up to and including February 25th, 2023.

This Notice is published in accordance with §3826-107, C.R.S., and all claims, if any, shall be filed in accordance with this statutory section. Failure on the part of any claimant to file such verified statement and/or claim prior to the aforementioned date for filing claims shall release Arapahoe County, its officers, agents and employees from any or all liability, claims, and suits for payment to Elite Surface Infrastructure, Inc. Joan Lopez, Clerk to the Board

Legal Notice No. Arap 1144

First Publication: January 26, 2023

Last Publication: February 2, 2023

Publisher: Englewood Herald Littleton Independent and the Centennial Citizen ###