this post was submitted on 12 Aug 2026
20 points (91.7% liked)

Denver

1339 readers
5 users here now

A place for discussions about Denver, CO.

Rules:

  1. No bigotry: Including racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, or xenophobia. Code of Conduct.
  2. Be respectful. Everyone should feel welcome here.
  3. No NSFW content.
  4. No Ads / Spamming.
  5. Be thoughtful and helpful: even with ‘stupid’ questions. The world won’t be made better or worse by snarky comments schooling naive newcomers on Lemmy.

"We Keep Us Safe COLORADO" is a grassroots initiative to help organize proactively and effectively to protect our community members from being illegally and inhumanely kidnapped by ICE.

founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Title pretty much says it all, I spent 13 years homeless. Did a lot of hitchhiking. I have spinal stenosis and CES but did get a nice 9-month break through a veteran's group which ends on September 30th, when I'll return to tent life in the sticks. Ask me anything!

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] Pennywise@quokk.au 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

You're a US veteran? Have you applied for HUD VASH? Are you in contact with SSVF?

Have you considered relocating to a place with available housing vouchers?

[–] Jspelts@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

My application went in for HUD/VASH last month. But the stenosis isn't considered a service-related issue so I don't get VA health benefits, and HUD/VASH has a long line of vets on it. People with service-related disabilities go first (as it should be). So it's basically a lottery ticket.

Sadly enough, there is no place in the United States with available housing vouchers. Section 8 and the like have 5-10 year waiting lists in most cities. Yes I've applied. Another lottery ticket!

[–] Pennywise@quokk.au 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I'm in Jacksonville, FL. Tunnels to Towers is pumping big money into veteran housing currently. The county and city had a lot of money when they passed the law to illegalize public sleeping/camping, and they had to put money into public housing as part of the law.

I was on the waiting list for about a week before approval. Right place at the right time. A lottery indeed. They were housing vets left and right with basically no wait period.

[–] Jspelts@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Similar deal here in Denver -- SSVF had a ton of funds and was housing vets left and right (9-month housing limit, though). So the guys at the VA resource center sent me over to VOA, a week later I was in a hotel and a few weeks after that they moved me into the apartment I'm in now. I applied for SSI, got a lawyer, but we're still stuck at step two with SSA and my housing ends on September 30th. I hope your housing lasts long enough for you to get whatever you need taken care of, and I really hope SSA expedites my case. If approved, it won't be enough to cover the rent where I'm at (rent is $1,400 - SSI is $900), but at least with the back pay I can get a van to sleep in and never panhandle again. Good luck my friend!

[–] Pennywise@quokk.au 2 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

Yeah ssvf isn't going to give you long-term housing.

HUD VASH will. I have a HCV(housing choice voucher) through the JHA(housing authority which is basically like HUD section 8) that I can potentially port anywhere in the country. Yeah that thing that usually takes 5+ years to get I got here in one week. :o

With HCV I pay a certain portion of my income towards my rent that's never over a third. I've been in the program going on 2 years now. My current lease expires next summer. I'll probably be moving(porting to another city.) Jacksonville's way too damn big.

[–] Jspelts@lemmy.world 2 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

I would love it if HUD/VASH came through, but I've been told not to get my hopes up. Seems here, there's a limited number of seats in that program and they tend to reserve it for people who are already on VA disability (and apparently they can't even house all of them). So hopefully the SSI goes through. I'll be leaving Denver either way, like you said it's just too big. At my ripe age of 52 I like peace, quiet, and no people!

[–] Pennywise@quokk.au 1 points 7 minutes ago

They have rolling openings here. Any vet is a priority. I don't think they're currently enrolling. There are block grants... And they burn through them quick.