This interview features a 22-year-old woman who has been homeless for six months, wearing slippers as a comfort choice and describing the streets as her “bedroom.” Her story is marked by loss, struggle, and determination. After her mother’s death from an opioid overdose, she clashed with her father and was kicked out. She has a young son, Jaden, who currently lives with her father under protective restrictions; she helps with childcare and housework but cannot live there until she secures housing and stability.
She speaks candidly about the dangers and strangeness of street life, preferring to keep to herself for safety. Her relationship with her father remains strained, particularly because he gave her brother a job but won’t help her in the same way, partly due to his strict stance against drugs. Despite all this, she is working toward recovery, motivated by her son, her siblings, and the hope of regaining stability. When asked what Denver’s Civic Center Park most needs, she highlights the lack of showers—something basic that could restore dignity and help people move forward.
