Community is the service
Story and Photos by Giles Clasen
A group gathers outside Network Coffeehouse before the doors open for the day. Photo: Giles Clasen
Network Coffeehouse is built on community.
It is a place designed to care for those experiencing homelessness by offering a place to sit together, play cards, share stories, eat some food, and drink coffee.
“Network is what I would call a hospitality house,” said Ryan Taylor, director of Network Coffeehouse. “It’s an invitation for folks living on the street, that oftentimes aren’t welcome elsewhere, to experience kinship.”
For an organization whose primary service is community, shutting down due to COVID forced them to rethink how to provide to those who relied on them.
“People were coming to us pretty quick in March of 2020 and saying they did not have food, so we started coordinating with churches and other agencies to be a food source,” Taylor said.
No one was allowed in the building, but every Monday through Saturday, the small nonprofit provided sack lunches. On cold days, they pulled together a hot lunch to serve.
“It was a real gift in so many ways because we got to partner with people that we wouldn’t typically partner with,” Taylor said.
Network was able to reopen the doors to their coffeehouse in November and is once again serving coffee and comfort to anyone who needs it.
Danny, one of Network’s frequent guests before and after the pandemic forced Network to close, said he was happy to be back.
“People look down on us, but what they don’t realize is that they’re one step away from being homeless themselves,” Danny said. “This is a place that supports us and doesn’t look down on us. It is important to have that care.”
Another guest, Sophrina, said she had been coming to Network for years and missed it during the time it had to be closed.
“I’ve been living on the streets since I was 12 because bad things happened to me,” Sophrina said. “There is really nowhere else to go. [Network] gives you hot showers. I like talking with people playing games and coloring the coloring books.”
Sophrina then began to cry as she tried to tell friends her homeless encampment had recently been swept by the City of Denver. She lost her phone, tent, blanket, and clothes. She wasn’t sure how she would survive if the weather turned cold before she could replace them.
Sophrina was embraced in a hug by Kimberly, another Network guest. They hugged for several minutes until Sophrina was comforted.
Kimberly, who came to Network for the first time after the coffeehouse reopened, shared her story and assured Sophrina that she wasn’t alone.
“I ended up kind of homeless and am staying with my nephew,” Kimberly said. “I am trying to make my way to Houston where my daughter lives.”
Kimberly came to Denver after her house in Simla, Colo. became infested with mold. She planned to live out of her car until she could deposit her VA disability check. Instead, Kimberly’s car, wallet, and ID were stolen, stranding her in Denver. Kimberly is working on replacing her ID. In the meantime, she comes to Network every day.
“This place is great,” Kimberly said. “Having breakfast and cup of coffee and support. There isn’t a lot out there. Having a whole social network is amazing and so important.”
While Network was closed, the organization tried to relieve some stress and need by contracting to have a portable toilet in the parking lot available to those living on the streets.
“The porta potty company didn’t like us much. Everybody in the company said, ‘We’d rather not work with you,’” Taylor said.
At times, the toilet became very dirty from use. Then, during the 2020 protests, the portable toilet was burned to the ground. Losing the toilet to protesters didn’t bother Taylor, other than losing the service the toilet offered.
“In the capitalist society, material shit is seen as higher value than a human being because profit comes before people,” Taylor said. “[Society] is often more focused on material possessions being taken or destroyed rather than the root cause of a person’s suffering. We focus on the person here.”
The new mask mandate that went into effect on November 24 has changed a few things at Network. All volunteers must wear a mask at all times. Guests are invited to wear masks, but like at restaurants, they aren’t required to when eating or drinking.
Taylor hopes the mask mandate will slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus and allow places to stay open.
According to Casey, Network’s focus on creating an inviting, supportive environment is why he has been a regular for over a decade. He began visiting when he was experiencing homelessness. He has continued to visit even after getting an apartment through Volunteers of America and disability checks through Social Security.
“I wish I could work. I wish I had a job and the security that goes with that,” Casey said. “I appreciate that I have thisplace to come to every day. Without it, it is a lot harder to have friends and have support.”
Network doesn’t provide many direct services or goods, just small meals, coffee, and showers. But the support – the network – is the point.
“We celebrate when people get housed. We celebrate when people get resourced. We celebrate when people get sober. But we want to see these relationships continue over time, and we want to see people coming back,” Taylor said.
To Taylor, it is obvious why Network sees guests return even after they have found permanent housing.
“There’s a reason they’re coming back. This is the space that they feel welcome,” Taylor said. “Denver is a landscape where there’s not a lot of welcoming places. The uniqueness of our joint is that we focus primarily pretty much exclusively on the work of relationship.”
Editor’s note: You may also read this article in the January 2022 issue of the Denver VOICE