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CPWD Joins People's Walk for Housing Justice

June 17, 2004

The Center for People with Disabilities joined the People's Walk for Housing Justice, at 30th Street and Iris Avenue and ended with a meal in downtown Boulder. The People’s Walk began in Denver on June 5th and will cover an 800-mile loop back to the Colorado State Capitol August 21, 2004. Advocates in Boulder joined for a three-mile walk to highlight the need for affordable, accessible, integrated housing. The People’s Walk will continue on to Golden on Thursday.

The two and-a-half month walk is aimed at raising awareness of the housing crisis in Colorado. According to Housing Justice, one of every five Colorado residents can't afford their housing costs and accessible housing is even more rare. In Boulder the problem seems more acute because housing cost is high. Half the residents of Boulder County that rent, stated Housing Justice, cannot afford a 2-bedroom apartment.

“Affordable, accessible housing is the biggest barrier facing people with disabilities,” said David Bolin the Executive Director of CPWD, “without housing options, our community faces being placed in institutions and assisted living facilities.”

The People’s walk organized support in Longmont on Tuesday, and met with Boulder advocates for an educational tour of the city. The stroll passed some developments managed by Thistle Community Housing where Ardie Sehulster, an affordable housing advocate, pointed out features of interest to the group. The promenade ended at St. John's Episcopal Church. 

Mayor Will Toor gave some opening remarks to the crowd and declared Wednesday Affordable Housing Day in Boulder, presenting the group with the proclamation. Text of the Mayor's Declaration.

Leading the walk was Blake Chambliss who is walking all 800 miles of the People's Walk. Beginning about 5:30 the march got off to a rough start after about two blocks as the group missed a planned turn on Glenwood. The procession quickly reorganized and passed by Valmont Square, then Sage Court with accessible units. 

Advocate Roy Coats wore a box that read: "HOMES NOT BOXES." Adam Nielsen wore a top-hat reading HUD, while Jason Uttley dragged a symbolic ball-and-chain for the entire three miles to underscore the point the the Department of Housing and Urban Development was constraining people's ability to get housing.

Text of the Mayor's Declaration.

Mission Statement: 

The Center for People With Disabilities
provides resources, information, and advocacy to assist people with disabilities in overcoming barriers to independent living.

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