There has to be no bigger struggle in life than that of being homeless, spending each day without a concrete idea of what lies ahead of you each night is a frightening way to live. This insecurity coupled with the Denver’s crippling winters push local shelters to capacity. What is it truly like to be homeless in Denver?

According to the Denver Point-In-Time Homelessness Survey, conducted annually, homelessness is on the decline. However in 2018 (the last year that has been published), the numbers of unsheltered homeless and chronically homeless are rising. According to this survey, the seven-county metro area’s homeless population fluctuated between 5,000 and 6,000 since 2015.

In a document published by the Colorado state government, in 2016 there were an estimated 10,550 homeless individuals in the State. This means that nearly half of all homeless in Colorado reside in Denver or surrounding counties.

“It’s a real issue,” said Daniel Brisson, Executive Director of the Center on Housing and Homelessness Research (CHHR) at the University of Denver in an email interview. The CHHR provides research, evaluation, training and technical assistance on the issues of homelessness and housing insecurity. Brisson further emphasized the struggles the homeless are facing with the camping ban, and currently, corona virus.

{Denver]- On a frigid quiet evening in the heart of downtown on 15^th and Larimer the only sounds were of cars threading carefully as they make their way through the frozen streets. The walk up into the front door of comedy works provided an ominous scene. Upon entering Comedy Works, the sounds of laughter and drinks hitting tables provided contrast to the scene outside the club.

There were 150-200 excited patrons bursting at the seams with enthusiasm and waiting to be entertained. I showed up at the front and they confiscated my phone and put it in a locked slip. I was ushered in and put in the back with the other people that came alone. I took my seat and began to angst over the comedians.

 Owen Floberg a 4^th year student at Metro and a member of the audience gave this take on attending a comedy show.

“I mean I live down the street and I don’t know of a more entertaining event you can experience in today’s day and age. This event is 12 bucks with a two drink minimum for 2 hours of serious entertainment. I come here with friends and you feel like you are apart of the event because of intimacy of the show.”

 Tonight, in particular has a different vibe because seasoned comedians will be teamed up with beginners in a fast paced show that will provide over 20 entertainers performing 5 min sets. The host began to set the tone. “We will hear amazing sets and some people will suck and in turn we will boo them off the stage.” I settled in my seat and held my breath.

My angst quickly dissipated when the first comedian did his 5 min set and set the crowd on fire with his quick-witted punch lines and confidence put the uneasy crowd at ease.

The whole set up gave me a lot of respect for anyone that would choose to get up in front of that many people and let us in to their interpretation of how they see the world. There were some awkward moments when comedians maybe told a joke that wasn’t received well by the immense crowd.

Joey Baca a former 2^nd grade science teacher gave some interesting anecdote about why he enjoys gracing the stage.

“There is no truer form of entertainment. You want to talk about a rush? Try walking onto a stage with just you and a mic and try making a 100 plus people laugh. I have become addicted.”

The context that Joey gave into the scene helped me understand how and why comedians do what they did. Another comedian whose set fell a little flat had this to say about her first time on a stage.

Margret working in insurance sales seems to enjoy the contrast from the daily monotony on life. “Well tonight was a little rough but I would and will do this again. I think my timing on my jokes were a little off. While I was doing the joke I knew I was rushing the punchline but I let my adrenaline get the better of me.”

Comedy works can be therapeutic and help break up the daily routine of the 9-5 for some. Comedy connects us all and can help bring to light the way in which we view the world. The scene is also helped by the lack of phone use. Forcing people to connect in a way is a rarity in today’s fast moving environment.

[Denver]-

On a frigid quiet evening in the heart of downtown on 15^th and Larimer the only sounds were of cars threading carefully as they make their way through the frozen streets. The walk up into the front door of comedy works provided an ominous scene. Upon entering Comedy Works, the sounds of laughter and drinks hitting tables provided contrast to the scene outside the club.

There were 150-200 excited patrons bursting at the seams with enthusiasm and waiting to be entertained. I showed up at the front and they confiscated my phone and put it in a locked slip. I was ushered in and put in the back with the other people that came alone. I took my seat and began to angst over the comedians.

 Owen Floberg a 4^th year student at Metro and a member of the audience gave this take on attending a comedy show

“I mean I live down the street and I don’t know of a more entertaining event you can experience in todays day and age. This event is 12 bucks with a two drink minimum for 2 hours of serious entertainment. I come here with friends and you feel like you are apart of the event because of intimacy of the show.”

 Tonight, in particular has a different vibe because seasoned comedians will be teamed up with beginners in a fast paced show that will provide over 20 entertainers performing 5 min sets. The host began to set the tone. “We will hear amazing sets and some people will suck and in turn we will boo them off the stage.” I settled in my seat and held my breath.

My angst quickly dissipated when the first comedian did his 5 min set and set the crowd on fire with his quick-witted punch lines and confidence put the uneasy crowd at ease.

The whole set up gave me a lot of respect for anyone that would choose to get up in front of that many people and let us in to their interpretation of how they see the world. There were some awkward moments when comedians maybe told a joke that wasn’t received well by the immense crowd.

Joey Baca a former 2^nd grade science teacher gave some interesting anecdote about why he enjoys gracing the stage.

“There is no truer form of entertainment. You want to talk about a rush? Try walking onto a stage with just you and a mic and try making a 100 plus people laugh. I have become addicted.”

The context that Joey gave into the scene helped me understand how and why comedians do what they did. Another comedian whose set fell a little flat had this to say about her first time on a stage.

Margret working in insurance sales seems to enjoy the contrast from the daily monotony on life. “Well tonight was a little rough but I would and will do this again. I think my timing on my jokes were a little off. While I was doing the joke I knew I was rushing the punchline but I let my adrenaline get the better of me.”

Comedy works can be therapeutic and help break up the daily routine of the 9-5 for some. Comedy connects us all and can help bring to light the way in which we view the world. The scene is also helped by the lack of phone use. Forcing people to connect in a way is a rarity in today’s fast moving environment.