At The Library: In Praise Of Social Workers
The Need For Services For Homeless And Vulnerable People Has Exploded In Recent Years
By Rachel Reddick
Park Hill Branch Librarian
March is National Social Work Month, a time to celebrate those who commit their professional careers to taking care of others in their communities.
The National Association of Social Workers describes its mission as “to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty.” The organization connects with people who need help with food for their families, housing resources, unmet medical needs and job searching, just to name a few.
If you don’t have an address, a phone, or reliable transportation, making and keeping appointments can be difficult. Public libraries are well known for providing a welcoming atmosphere for all community members. That environment allows for a wonderful networking opportunity between those who can provide help and those in need of it.
Denver Public Library became one of the first library systems in the country to employ full-time social workers, hiring our first in 2015. The Community Resource Department employs social workers and specially trained individuals who work with people and try to help them with the problems they face.
“There are not a lot of free third spaces in American life where people just get to exist and the library is open to all,” says DPL employee Nicholas Donkoh. “I appreciate that so many people feel like the library is a safe place to read, use the internet, or just exist for a few hours out of the elements.”
Services provided by the library and its partners include ARC Thrift Store, which provides vouchers that allow DPL staff to purchase various clothing. Lunch sacks are donated by both Capitol Hill United Ministries and AfterHours, and showers and laundry facilities are available from Bayaud Laundry and Shower Truck.
Denver’s need for such services has exploded in recent years. Our housing crisis has gotten worse. In addition, COVID-19 exposed more of the gaps in our medical care, and the overwhelming decline in mental health has affected every community. These are all areas in which social workers connect people to necessary resources.
Last year, the library’s social work department made contact with over 16,000 people. That’s the highest number since the program was established. However, it’s worth mentioning that in 2020 and 2021 it was impossible to record accurate numbers because the help needed was so expansive that often contact numbers would be registered as one for tens of people.
Over 90 percent of the people helped by DPL in 2023 were experiencing housing instability or homelessness. Housing is increasingly unaffordable for the non-wealthy. Here’s a personal example: My first apartment in Denver was a studio I rented for $450 a month. That was in 2011. The same unit now rents for over $1,300 a month — plus new additions like pet rent and higher utilities. This rent hike of 300 percent in 12 years is extreme, to say the least.
According to a 2022 report, a local organization called Housekeys Action Network found that people wait an average of almost four years to receive housing, with over 65 percent responding that a unit needing rent over $600 dollars a month was an unattainable goal. Housing vouchers from the city have increased in popularity, though the report found that only about 8 percent of those with a voucher were able to secure housing.
It’s also important to recognize that social workers can only provide resources that are available.
“One of the greatest challenges of my position is that there just aren’t enough resources to fill all of the needs of our community,” says Donkoh. “There might be a resource that was helpful at some point, but they may have run out of funding or they have been overwhelmed by the amount of people who need that resource. Moreover, there are organizations that have case workers or other employees that are overworked.”
Help may not be immediately available and it can feel hopeless for those caught in the system. People coming to the library, however, can be given help finding out what resources they can apply for as well as help navigating the bureaucracy of the system. It’s not perfect but it can change lives. Library employees are in awe of how much work and solutions the Community Resource Department is able to find, organize and distribute.
This month Park Hill Library employees want to also highlight work being done by two organizations.Metro Caring helps to support food access for all. They work with the community, and also with individuals. In addition, the Harm Reduction Action Center works with people to promote public health and harm reduction practices.
Additional services and organizations can also be found on the DPL website at denverlibrary.org/content/community-resources.
In addition, the Park Hill Library accepts food donations for the Park Hill Food Bank. Please keep in mind we can only accept non-expired foods. Any perishable items like fresh produce should be donated directly to the Park Hill Emergency Food Pantry (hours of operation and current needs are on page 12). Mayfair Liquors at 14th and Krameria and Cake Crumbs at 22nd and Kearney also have food donation boxes for the pantry.
This librarian hopes you will continue to be kind, generous, and patient while we as a society try and solve this ongoing crisis. Special thanks to social workers and the incredible services they provide.
March Programs
Park Hill Library
Baby Storytimes | Thursdays 10:15-10:45 a.m.
Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for babies ages 0-18 months and their parents or caregivers.
Toddler Storytimes | Fridays 10:15-10:45 a.m.
Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for toddlers ages 18-36 months and their parents or caregivers.
TAB Tuesdays I March 5, 19, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Anyone 6th-12th grade is welcome to join and help with library programming and resources geared towards teens.
Writing Circle | Thursdays, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Who are you writing for? Join our adult writing circle to hone your writing skills and share your work.
No Strings Attached Book Chat | Saturday, March 2 & 30, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Read whatever you want and attend whenever you can. Share a recent read, an old favorite, or anything in between.
Kids Game Club | Wednesday, March 6 & 20, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Are you looking for something fun after school? Drop by to play games in a fun, relaxed environment the first and third Wednesday of each month. Ideal for ages 5-12. Make friends, learn to be good losers and winners and have fun. Adults are welcome to stay and play with their children also.
Death Cafe | Monday, March 18 2-3:30 p.m.
Death Café is an international movement that invites people to gather, normalize conversations around death, to make the most of life. This is not a grief support group or counseling session. Respect for all views is a priority.
Connection of Loss: Part 3 of the Death Series | Saturday, March 16, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Presented by LeAnn Hoye, a nurse, physical therapist and longtime meditator. As a mom who lost her daughter, she began understanding the intrinsic relationship of grief and living. She is the founder of Gracefully Beginning, and coaches parents and individuals through experiences of loss and into love.
Kids Book Celebration | Thursday, March 21 4-5 p.m.
We will explore a book or series every month and do activities and crafts related to what we read. Parents of young children need to attend with their child. This month we are exploring pet shelters and animal rescue.
Pauline Robinson Branch
The Pauline Robinson Branch library is closed for renovations. While construction is underway, limited library services are being offered at Hiawatha Davis, Jr. Recreation Center at 3334 Holly St. Services are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Chromebooks are available for public use, as well as printing and copying.
• A cart of free books and DVDs is available for browsing.
• Digital Navigator appointments are available Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Bookmobile is on Wednesdays from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
• Community Resource Navigators are available Thursdays from 10 to 11 a.m.
Greater Park Hill has two public libraries: The Park Hill branch library is at 4705 Montview Blvd. For hours of operation and additional upcoming programs, visit denverlibrary.org/events/upcoming.
The Pauline Robinson branch library is at 5575 E. 33rd Ave. It is currently closed for renovations. See listings above for current location and library services.
Note: All library branches will be closed in observance of Cesar Chavez Day on Monday, March 25.