Denver's homeless get free haircuts to look good for Obama and his Democrats

Last month The Ticket wrote that officials in Denver, worried about the impression that 50,000 visitors to the Democratic National Convention would get next week, were planning to hide the estimated 4,000 homeless people who hang around the city's downtown area.

They arranged for free movie passes and bingo games to get them off the street, as well as temporary housing and free tickets to the zoo and Museum of Nature and Science.

Now, with a Hat Tip to our pal Jeralyn over at TalkLeft, comes word, as Sen. Barack Obama prepares to announce his vice presidential running mate pick, that Denver is even spiffing up the coiffures of its homeless. They're giving free haircuts to the homeless this week in preparation for the visiting crowds who'll arrive this weekend.

No, really.

According to Rick Sallinger of the CBS TV station, Denver Human Services has been handing out coupons for free homeless haircuts.

The idea was to make the homeless feel better about themselves. And maybe then they'd get jobs or something.

Rusty Johnson told Rick he hadn't had a haircut in three or four months and, frankly, didn't much care about the Democrats caring about his appearance. "I just want to look good and feel good for myself," he said.

--Andrew Malcolm

Photo credit: Denver Cityscape

Comments

[Jack]

Let me guess - the mayor of Denver is a Democrat? Surely he must be. This is something only someone on the Loony Left or the communists in the USSR would do to create a Potemkin showcase.

[J Magyar]

Just like China. Lets hide our problems.

[XERO]

How stupid. Do they realize that those people are just going to sell those zoo/movie tickets for more drug/beer money ...?

[Bob Barker]

Remember to spay and neuter your pets!

[Zeleni]

Wow. Have they considered assisting the homeless every other week of the year? I'll be supporting Green Party nominee Cynthia McKinney, who has more substance than show. She served 6 terms in Congress and has more federal elected experience than Obama or Clinton. She's been a strong advocate for human rights, including fighting poverty.

http://votetruth08.com/

[Figaro]

If they really cared about the homeless, they'd send them to John Edwards' hairdresser.

[Mazz]

Were they $400.00 haircuts?

[katablog]

Doesn't surprise me. Isn't that what the Democrats (especially their nominee) are all about - Image. Obama doesn't care about substance, only image and symbolism. So spiff up the homeless and forget about education, training and a real job.

[ynot4tony2]

Got a better idea for the homeless...give them pro-McCain or anti-Democrat campaign signs, then promise them a bottle of ripple every time one of the signs gets on TV.

[linda in cincinnati]

Every wedding has unkempt guests, even family....right?
Not all humans are comely BUT they must put on the right show or else stay home (if you got one).

[Rplat]

Wonderful . . . now, how about giving them Gucci bags to carry their $2.00 a gallon wine. This is just about the dumbest, most self serving crap I've ever heard.

[Jamie Glennon]

I work with Denver's Road Home, which is part of Denver's 10 year-plan to end homelessness, now in Year 3. We'd like to claridy some widespread misinformation as it relates to the Democratic National Convention and the homeless.

In regards to haircuts, Denver's Road Home has been offering this service for several years to the homeless. It's part of an effort to build self-confidence and help them during the job interview process. It's an ongoing service and some barber shops and salons volunteer their services free of charge.

Additionally, Denver’s Road Home is not aware of any zoo passes, museum tickets or other cultural activities being distributed to the homeless during the Democratic National Convention. A clarification to this point was issued by the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless and can found on their website at www.coloradocoalition.org.

We are also working very hard to ensure that people are safe and treated well during the DNC. We are, and have always been, committed to ensuring everyone has a safe place to be. During the DNC, DRH will expand outreach services to get the homeless connected with services and shelter. DRH is also working with providers to expand facility hours, both day and evening, and to provide special programs for homeless youth. DRH is also working closely with the Denver Police to ensure the safety and well being of people on the streets. Some providers are also holding voter registration drives for the homeless.

We were here long before DNC and will be here long after the convention is gone. Denver’s Road Home has been in place for almost three years. It is a comprehensive, long-term plan designed to get people into housing and access to services while addressing the underlying causes of homelessness. Because it is a ten year plan, it will be in place for many years to come.

You can find more information about our community plan on www.denversroadhome.org.

[Art Bloberger]

What good is a haircut without some new clothes? And a car might be nice, too. Gas money? Or how about toothbrushes?

[rdasher]

The fresh hair cut homeless people will be the audience for Obama's acceptance speech.

[Mike]

You would think the democrats would learn from previous mistakes. Sure it starts with the haircut, but it ends in an affair, love child and $50,000 flights on a private plane out of the country.

[Claudia]

I would like free movie tickets, free haircut, visits to the museum! I only work 40 hours a week, full time student and am actually productive to this country. Completely drug and alcohol free. Do I qualify?

[Sinstar]

I live in the suburbs outside of Denver, and it does not surprise me that the liberal nutters would do this. Be aware that Denver will be the new San Fransisco.

[Peter Kloss]

While my opinion about all of this is pretty much null and void, I find it sad that everyone is so willing to speak up, until Jamie spoke up and clarified much of the information that is in this article.

.. and then, no one says anything.

Thanks Jamie, I will take the article and all these comments with a grain of salt. However i think the fact that no one said anything after you shows that everyone is just quick to criticize.

[Penny k]

of course everyone knows the Republican party is the party of the poor and the working man. Ya right. Please before all you neo-cons get in a tizzy rememebr that although the homeless are getting free haircuts for the week of the convention they get kicked inthe teeth the rest of the year by you. Dont get pompous or self rightous just yet. Why dont you try privitizing eye sight? That way you can kill all the birds with one stone.

[leslie m]

Thanks for the clarification, Road Home. Sounds like a great organization. However, the media isn't really exaggerating. I remember Seattle's Goodwill Games in 1990, and the street sweeps they did to remove the homeless from sight for the 17 days of the games...

"During the 1990 Goodwill Games in Seattle, homeless activists organized to resist "street sweeps" by holding their own Goodwill Gathering for the duration of the Games, an action that led to the establishment of a tent city at the Kingdome." (http://eatthestate.org/04-04/StreetSweepsfor.htm)

[ih8rpblcns]

socialism is the way to go. damned republican nutjobs.

[Greg]

Claudia you don't qualify for anything other than stupidest commenter on this story. I'm sure many of those homeless would love to be working full time and going to school like yourself, but due to circumstance are unable to. And how are you being productive and beneficial to anyone other than yourself? When is the world going to wake up and realize that all homeless people are not lazy drugged out morons? Is the majority of this country still really that blatantly ignorant?!

[Electress]

Only in America. Obama trying to win the hearts and minds of America, what by giving them a $400 haircut.
That ought to solve our problems on the streets.
This demostrates what he must have done in Chicago!
Mercy, Mercy.

[Sue]

I also work with Denver's Road Home. The City and County of Denver is not giving out free haircuts. While there have been events where various individuals and businesses have donated their time to help the homeless, in this case it was the owners of a private business that were giving out free haircuts. They distributed coupons to the homeless as an individual act of kindness. Denver's Road Home is a community effort to end homelessness. This is another example of the community stepping up to help the homeless.

[Jonny]

The Messiah isn't even in town yet and already he's curing the homeless of their mangy locks. Hallelujah!