Sexy Pizza offers space outside store for lockers

A Denver pizza joint has joined forces with Denver Homeless Out Loud to supply lockers to the homeless on the exterior wall of the business.

Sexy Pizza, which has three locations in the city, is providing wall space for four of the lockers at its location at East 11th Avenue and Ogden Street. The lockers will be reserved for homeless community members.

Sexy Pizza’s owners, who include Kayvan Khalatbari, a candidate for the 2019 mayoral race and a homeless advocate, partnered with Denver Homeless Out Loud to provide space for the lockers, according to a release.

“The lack of accommodations serving basic needs for people experiencing homelessness in Denver is alarming,” Khalatbari said.

The lockers will help the homeless, who have few options for storing their possessions and frequently carry them wherever they go.

This need “results in a loss of survival gear such as blankets and tarps through police sweeps and theft, a loss of personal identification,” according to the Denver Homeless Out Loud news release.

Using an application process that considers specific needs, DHOL has identified four individuals who will be the first recipients of the lockers.

The organization and Khalatbari are seeking other central Denver businesses to help expand the program.

“As a homeless human, having a safe and secure locker to store my belongings will give me a solid peace of mind when I go into the workforce,” said one of the recipients, identified in the release only as Ben.

Denver Homeless Out Loud installed and will maintain the lockers, which were donated, and carry a total cost of $80 in paint, parts, locks and bolts.