Finding space for us all to live safely and securely

Re: “Sweeping group living proposal poses risks, needs vetting,” Sept. 16 guest commentary

“Unprecedented numbers of renters may soon face evictions. There is a growing population experiencing homelessness. We cannot build our way out of this problem because the market costs are simply too high. And state policy severely limits our options as municipal leaders.”

Councilwomen Amanda Sawyer and Kendra Black hit the nail on the head: we have a housing problem, and we need to make it easier and cheaper for the people of Denver to stay here and stay housed. This applies whether someone is a 70- year resident of this city or arrived seven days ago to take a new job, or whether someone is fresh out of college entering the worst job market since the 1930s, or whether they have a disability that requires care and supervision. This is true whether you’re a single mother with three children, or whether you’re two young unmarried couples trying to share the rent.

The least among us, those that need the most care and concern, are not long- time homeowners scared of a party next door or car- owners concerned about having to drive around the block to park their private property in a public right of way. The least among us are our young adults, our disabled, our rehabilitating convicts, and our fixed- income seniors. We can always go back and correct mistakes in the new rules, but failing to implement these new rules now would be an even greater mistake.

David Pardo, Denver

Re: “‘ Group living’ won’t help affordable housing problem,” and “A grandfather in support of preserving America’s beauty,” Sept. 14 commentaries

Commentary one: We must not allow the crowding of people into existing structures.

Commentary other: We must protect lands from human encroachment.

Both are high human values but are at loggerheads, only to increase. Our grandchildren’s grandchildren — not so far in the scheme of things — how will they live, with more people and less available land?

Any solution to this conundrum?

Carol Dankert Stoner, Denver