Comment on A Colorado homeless shelter votes to unionize, citing work conditions, lack of pay and support

Employees of a Denver nonprofit working with homeless youth voted to unionize their workplace, making Urban Peak the first homeless shelter in Colorado to unionize, according to the Service Employees International Union Local 105. The labor unit has joined SEIU Local 105 after more than a year of organizing, with workers citing problems such as large workloads, high rates of turnover among staff, inadequate training and resources, poor handling of responses to trauma, and punishment for speaking out. On Wednesday, a majority of Urban Peak’s non-management employees voted in favor of establishing the union. “I’m so proud of what we’ve done,” said Jackson Vincent, a relief staff member, adding: “Unionizing, organizing, has even just made the atmosphere and the way that we support each other — regardless of things that need to change — so much better in the workplace.” Urban Peak was established in 1988 as an overnight shelter in a church basement and has expanded to include daytime shelter, transitional housing and case management and support services.