A Denver family that had been living out of a van while saving for stable housing is now fighting to regain custody of their seven children after the city’s Department of Human Services (DHS) placed the youngsters in foster care last week.
From “Tetris” Sleeping Arrangements to Court-Ordered Removal
Rehema Cranmer and her partner first drew public sympathy in April when the advocacy group Housekeys Action Network Denver (HAND) published their story, explaining how the parents arranged their minivan “like a game of Tetris” each night so nine people could sleep inside. That account spurred community donations large enough for the family to purchase a second, larger vehicle.
According to HAND, a woman who introduced herself as an outreach worker approached the family a few weeks ago, offering diapers and “resources.” The parents later discovered she was a DHS employee. The worker reportedly interviewed each child separately and invited the family to the DHS office for medical checks. When the parents asked about housing assistance, none was offered, HAND claims.
One week later, Cranmer received a text ordering her to appear in court with only 24 hours’ notice. As the family attempted to check into a hotel for the night, police officers surrounded them, transported everyone to a station, and separated the children—two of whom are still breastfeeding—into waiting cars.
DHS: Confidentiality Laws Bar Us From Commenting
Denver DHS declined to discuss specifics, citing state privacy rules for child-welfare cases. A department spokesperson said in a written statement that removing children is “a last resort” undertaken only when a judge or law-enforcement officer determines imminent danger. “Homelessness and poverty alone are not grounds for removal,” the statement emphasized, adding that parents receive court-appointed lawyers and a hearing within three business days.
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Advocates Counter: Housing Insecurity Framed as Neglect
HAND disputes that poverty was not central to the intervention. “Every allegation in the petition—crowded sleeping space, hygiene, nutrition—comes down to being unhoused,” the group said. A domestic-violence claim was added “just to make it look like more than poverty,” the statement alleges.
The parents are now attending dependency-and-neglect hearings to reunite the family.
Bigger Picture: When Shelter Is the Missing Service
Legal scholars often note that U.S. child-welfare agencies spend far more on foster placements than on rent assistance. A 2023 study in the Journal of Public Child Welfare found that about 14 percent of Colorado children removed for “neglect” had homelessness listed as a contributing factor. Several West Coast cities have launched safe-parking programs where families sleeping in vehicles can stay overnight in monitored lots with access to restrooms and social services—an intervention Denver has yet to adopt at scale.
“Removing kids because of cramped quarters is the most expensive, traumatic solution possible,” said one housing attorney unaffiliated with the case. “A motel voucher or a family shelter slot costs far less than foster care and keeps children with their parents.”
For now, Cranmer’s supporters are urging city officials to prioritize housing assistance over court battles. “Give them a lease, not litigation,” HAND’s statement concluded.
