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Single Mother Speaks Out About Low Wages, Long Hours, and Safety Concerns
DENVER — A security guard employed at Denver’s former Best Western homeless hotel and Department of Human Services buildings stood before the city council on Monday and made an emotional plea: compensate security officers fairly for the hazardous work they do.
Ayla Avila, a single mother of two, shared how her role with Securitas—the firm contracted to secure city-owned sites—requires her to work 60 to 80 hours a week, often in environments she described as high-risk. Despite putting her safety on the line, she said, her pay remains inadequate.
“We’re putting our lives on the line,” Avila told council members, emphasizing the dangers she faces on the job while trying to provide for her children. “I’m rarely home—I have to teach my son how to cook over the phone.”
READ: Violent Takedown Raises Questions About $11M Security Contract with Metro Transit
A Broader Push for Fair Wages
Although Avila was the only security officer to speak before the council during the public comment period, several others had planned to voice similar concerns but were unable to due to time constraints. The session was dominated by pro-Palestinian activists criticizing the council’s investment ties, limiting the time available for other speakers.
Still, Avila’s message resonated. She urged council members to use their influence over city contracts to ensure subcontractors like Securitas pay security workers a living wage.
Janitorial Staff Stand in Solidarity
Juanita Hessek, a janitor and member of SEIU Local 105, also addressed the council in support of security guards. Speaking in Spanish through an interpreter, Hessek described how her own hours had recently been cut by two days per month. Like Avila, she emphasized that hard-working staff in essential, physically demanding roles deserve fair compensation.
“If you want good employees for jobs with dangerous working conditions, you must pay a fair wage,” Hessek stated.
Her remarks highlighted the broader issue faced by many front-line workers in city-operated facilities—long hours, unpredictable schedules, and salaries that often don’t match the demands of the job.
Millions in City Security Contracts
The discussion comes nearly a year after the City of Denver awarded $24 million in security contracts for city-owned and leased homeless shelter sites. Among those awarded were:
- Securitas: $18 million
- Advanced Professional Security: $3 million
- Aquila Services Corp. (Metro Protective Services): $3 million
These contracts are intended to ensure safety at facilities housing vulnerable populations. According to a city memo, services include foot patrols, visible security presence, monitoring and reporting prohibited activities, and mobile perimeter patrols.
Confusion Over Overlapping Roles
During the same meeting, councilmember Candi CdeBaca raised a question about why the Salvation Army received $800,000 for security services at the DoubleTree homeless hotel on Quebec, even though Securitas is already tasked with security duties there. The city’s Homelessness Services Director Cole Chandler explained that both organizations offer complementary services—Salvation Army providing resident engagement and safety monitoring, while Securitas handles physical patrols and enforcement.
Looking Ahead: A Call for Structural Change
Avila’s testimony underscored a central tension in Denver’s homelessness strategy: the need to maintain safety in challenging environments without shortchanging the people tasked with that responsibility. While the contracts appear substantial on paper, frontline workers say they don’t see that investment reflected in their paychecks.
The city has not yet commented on whether it will revisit pay structures for security personnel working under these contracts. However, with growing public attention on wage equity and worker protections—particularly in roles involving risk and public service—Avila’s words may mark the beginning of broader calls for change.
