"I think the week really helped me understand the complexity of this issue," says Coffman, a Republican who previously represented Aurora and surrounding communities as the U.S. Representative for Colorado's 6th Congressional District. He told just one person that he'd be spending the week on the streets: Shaun Boyd of CBS4, who interviewed him before and after his homeless stint. CBS4 also sent out a cameraman to film Coffman at various points during the week, for a piece that aired January 5 on "Homeless Mike."
Coffman stayed in Denver and Aurora shelters on four nights; he slept outside on three, two of them in an encampment just off Speer by Sixth Avenue. "I probably was not as well-equipped as I should have been," admits Coffman, who'd packed a sleeping bag, a tarp and a backpack — but no money or food.