The “At a Point in Time” survey conducted on Jan. 28 of this year, El Paso County found that there were 1,551 individuals experiencing homelessness on that single chilly night. Of these people, 513 of them were unsheltered. Although this is considered by many to be a conservative estimate, it provided the most objective and helpful data on the issue within the county. Now, with the release of the Homelessness Response Action Plan in October, serious steps are underway to remedy the situation.
The eight-point plan focuses on helping based on behavior, not sobriety. Andrew Phelps, the Homelessness and Response Coordinator of Colorado Springs, said that “ending homelessness does not mean individuals and families will never again experience homelessness.” Rather, “ending homelessness means that we as a community have a systematic response that can address immediate needs, quickly connect people to housing, and provide services to ensure long-term stability.”
Some of the highlights of the Action Plan include adding 370 low-barrier shelter beds. This would benefit individuals by providing a place to sleep inside, assist the Colorado Springs Police Department with the city’s camping ban, and aid in environmental protections. Along with this, the plan includes an expansion of the HelpCOS website and implementation of a Homeless Outreach Court. The court hopes to identify the root causes of cases brought before them and to then empower and assist the individual to move away from homelessness.
Other aspects of the plan include a Comprehensive Affordable Housing Plan, establishing a Veteran Incentive Fund, funding support for volunteer non-profits, and the development of a HelpCOS Ambassador Team for Downtown and Old Colorado City. Specifically, with veterans, the city hopes to reach ‘functional zero’, where the number of veterans experiencing homelessness within a community is less than the average number of veterans being connected with permanent housing each month.
Another main point creates more housing for families, who normally avoid being counted at the Point in Time survey for fear of having their children taken from them. This development also improves the chances of avoiding homelessness in the future, as children who experience long-term homelessness are five times more likely to become homeless as a single adult.
A series of six town halls have been held in the city from October to December of this year. These are open to the public, and feedback on the Action Plan can be made through SpeakUp! COS. All feedback must be submitted by Dec. 14. The next town hall will be on Dec. 13, from 6–7 p.m. at the Westside Community Center on Bijou Street.
Homelessness can be unavoidable for many. By creating the Response Action Plan, Colorado Springs hopes to make homelessness “rare, brief, and non-recurring.”