New homeless facility not going far enough, merchants say
By April 1, Catholic Charities of Colorado Springs will expand its outreach to the homeless by opening a self-sufficiency center with stepped-up services to move people off the streets and into homes and jobs.
One thing the $1.85 million building won't provide, though, is a place for the homeless to hang out during the day. That has some downtown shopkeepers worried that an age-old problem won't get fixed anytime soon.
"So much has been put into improving downtown - the parking, the streetscape, the mix of stores. But this is one residual issue that needs to be taken care of," said Chris Sondermann, owner of Terra Verde, a jewelry, clothing and gift store on North Tejon Street.
"The homeless people, in general, are very benign, and I don't feel endangered. It's more that it lends a seedy air to the neighborhood that I think needs to be corrected."
The Salvation Army's homeless shelter south of downtown does not allow clients to stay in the building during the day. And previous efforts by social service agencies to establish a drop-in day center have been thwarted by residential neighborhood groups.
As a result, many of the homeless congregate at the downtown library, just a few blocks from the city's main soup kitchen.
"Merchants feel we're an attractive nuisance, but it's not unusual for downtown libraries, especially when the caregivers are so close," said Sydne Dean, associate director of public services for the Pikes Peak Library District. "Libraries become de facto day centers when the community doesn't support one. But we serve our whole community, including the people who are down and out."
Catholic Charities reached an agreement with the Boulder Crescent Neighborhood Association to not have a drop-in day center at its new self-sufficiency center, which connects to an expanded soup kitchen that opened last June at 14 W. Bijou St., said Jason Christensen, executive director of Catholic Charities of Colorado Springs.
But he's confident that the center will produce results.
"The model we're offering goes beyond a drop-in center, and is designed to get people engaged in services. What we're anticipating happening is the lessening of the mingling around downtown," Christensen said.
Caseworkers will provide one-on-one counseling on housing, employment, medical care, education, mental health, life skills, transportation and child care - barriers to the homeless becoming self-sufficient, Christensen said. Representatives from other local agencies also will be on site, along with a medical clinic, a clothing closet, referrals for rehab programs and services for families.
Participating organizations will do follow-up with clients and monitor their progress, Christensen said. He estimates about 25 percent of the 700 people who eat daily at the Marian House Soup Kitchen - an increase of 40 percent over last year - will use the self-sufficiency center.
Ron Butlin, executive director of the Downtown Partnership advocacy group, said he, too, is optimistic the self-sufficiency center will be successful in its mission. "They provide a tremendous service," he said, "and I'm not going to say there won't be some issues with downtown, but I'm confident they want to be a good neighbor and figure out how we can make the best of the situation."
Still, some downtown merchants say it doesn't address the immediate need for a day center.
"There are well-meaning agencies doing a good job with food and clothing. But nobody wants the homeless to hang out. So there's a group of 40 to 60 homeless that hang out downtown, go to the library, ride the shuttle and panhandle because they have nowhere else to go," said Sam Eppley, owner of Sparrow Hawk Gourmet Cookware on North Tejon Street.
