Letters - Thursday

VOICES FOR THE HOMELESS

Editor's note: Beginning Sunday, The Gazette published a four-part series on the homeless in Colorado Springs. Each part examined a different aspect of the issue. The Gazette received a large amount of feedback and commentary, both in letters and online comments at our Web site, www.gazette.com. On this page we offer a sample from both sources. The homeless aren't going away, and as a community we must all pull together to address the issue. View all the comments at gazette.com.

Consortium offers assistance to those who need a hand

We'd like to offer sincere thanks to The Gazette for the series of articles this week raising awareness of the plight of the homeless in our community. As directors of local nonprofit agencies providing services to homeless families and individuals, we appreciate how important it is for our citizens to understand how devastating homelessness can be, not only for those directly experiencing the trauma, but also for the community as a whole in terms of its impact on financial and physical resources (police, medical, etc.).

Clearly, not every agency or organization involved in the efforts to address homelessness could be mentioned in The Gazette series. However, it is important for the community to be made aware of a very special collaboration that is directly engaged in assisting those in need, many of whom are homeless. Founded and led by the Myron Stratton Home, the Myron Stratton Consortium was formed in 2007 and also includes Peak Vista Community Health Centers, TESSA, and Partners In Housing.

Together these agencies strive to foster a community of support and care for the needy.

The Myron Stratton Home provides housing, supportive services and grants to improve the quality of life for those they serve, and is the driving force behind the success of the consortium.

Peak Vista offers medical, dental and integrated behavioral health services for very low-income, uninsured, underinsured and homeless persons in the Pikes Peak region. These services are provided by Peak Vista's dedicated health care professionals who are committed to comprehensive quality health care without regard to their clients' lack of permanent residence. Peak Vista also has a provider who visits homeless persons throughout the city to offer services from a medical outreach van, supported by a joint venture of Peak Vista and Catholic Charities.

The mission of TESSA is to help women and their children achieve safety and well-being while challenging the community to end sexual and family violence. TESSA's programs and services ensure the initial safety of domestic violence and sexual assault victims; help victims and survivors increase their knowledge of their options regarding domestic violence and sexual assault; and assist their clients to reach their goals for safety and self-sufficiency.

Partners In Housing's mission is to provide homeless families with the hope and opportunity to achieve self-sufficiency through supportive services and transitional housing. Eligible families are provided transitional housing for up to two years, during which time dedicated case workers assist the family in developing and carrying out an individualized plan designed to take them from homelessness to a reasonable degree of self-sufficiency. It is not unusual for Partners In Housing "graduate" families to make the transition from homelessness to home ownership in just a few years.

Raising awareness of the issues is every bit as important as providing the direct services needed to take the homeless from being a drain on the city's resources, to becoming contributing, productive, taxpaying members of our community.

Frank W. Stampf, Executive director Partners In Housing, Mark Turk Executive director Myron Stratton Homes, B.J. Scott President & CEO Peak Vista Community Health Centers, Michelle Valdez Executive director, TESSA Colorado Springs

Young people on streets have options to get assistance

The series of articles in The Gazette about the many facets of homelessness in Colorado Springs was excellent. I commend the staff for doing such a thorough job on this problem that is destined to become worse with the current economic situation and the return of many war veterans who are suffering from depression, traumaic brain injuries and PTSD.

And kudos are also in order for Urban Peak and the fine work it is doing to help homeless youth. One area of help and recovery lies in peer support and education for teens and young adults who are homeless and suffering from psychiatirc disorders. Our agency, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, offers a support group for young people who often feel they are outcasts, even among those who are living on the streets.

We provide them with a safe, confidential place to learn coping skills, make friends, and share openly with their peers about their struggles with depression and other forms of mental illness. This service is offered every week of the year, free of charge.

Led by caring and highly trained volunteers, we have found that this kind of social support and self-help can do much to break the cycle of homelessness and help youth with mood disorders re-connect with their families and society.

Like other agencies in the Springs, we have seen a steady increase in the number of youth and their parents seeking help. Along with professional health care and other resources, peer support is a powerful way to find stability and mental wellness.

For more information DBSA can be reached at 477-1515. We've been there. We can help.

Steve Bell, President, DBSA Colorado Springs

Statistic on age of homeless should not be taken at face value

Doesn't anyone on The Gazette's staff check suspicious statistics?

The headline, "According to a source, average age of homeless in U.S. is 9," in the Jan. 5 paper was grossly irresponsible.

In order for the average age to be 9, there would have to be four homeless newborns for every 45-year-old homeless person, and six for every 63-year-old. You don't even have to do research to know that is wrong.

The Gazette could have de-bunked this with a simple yahoo search:
cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/25/to-be-young-like-9-on-average-and-homeless/?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss.

Mike Baker, Colorado Springs

Use of word ‘veteran' can include some who don't deserve title

The Sunday article about the local homeless population stated that of the 400 chronic homeless in Colorado Springs, 16 percent are military veterans.

What is never stated in any of these statistics is of the 16 percent, what is the percentage of "veterans" who have an honorable discharge, what percentage saw combat, and what percentage was discharged after less than a year due to drinking, drugs or criminal offenses.

As a retired noncommissioned officer, I feel the term "veteran" is too widely used to describe anyone that was in the military. I know of "soldiers" who were discharged during basic training because of anti-social behavior, failure to adapt to military life, or criminal records that were uncovered after the recruits were sent to basic training.

These people were in the Army less than two months. Does this qualify them as veterans?

For those who have served honorably and are now suffering due to that service, I truly feel sorry.

For those who couldn't make it in the military and now are unable to make it in civilian life, I say they are not veterans. They should not be categorized with those that have served our country honorably in war or in peace time.

Before anyone jumps on me, let me say, I do feel sorry for those who are homeless; I just don't believe that because some of them may have worn a uniform for a few months, they should be classified with those that have fought and bled for our country.

Either way, help is available and when it costs the city more than $50,000 per year each in medical, detox and other expenses, something needs to be done to help these people, veterans or not.

Terry Murphy, Sgt. 1st Class, U.S. Army, retired Colorado Springs

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Readers comments from gazette.com

PART 1: HOMELESS AREN'T OUT OF SIGHT ANYMORE

Jan. 4

At the end of the day there is that percentage of the homeless that suffer from mental illness or who have suffered debilitating and unforeseen loss and thus can't really be held accountable. Then there are the rest who have made choices in life and need to work out for themselves whether or not they need to make different choices moving forward.

2,000 homeless in a community of 500,000 is a homeless rate of 0.4 percent. Given that many homeless have mental problems or addictions, how low do we realistically expect the rate to go, and at what cost to taxpayers in current and new funding to achieve that rate?

When we ensure that all our citizens have job skills that match an available job opening, and when we cure mental illness, we'll have a shot at eliminating homelessness.

Everybody is talking about this .4 percent of the population as if they're somehow ours. I doubt that .01 percent of the homeless in Colorado Springs were raised in Colorado Springs or ever spent any productive part of their lives here.

Many homeless people are victims of abuse in the form of neglect and abandonment by their parents or other caregivers. Some of them are simply victims of life's tragedies, such as hurricanes, fires or other catastrophes from which they simply don't have the resources to recover.

I believe the best we can do is offer short-term assistance to those who are truly down on their luck and long term assistance to those who are truly disabled in a way that restricts their ability to be a contributing member of our society.

We help the homeless because we can. We help them knowing they may have made poor choices.

You don't gave to be drunk or on drugs to sleep on a couch or a bedroll, just out of work. Perhaps a works program could hire millions of Americans to build real homes for the millions of homeless and the other millions of families in motels.

PART 2: FAMILIES GETTING TRAPPED IN THE CYCLE

Jan. 5

There's no question that times are hard today but I find it questionable that one could not find a job even at McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell, or any one of the many restaurants in our city. I've seen help wanted signs around town.

Yup, there are a lot of managers at places like "McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell, or any one of the many restaurants in our city" who will hire someone without an address or phone. There are tons of restaurants in our city that want someone working there who does not have a shower every day and - oh boy - that minimum wage they pay will get you into affordable housing too! Not!

I have heard of other cities, in a combined effort with the business community, doing a welfare to work program. Why not a homeless to work program?

This isn't a simple story of lazy people looking for something free. It's about a self-centered society that has stopped caring about and for all of its citizens.

While a minimum wage job may not be enough to build a great life on, it's a start. The point is, it's much easier to help people if they are in a frame of mind where they need some help - not a complete handout.

Day labor doesn't cut it when you're supporting a family. How about the city hire the ones who want to work to shovel sidewalks and pick up garbage in public parks? Pay them what they pay their temp park workers and provide them transportation to and from job sites.

PART 3: TROUBLE COMES EARLY FOR SOME

Jan. 6

A lot of focus here, just few solutions. If people are "lured" into prostitution within 48 hours, then we need a workable death penalty for these pimps and rapists.
I'm sending a check to Urban Peak. I appreciate their mission and all they do to get young people on the right track.

Very good report! Urban Peak deserves support! ... I know everyone thinks I am cold-hearted about busing some of these people out of the Springs, but that is my opinion.

Now this is the best part of this series so far. It highlights the ones who have the greatest chance to escape their situations. For those who haven't been following the blogs, I was once a homeless teen. I was fortunate to have a caring family take me in and provide me with a safe, secure, loving home. They housed me for nearly a year, free of charge.

...That is what these kids need, and that is what Urban Peak is trying to provide, but so much more can be done. The churches have to get involved and those who can, should lend that helping hand to these young people. I have returned the favor that my benefactors gave me, by taking in homeless young people. I have been rewarded by their success and disappointed by their behavior but I have done what I can.

PART 4: FOR MANY, A LONG, LONG ROAD

Jan. 7

The days of Otis the cute drunk from "The Andy Griffith Show" are over. Drunken and drugged-out citizens on our street are not cute or funny or even pleasant, but the situation is very real, very large and growing larger with each passing day. ...When it affects enough people and compromises other people's lives enough, then, and only then, will something be done.

People are homeless because they want to be homeless! Quit spending more of our tax money to fix something that won't be remedied.

You know, today I have a good job, a place to live, friends, etc. But I know that one stroke of bad luck and I could be exactly where these people are. I'm really glad The Gazette is bringing our attention to their stories.

It's easy to ignore the homeless population or to pretend the problem doesn't exist. I hope these articles will bring about a little more awareness and compassion. The homeless are a part of our community, whether we want to accept it or not.

I can't bring myself to give people on the Cimmaron Street bridge money when they stand outside my car window because I don't know what it's being used for. I'd rather give the $20 to a shelter or a rehab clinic.

I think the next time I pull to an intersection and see some old man with a sign, I might just hand him a few dollars and wish him well knowing that we don't always know why people do what they do.