Homeless Advocates Struggle For Resources

As the colder temperatures roll in, homeless advocates in Colorado Springs struggle to do more with less, trying to prevent the return of homeless camps on a limited budget and no funding from the city.

Homeward Pikes Peak has helped hundreds of people get off the streets in the last year. One of its key programs pays for people to stay at a local motel while they look for a job and try to get back on their feet. All adults who are able are required to look for a job every day and do eight hours of community service a week.

“The most incredible thing we’ve addressed, I think, is a woman who presented to us a 3-day-old baby. She was living in her car,” said Bob Holmes, director of Homeward Pikes Peak.

As of Saturday, almost 100 people were staying at the Aztec Motel, many are children. Due to funding issues, Holmes thought he was going to have to reduce the number of rooms he provides, but said he has found a way to keep all of them, at about $11,000 a month, for now.

“I’m really going to try hard to keep the 24 rooms open,” said Holmes.

He said he plans to end an outreach program for those with substance abuse and mental health issues, and will no longer pay for transportation out of the city for homeless people who have family or friends elsewhere. Holmes said all of his funding comes through donations from foundations and faith-based groups, and he’s constantly looking for grants to keep his programs afloat.

“I’m pretty profoundly disappointed in the city,” said Holmes. “The city gave $50,000 in 2010, nothing this year, they say nothing next year and don’t look for anything, period.”

He said research has shown that a homeless person on the street costs taxpayers thousands of dollars (mainly in medical and police costs), and points out that once a person gets a job, they start spending again.

“We’ve helped over 600 (people) to move on to self-sufficiency,” said Holmes.

Some at the Aztec used to live at the large homeless camps the city saw in 2009. Dayton Mentch said he’d still be in a tent if it wasn’t for Homeward Pikes Peak.

“I was a 34th Street camper,” said Mentch. “This helps you get healthy. I’ve gained probably 24 pounds since I started living here. I used to be skinny.”

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