More Homeless Expected to be in Colorado for 2018

It’s no secret, homelessness is a major issue in Colorado Springs. The Department of Housing and Urban Development is trying to get a better handle on the scope of the issue this week through its annual survey.

150 volunteers throughout El Paso County asked hundreds of homeless serval questions about their situation. John Carrier was one of them that filled out the survey, “Vital information, last four of social, how long you’ve been homeless. Just your basic data fact sheet.”

Going to campsites, motels, cars and food kitchens all to see how large the homeless population really is. In 2017, HUF says there were 1,415 homeless in El Paso County, with more children and adults on the street. Eva Nunes the director of community information systems with Pikes Peak United Way says they are expecting those numbers to be even higher in 2018.

However, the count is not exact. People can refuse to take the survey. Speaking to some of the homeless, they say they were reluctant to participate. Amy Long says, “I was bothered by it absolutely I just wanted to eat and spend time with my husband in line and most of the line was taken up in the survey.”

Long and Carrier both took the survey which they say lasted about ten minutes, but they say there were bothered by some of the questions. Carrier says one of the questions was about rape, “If you’ve ever been molested or raped or anything like that but I feel like those are some personal issues that can really incite more of a mental break.”

The survey is also done in part to keep around $2.5 million in funding for homeless services for the community.

Official numbers for the count won’t be available until the summer. To see the survey, click here.