Homeless veterans also a concern in Colorado Springs

As many as 200 of the estimated 1,400 identified homeless people in Colorado Springs are military veterans, Mayor John Suthers said Thursday.

Suthers said contributing to the problem is that vouchers available for veterans to obtain housing are covering less of the actual hosing costs because of skyrocketing rent increases.

“I’m trying to get owners of some of our apartment complexes in southern Colorado to reserve a few units and be willing to accept less than the market rate for rent,” he said. “It would help stretch those vouchers for veterans. But it’s a business decision.”

Suthers also said he supports looking for funding to help nonprofit organizations that help veterans to honor those vouchers.

Suthers will be part of a panel on veterans’ homelessness hosted this weekend by the League of Cities in Washington, D.C.