Homeless: Within a Block
When addressing the issue of homeless in Colorado Springs, experts have proposed a multitude of solutions. But in looking at the problems, KRDO Newschannel 13's Shannon Brinias spent more than two months having conversations with the homeless in a particular geographic area: she chose her interview subjects because they all are homeless living within roughly a block of the KRDO studios near 8th St. and Cimarron in Colorado Springs.
We asked the people specific questions, trying to come to a basic understanding of why they were homeless, what is keeping them homeless, and whether anything would ever provide what they needed to get off the streets.
While there were a few exceptions, most of the interview subjects we spoke with seemed more than content with the choice they had made to live on the streets.
When asked what had made her homeless, Regena Sebek said, "The reason I'm homeless is by alcohol abuse and domestic violence." Sebek, who grew up in Manitou Springs and Woodland Park, said she now considers the friends she's made while living on the streets her family.
Susan Shafer describes a more circuitous route to becoming homeless. She describes a path that included financial setbacks, a failure of an ex to pay child support, as well as her struggles with mental illness. She finds every day is a struggle.
"Sometimes you sleep where you can," she said, "I slept on a trail last night after getting cold-cocked in the ear."
Some of those we spoke with seem genuinely delighted with their choice to be without a roof over their heads. Jay Glover describes himself as a nomad. He hops freight trains to travel from city to city. Still, there are days, he said, when he would just rather be able to enjoy a beer without being bothered by police officers.
Jon Spizale has no intention of leaving Colorado Springs soon. That's because he's dedicated to the care and feeding of dozens of stray and feral cats in the area around Cimarron and 8th St. "I'm kind of putting myself through this for their sake," he said. Spizale says he can't imagine spending hundreds of dollars on rent, when he could be paying for cat food. Instead, he lives in a van made bearable by a portable heater connected via an extension cord to a friend's nearby business.
Spizale knows what's pushing more people out onto the streets. "I don't do drugs myself, but i know 99% of the people on the streets are using drugs or mentally ill. I feel sorry for the people, but they got to try to help themselves," said Spizale.
Zach Thompson also lives in a vehicle, although, as a veteran, he's hoping to meet with the Veterans Administration to help him find shelter. Thompson said he knows hard drugs are a big part of the lure of living on the streets, although, for him, smoking weed is the only drug he does. According to Thompson, "I think that's the reason most of the people are out here, 'cause they're addicted."
But why these people aren't choosing programs to help them get off the streets? Mikhail may have summed it up best: after a 20-year marriage ended, he said, "I've just given up."
Their stories were just a few of the many captured during our two months of conversations "within a block".
