Pueblo police and city move forward with homeless bussing program

PUEBLO, Colo. -- The city of Pueblo is recommitting $25,000 to bus homeless and the displaced out of the city. Pueblo Police will oversee the operation. The decision to reinstate the program came after an October city council vote.

The program, in partnership with Greyhound Bus, is nearly identical to the bussing program back in 2017. During that first go around, the funds for bus tickets only lasted nine months.

This bussing program is unique, and doesn't just aim to move the homeless problem elsewhere. The Pueblo Police Department verifies that the homeless individual has resources, family, or support structure wherever they get off the bus. They also provide a temporary form of identifications so that the homeless can use Greyhound Bus services for at least 72 hours.

During the first 9 months of the program, the Pueblo Police Departmetn bussed more than 400 people, 166 those that were bussed from Pueblo were chidlren. A majority of the displaced and homeless went to Texas, Florida, and Mississippi.

Pueblo Police say some recipients of free bus tickets have returned to Pueblo after being bussed out. However, PPD says those people are a small minority.

Types of people who participate in the bussing program are not always homeless. Some are struggling families on the verge of homelessness.

Officers look at each individual or family eligible for the program on a case by case basis to see if the free bus ticket is warranted.