City to announce new fund to address homelessness and housing instability

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Kaiser Permanente, along with the City of Colorado Springs and Community Health Partnership (CHP) will announce a new fund to address homelessness and housing instability Thursday.

In attendance will be Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers, Kaiser Permanente Regional President Mike Ramseier, Community Health Partnership CEO Amber Ptak, and City of Colorado Springs Homelessness Prevention and Response Coordinator, Andy Phelps.

Homeless camps have become more visible and noticeable recently to I-25 drivers and users of an adjacent trail. Up close, many of the camps are littered with mounds of trash, clothing, old furniture, and bicycle parts.

The Springs Rescue Mission has a capacity of 450, but a spokesman said that only an average of 300 beds are used every night. So, plenty of beds are available.

Some homeless people said that they're skeptical of shelters for a variety of reasons -- ranging from too-strict rules, lack of proper cleanliness, being around too many people a belief that real resources to improve the lives of the homeless are unavailable or nonexistent. Alcohol and drug addition, mental illness, financial challenges and broken family relationships are factors in the lives of many people who prefer to be on their own.

This is a developing story. KRDO will have additional details on the funds announcement throughout the day.