Large numbers of homeless inmates in the El Paso County jail over the past two years are affecting determination of how many people live on the streets and in shelters, as gauged by an annual mandated census.

One out of four of the 1,227 inmates in the Criminal Justice Center on Jan. 21, the night counted in this year’s Point in Time survey, were identified as homeless, according to a daily population report from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.

But those 302 incarcerated people will not be counted in the Point in Time survey, which the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires of communities that receive federal funding for homeless services.

Homeless people receiving treatment at medical hospitals, mental health facilities or crisis centers also are not included in the tally.

By HUD’s definition, jails, prisons, juvenile detention facilities, behavioral health centers and hospitals are an “institutional (living) situation.”

“Since this is not considered a ‘literally homeless’ living situation, it’s not included in the PIT count,” said Amber Carlton, spokeswoman for Community Health Partnership. The nonprofit organization coordinates the yearly count along with the Pikes Peak Continuum of Care, a consortium of homeless service providers.

The methodology doesn’t make sense, said Colorado Springs police Sgt. Olav Chaney, who leads the Police Department’s three Homeless Outreach Team. Police make two to eight trips transporting homeless people to the county jail every day, he said.

“Just because they’re in jail doesn’t mean they’re not homeless,” Chaney said. “They might happen to be in there because of a warrant, or they might be in there for a while on a felony. And when they get out, they go right back to building a camp.”

Considering that the Point in Time survey taken in January 2023 reported a total of 1,302 homeless people in El Paso County living in transitional housing, emergency shelters and outdoor settings, another 300 from the jail population — if counted — would significantly increase the count.

Colorado Springs has been lauded in recent years for reducing its overall homeless population, showing a 17% decrease over the past five years in Point in Time numbers, a bright spot in the state.

Nationally, the U.S. saw a 12% increase in homelessness between 2022 and 2023, with a 15% increase in major cities, HUD reported in December.

The Point in Time is just one way that communities evaluate homelessness, said Kristy Milligan, CEO of Westside Cares, a group of interdenominational houses of worship that provides services to indigent clients.

Definitions and methodologies differ, depending on the survey. For example, the required McKinney-Vento Act tabulation of homeless students in schools includes families who might be “couch surfing” or living with relatives and have no fixed address.

In the 2021-22 school year, the most recent data from the state education department, El Paso County’s 15 public districts collectively reported 1,174 homeless students.

Another snapshot appears in the number of households receiving food stamps, known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

In December 2023, 5,345 SNAP households in El Paso County self-identified as homeless. That’s the highest amount over the past five years, up from 2,919 homeless households in February 2020, according to data from the county’s Department of Human Services.

DHS relies on self-reporting and does not require proof of homelessness, said spokeswoman Kristina Iodice. The department also does not verify the status as part of the assistance process, she said.

Thus, “our region’s true numbers of homelessness may be under-represented in DHS data,” Iodice said.

Milligan believes that failing to count inmates who will be released from jail as homeless “creates a tacit incentive for community policing strategy to amplify efforts to criminalize homelessness in the days preceding an official count.” 

“When the count is lower year over year, communities can tout the efficacy of their strategies in reducing homelessness,” Milligan said. However, “a lower official Point in Time count as a result of many people being incarcerated on the night in question might look good on paper, but the long-term community health implications are less favorable, and arguably even destructive,” she said.

On the night of the Point in Time survey in 2022, 285 homeless people were in jail, according to county logs. Last year, there were 311.

Over the past three months, the number of homeless inmates has been climbing, from 292 on average each day in December to 307 in January and 319 for the first week of February, according to population reports.

Reasons vary. Cold weather can drive homeless people to purposely violate laws so they can get “three hots and a cot” — three daily hot meals and a warm place to sleep, according to service providers.

But Chaney attributes higher numbers of inmates to the police department’s crackdown on homeless lawbreakers.

“We have a low tolerance on law enforcement — we run everybody on warrants and wants,” Chaney said.

Two years ago, police cleared 304 felony warrants and 2,250 misdemeanor warrants among the homeless community, he said.

The amounts were similar last year, with 308 felony warrants cleared and 2,050 misdemeanor warrants, he said.

Some cases were related to illegal camping, stealing items off porches and breaking into vehicles, Chaney said. Felony charges included drugs, homicide, attempted homicide, sexual assault and motor vehicle theft.

“We’ve changed, without losing the compassion, to a tough-love approach,” Chaney said. “We still offer resources, but a lot of them don’t want resources and want to continue doing what they’re doing.”

The goal of increased enforcement is “if we can convince one of these folks to get into shelter that’s the biggest win,” he said. 

Fentanyl continues be “a major issue” in the homeless population, as it is across the community, said El Paso County Coroner Dr. Leon Kelly.

And illegal drug use fuels other crime, Chaney said. “There are few camps we go into that there aren’t needles around.”

Violence and criminal behavior in camps has increased over the past five years, said Beth Roalstad, CEO of Homeward Pikes Peak. The organization provides transitional housing and has outreach teams on the streets.

“The culture in camps has shifted largely because of the drugs,” she said. “There are some places our teams just can’t go into. We’re being much more cautious.”

Point in Time results from January won’t be released for several months. In last year’s count, while El Paso County’s overall homeless population decreased, the subgroup of unsheltered people on the streets increased by nearly 100 people.

HUD funding for homeless services and prevention programs has ranged from $2.3 million to $2.5 million for the past few years but increased this year to $2.9 million, according to the Pikes Peak Continuum of Care. HUD representatives will present the check to local leaders on Tuesday.

El Paso County households receiving food stamps

Date/ Homeless SNAP households/ Total SNAP Households

February 2020 / 2,919 / 30,381

February 2021 / 3,660 / 36,282

February 2022 / 4,278 / 36,774

February 2023 / 4,768 / 37,434

December 2023 / 5,345 / 39,599

Source: El Paso County Department of Human Services

Homeless inmates in El Paso County jail

Date/Homeless Inmates/Total Inmates

Jan. 29 / 324 / 1,210

Jan. 28 / 322 / 1,198

Jan. 27 / 316 / 1189

Jan. 26 / 316 / 1,167

Jan. 25 / 315 / 1177

Jan. 24 / 308 / 1162

Jan. 23 / 305 / 1241

Jan. 22 / 309 / 1255

Jan. 21 / 302 / 1227 (Point in Time night)

Jan. 20 / 305 / 1237

Source: El Paso County Sheriff’s Office jail population log

During this year’s Point in Time count, Debra Stilen interviews Steve and other homeless people at Westside Cares last month for the annual survey. The survey is done once a year to get an idea of how many people are homeless on that one day in Colorado Springs. Many surveyors were volunteers, but Stilen was paid and was previously homeless for more than 20 years.

Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette