Tag: homeless
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New report: Homelessness growing in El Paso County, No. 1 rate in Colorado
Homelessness in El Paso County grew between 2024 and 2025 at a rate faster than any other part of Colorado, according to a new statewide report released Monday. The second annual, industry-produced Colorado’s State of Homelessness Report 2025 shows 7,078 people countywide were counted as homeless at some point last year. That’s a 4.3% jump…
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GUEST OPINION: Continue the Homeless Contribution Tax Credit
The Colorado State Legislature is currently deliberating a measure with significant implications for organizations like Catholic Charities that work daily to serve the most vulnerable members of our community. The Homeless Contribution Tax Credit (HCTC), established during the 2022 legislative session, provides a 25% tax credit for individuals who make charitable contributions to eligible organizations…
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Federally funded homelessness agency changes hands, to be led by Colorado Springs and United Way
Two well-known entities will assume oversight and administration of a regional homelessness agency as of July 1, the board of the Pikes Peak Continuum of Care voted on March 18. The membership of the federally funded agency ratified the decision on Tuesday. Pikes Peak United Way and the city of Colorado Springs will become leaders…
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LETTERS: Solution doesn’t fit the problem; in the real world
The solution doesn’t fit the problem Vince Bzdek is right about one thing: Colorado’s caucus and assembly system is deeply flawed. But his proposed solution—allowing unaffiliated voters to participate in caucuses—doesn’t fix the problem. It expands it. Colorado doesn’t need a bigger caucus system. It needs to move beyond it. The caucus and assembly system…
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LETTERS: Subsidizing homelessness; “I just had a feeling”
Stop subsidizing homelessness Homelessness is a misnomer. These street people are bums and vagrants who are spongeing off of the working class. The only way to reduce homelessness is to stop subsidizing it. The state of California spends $billions on the problem of homelessness. While the state has about 13% of the total population of…
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Homelessness in Colorado Springs: What solutions actually work
Homelessness remains a visible challenge on the streets of Colorado Springs, and people have strong opinions about how best to respond. Some emphasize treatment and accountability first. Others support a housing first approach and believe that stability must come before lasting change. Since the housing first model is the subject of debate, it’s fair to ask…
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The Salvation Army to reopen more family beds at its emergency shelter
After announcing in early November that The Salvation Army’s El Paso County branch had raised enough money to reopen five of the 16 homeless shelter units for families that the organization had temporarily closed by Oct. 1 due to financial problems, it’s taken nearly three months to get enough people hired to do so, officials…
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Maximum sentence handed down for man convicted of 2022 homicide over stolen ax
The Colorado Springs man convicted in the killing of another man over a stolen ax was sentenced to prison Monday, marking his second stint behind bars for a homicide charge in Colorado. Eric Felix, 49, was found guilty by an El Paso County jury of manslaughter for the Nov. 7, 2022, killing of Ricky Keiser.…
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New initiative to quickly rehouse those in housing crisis to be tested in Colorado Springs
As the federally required annual census of the homeless population gets underway on Sunday in Colorado Springs following a record-high count last year, a new experimental initiative launched community-wide on Tuesday to help reduce the number of people living on the streets. A homelessness diversion initiative being produced by the local nonprofit ChangeLine and funded…
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City’s parked vehicle strategy is incomplete
When I first heard about our locally proposed vehicle parking program for those living in cars – I was angry. Not because I lack compassion, but because I have lived it. I have housed individuals and families in transition for many years. Out of pocket. From experience, I know people should not be kept indefinitely…