Last of 6 meetings on city-proposed homeless 'Action Plan' Dec. 13 at Westside Center

Before a packed hall in the Westside Community Center Oct. 17, Colorado Springs Homeless Coordinator Andrew Phelps speaks at the first of six public meetings the city is holding on its proposed "Action Plan for Homelessness Response." The last such meeting will also be at the center Thursday, Dec. 13.
Westside Pioneer photo

Final meeting on city-proposed homeless 'Action Plan' Dec. 13 at Westside Center

Dec. 9, 2018
       A second Westside town hall spotlighting the new "Homelessness Response Action Plan" is scheduled Thursday, Dec. 13.
       Conducted by City of Colorado Springs officials, the event will be at the Westside Community Center, 1628 W. Bijou St., starting at 6 p.m.
       The two Westside town halls - the first was Oct. 17 - have bookended a series of such gatherings around the city in recent weeks. Featured has been the city's proposed

At the Oct. 17 public meeting on the city's proposed "Action Plan for Homelessness Response," City Council President Richard Skorman holds up a flyer that's part of a city campaign urging people to give to homeless service providers, not to panhandlers.

Westside Pioneer photo

"Homelessness Response Action Plan," which describes 10 goals intended to address the issue, including the “HelpCOS” campaign. (These goals are outlined in the Westside Pioneer article that was posted before the first town hall at this link. The plan itself is on the city website at coloradosprings.gov/helpcos.)
       “Homelessness-related issues are among the most frequent complaints the city receives,” reads a city website statement. “The release of the city's Action Plan for Homelessness Response is a step in the right direction; now the public has a chance to [help] shape the future of Colorado Springs with feedback.”
       City Council President Richard Skorman (who also represents District 3, which includes part of the Westside) and City Homelessness Prevention and Response Coordinator Andy Phelps have been leading the town halls. Also attending Dec. 13 may be City Council members, CSPD's Homeless Outreach Team (HOT), Salvation Army, Springs Rescue Mission and representatives from the Pikes Peak Continuum of Care.
       At the October Westside meeting, the Community Center's hall was almost completely filled, with people allowed to take turns speaking (although time ran out with a dozen or more still in line).
       After one speaker said that “people are frightened in their homes,” Skorman responded that “the Westside is the most heavily impacted” part of the city, and Phelps said he often hears that “people don't feel safe on trails and in parks.”
       But Skorman expressed confidence that with the plan taking effect, “hopefully things will be safer for you in six months to a year.”

Westside Pioneer article
(Community: Ongoing Issues)

Would you like to respond to this article? The Westside Pioneer welcomes letters at editor@westsidepioneer.com. (Click here for letter-writing criteria.)