The Homeless - What They Actually Need

So this is the plan to end homelessness that was developed by Mayor John Hickenlooper called Denver's Road Home, you can see it here at: http://www.denvergov.org/HomelessnessinDenver/tabid/383233/Default.aspx, in this plan it talks about helping the homeless with programs such as low cost housing, social services and job counseling but this program feels as though its spirit is intended to do away with the homeless that are unsightly to the taxpayers of Denver rather than help the average homeless person out of their situation. What I feel this program does not take into consideration is that the bulk of the homeless in this city are in shelters already, and are looking for a way out of that situation, they are not the homeless people out on the streets.

As a former homeless person I can say that the last time I ended up in the shelters I was not a virgin to the whole experience. I had, like many others, been in and out of shelters, hotels and various other places trying to fix my situation, this had been my life for many years. I decided that this was the last time I was going to be in a hell hole and I didn't care what I had to put up with to get out. One of the first lessons I learned is that if you wait for resources from the different organizations that are supposed to help you, you will be homeless for a long, long time. The resources don't exist for someone looking to fix their situation now. Don't get me wrong, I like the fact that Hickenlooper is at least addressing the problem, but it seems as though the problem is being addressed, once again, in all of the wrong places. Because I feel that single men/women have been igonored, once again, I have decided to make a list of what the single homeless person needs and I hope that someone reading this will give this wishlist to somebody important:

1. More shelter beds ala United Way or Catholic Charities (Samaritan House)

2. Bus Token/Bus Pass program for people trying to look for work, (10 rolls of tokens for 35 women aint gonna cut it).

3. More realistic housing options - housing that does not take 3-6 months to get into or Section 8 vouchers, (they can be taken from place to place), let's do away with buildings that require credit checks.

4. More money for people who are trying to get State ID's, Birth Certificates and Social Security Cards.

5. More funding for groups such as The Stout Street Clinic, St. Francis and the Gathering Place. The Stout Street Clinic provides the bulk of healthcare for the homeless, including mental health, whereas St. Francis and the Gathering Place provide phones, showers, storage and other needed services.

6. Volunteer programs for people who are about to lose their housing - let's try to be proactive vs. reactive.

7. Expansion of the mental health system - more counselors, more money for medication, shorter waiting times to see someone and counseling that ties into other areas such as job searches and people on probation.

8. Clothing options for people who are trying to look for work and can't find anything in the "donated" bin.

9. Inquiry as to why so many people are coming from other states for shelter in CO and the effects that it has on actual residents of this state.

10. Better pay and benefits for individuals that work in the shelters. We can not expect these people to be understanding towards the homeless if they are practically homeless themselves.

I believe that if we did some of the aforementioned things we could really have a shot at clearing out some of those shelters, which would allow for new people to enter the shelters. Just a thought.