Colorado's Homelessness Crisis: Ignoring the Real Causes
Colorado has experienced a staggering 39% increase in homelessness from 2022 to 2023, highlighting the state's growing crisis.
While the high cost of housing and limited availability of low-income housing contribute to the problem, there are other factors that are conveniently being ignored – the permissive drug laws and the prevalence of mental illness and alcohol abuse among the metro area homeless population.
According to a recent "point in time" count, over 14,000 Coloradans were homeless on a single night.
However, the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless estimates that the actual number is much higher, reaching over 134,000 when considering those covered by Medicaid who also lack stable housing.
This significant discrepancy between the official count and the coalition's estimate raises concerns about the accuracy of the data and the effectiveness of the current approach in addressing the issue.
Cathy Alderman, spokesperson for the coalition, emphasizes the need for a comprehensive understanding of the homelessness problem in Colorado. While the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides some data highlights, the data from each continuum of care – the planning bodies that address homelessness in specific regions – may not be directly comparable. This lack of standardized data makes it difficult to assess the true scope of the crisis.
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It is crucial to examine the root causes of homelessness in Colorado, rather than solely focusing on housing availability and affordability. The permissive drug laws in the state have attracted individuals struggling with substance abuse issues, exacerbating the homelessness problem. By failing to address the connection between drug addiction and homelessness, policymakers are missing a crucial component of the solution.
Additionally, mental illness and alcohol abuse are widespread among the metro area homeless population, contributing to their chronic homelessness. Neglecting to address these underlying issues perpetuates the cycle of homelessness and prevents individuals from accessing the help they truly need.
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