WILL COLORADO REOPEN MENTAL HOSPITAL AND CREATE TOWN FOR HOMELESS?

NPR - LISTEN TO STORY - COLORADO PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL FOR HOMELESS

Article excerpt : That proposal by the Democratic governor would bring mentally ill and addicted homeless people to Fort Lyon, at one time a psychiatric hospital for veterans and then a prison. The facility, near the tiny town of Las Animas, has been closed for two years.


Under the plan, people would leave the streets of the cities where they live now and voluntarily come to Fort Lyon. And the town would welcome the jobs that reopening the facility would create.

Jack Simms, who's been homeless in Colorado Springs for a decade, says it's needed.

"I see it, man. They need to open some beds somewhere, at a mental health facility or something," says Simms, who says he struggles with depression and smokes pot to cope. "I can survive out here, [but] these mentally ill people, it's rough. They just walk up and down the paths. They look like zombies. I'd be a guinea pig. I'd try it out."

A 10 YEAR PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESSE in DENVER

This is about a 10 year plan - started in 09 to end all Homelessness in Denver.

WE THINK THE NUMBER ONE WAY TO END HOMELESSNESS is to HAVE MORE LIVEABLE GOVERNMENT HOUSING, or for builders to be given MORE INCENTIVES to build LOW INCOME HOUSING.

HAS THE RECESSION/DEPRESSION LOWERED THE COST OF APARTMENTS IN YOUR CITY? WE DOUBT IT. Landlords can deduct the "business loss" they take from leaving an apartment vacant.

COLORADO COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS

Colorado is a cold state, mountains and snow, and we suspect that a lot of people are living off the land there, in harsh conditions. But in cities like Denver, there is likely a homeless population that needs help. Here's the link to the Colorado Coalition For the Homeless!