Homelessness in Denver (Fort Collins, Pueblo: city hall, home, neighborhoods)

[_Charles_]

I grew up in Colorado and in my 20s moved to Arizona, where I live now.
I have been seeing stories on the news about the terrible problem associated with homeless populations in the cities on the west coast. Specifically the health threat caused by the disgusting situation of human waste and used syringes all over the sidewalks in certain areas. (I know first hand parts of LA are bad).

Someone mentioned that this is happening in Denver too. I find that hard to believe.
Is this true?

Most of my family lives in Colorado but not in Denver (western slope as well as Fort Collins).

[jwiley]

I will watch local news occasionally and deal with a lot of people in Denver and have not heard of anything. I could see it happening though, the homeless population has grown considerably the last few years and there is not enough shelters to care for everybody so they struggle to stay fed and clean.

[alloo66]

Every large city has homeless people.

[Mach50]

I've been here for 12 years and yes there is an obvious issue with homelessness in Denver. However, I have not seen a single syringe or human waste on a sidewalk or anywhere to that matter.

I was in Las Vegas for 1 week and I walked off the strip to a restaurant where I saw multiple syringes in a camp of homeless people. When I lived in SF I witnessed many times homeless throwing up or even taking a pee on the sidewalk.

Never-the-less we should help the homeless in Denver.

[UsAll]

Originally Posted by alloo66

Every large city has homeless people.

. . . as well as every or nearly every medium city and small city, town, village, hamlet, and any number of other jurisdiction categories. The homeless even persist in suburbs and exurbs . . . and sometimes in some rural or semi-rural areas. And some live out of motor vehicles of whatever type (however regularly or semi-regularly they do this).

[history nerd]

There are more homeless people these days but it isn't nearly as big of an issue as the places you mention.

[StealthRabbit]

Ft Collins is unusually bad for homeless (maybe more places to 'quietly hide-out'? and wealthy people to panhandle? and potentially other 'services' to encourage, good dumpster diving in wealth neighborhoods / stores. )

Pueblo and CoS did not seem too have a significant presence of Homeless at the moment.

Portland and Seattle seem to be the worse I encounter. (Violent / aggressive / entitled)
Mild weather?

Surprised at MSP homeless presence. (burrrrrr)

I have volunteered with homeless services for 30+ yrs, the 'character' has changed. Many are now very demanding and aggressive, and have no desire for job / home / security. (Being homeless by choice / good enough for them and their family). A bit disturbing to encounter the number of families that are homeless (far fewer than in 2008). I wish the kids were given a choice / fair opportunity, than to live in a car or under a bridge / moving daily due to the choice of their parent. I trust they will grow up stronger (than their parents). That's a likely outcome, and why so many people CARE for homeless and their families. !

[alliance]

When I went to Boise last year I didn’t see any homeless. Not a huge city, of course, but from my understanding they discourage homeless to be in their city, unlike what almost seems to be encouragement from the more liberal cities. Here in SF it’s simply an accepted part of the city, as much a part of everyday life as riding the bus or getting a cup of coffee. Instead of trying to help homeless get out of their bad situation and into a better and actual productive life they seem to help them to continue to be homeless under the pretense that they care. Efforts to lift them up would be more beneficial. But every year there’s a new measure to vote on throwing more money at the problem without any clue as to where it actually goes. But every year we hear “this time we have a plan that will work!” And the idiots here vote every damn one in.

Hopefully Denver doesn’t trend towards SF or Portland or Seattle, the cesspools of society. No real mystery as to why...

[Westerner92]

Denver’s situation is better handled than most places in America I’d say. The destitute have mostly been concentrated in the park between the Capitol, City Hall, and the Greyhound station as well as the shelter at Broadway and Lawrence. Panhandlers aren't necessarily homeless, but you don’t see them in city limits.

[Westerner92]

Originally Posted by alliance

When I went to Boise last year I didn’t see any homeless. Not a huge city, of course, but from my understanding they discourage homeless to be in their city, unlike what almost seems to be encouragement from the more liberal cities. Here in SF it’s simply an accepted part of the city, as much a part of everyday life as riding the bus or getting a cup of coffee. Instead of trying to help homeless get out of their bad situation and into a better and actual productive life they seem to help them to continue to be homeless under the pretense that they care. Efforts to lift them up would be more beneficial. But every year there’s a new measure to vote on throwing more money at the problem without any clue as to where it actually goes. But every year we hear “this time we have a plan that will work!” And the idiots here vote every damn one in.

Hopefully Denver doesn’t trend towards SF or Portland or Seattle, the cesspools of society. No real mystery as to why...

Salt Lake and Boise have good handles on homelessness because the Mormon community tends to actually live out their ideals and provide permanent shelter for those who need it. It’s my understanding that Utah doesn’t have any chronically homeless people, and giving permanent shelter has saved money in decreased police and ambulance dispatches and ER visits alone. Most places can’t get over helping the “unworthy” enough to actually do anything beyond ineffective pilot programs.