In all the talk about budgets and dollars and cents and how much to spend on homelessness, it's important to remember the human beings we are making decisions about.
During this holiday season when we celebrate our blessings with our families, I find it is important to remember those who are less fortunate. There are a great many people who are homeless today that just a year ago had homes. They had jobs. They paid their taxes. And, they never thought they would find themselves on the streets and needing help.
We're talking about people like Amber Batson-Vasquez. Amber was trapped in an abusive relationship and at the time she was able to escape with her baby son, the recession had hit. Like thousands of other pour souls who have been suffering in Denver because of the economy, this bright, educated young woman couldn't find work.
"I applied for job after job but continued to be rejected," says Amber. "My son and I were moving from place to place, there was no stability in our lives." Amber never imagined she would be homeless. Having to endure this taxing situation month after month drove Amber into clinical depression. "Being homeless was a very humbling experience," says Amber. "I felt helpless and confused. I didn't know what to do or where to go but I knew I needed help."
Due to the recession, people are living on the edge. We can't turn our backs on them and thanks to Denver's Road Home, the community's 10-year-plan to end homelessness, we are helping.
At Project Homeless Connect on Oct. 9 at the Pepsi Center, a one-stop shop for the homeless involving over 500 community volunteers, Denver's Road Home served over 300 families (reaching over 500 children) who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. Demand for services is clearly up at a time when community resources are diminishing rapidly.
After being accepted into a transitional housing program, Amber received help in finding a job. She was then referred to the Family and Senior Homeless initiative, a permanent housing program of Denver's Road Home administered by the Denver Rescue Mission. "I was able to save up money to buy a car and things fell into place," says Amber. "Not only did I have the financial resources that I needed to move into a home, but I was also given much needed emotional support and encouragement." With employment and a stable living environment, Amber and her young son are happy and healthy.
There are thousands of people like Amber who work hard to support their families - people who desperately need Denver's Road Home. Since it was launched four years ago Denver's Road Home has experienced incredible success. It has:
•Raised $12 million from businesses, individuals and foundations;
•Found employment for 3,278 homeless individuals;
•Prevented 2,232 seniors, families and individuals from becoming homeless;
•Mentored 564 families and seniors;
•And developed 1,500 new units of housing for homeless individuals and families. Each unit is attached to substance abuse, employment, day-care and other services and tenants are expected to pay 30 percent of their income in rent.
Even in this extraordinarily challenging economy the number of chronically homeless - the people who cost taxpayers the greatest amount because they use the most expensive services like jail space and detox facilities - has continued to decrease.
And the business community, led by the Downtown Denver Partnership and the Business Improvement District, credits Denver's Road Home with helping to create an atmosphere where downtown business can prosper.
Helping the homeless is not just the right thing to do - it's the smart thing to do.
A recent article in the New York Times was a great reminder for me of what could be happening in here if not for Denver's Road Home. According the story, tent cities housing the homeless have been erected in Seattle, Wash., Nashville, Tenn., and St. Petersburg, Florida. Thanks to Denver's Road Home we are not facing that prospect.
While it is important to recognize the success our community has achieved through Denver's Road Home we must realize the economy is continuing to push more men, women and children into homelessness.
Homeless providers report that requests for services are nearing an all-time high. The Mile High United Way said that last month the top five requests for help were:
•Rental Assistance - 3,352
•Utility Assistance - 2,264
•Shelters and Transitional Housing - 1,361
•Food - 845 referrals
•Housing Counseling and Assistance - 574
In Denver, 260 of the 581 homeless children are under the age of 5. And 50 percent of the homeless adults have been without a home for less than 30 days.
We could talk about statistics forever but when you think about whether or not we should support Denver's Road Home consider Amber, her son and all the people like them.
Just like all city efforts, Denver's Road Home has made cuts and is doing more with less. We must continue to be smart with taxpayer dollars. But we can't afford to cut more.
There has never been a more important time to support Denver's Road Home. Just ask Amber what Home for the Holidays means to her.