Editor’s note
On Monday, Nov. 10, the Colorado Springs City Council will consider a proposed ordinance amending current city code around public camping – including imposing penalties for vehicle camping in the same location for more than 24 hours.
The Pikes Peak Bulletin reached out to sponsors of this agenda item — City Council member Dave Donelson and Colorado Springs Police Department’s Sgt. Olav Cheney and Lt. Ryan Tepley — as well as the public information officer for the City’s Housing and Homelessness Response for their viewpoints. We did not receive a response.
To the editor:
I am writing to strongly oppose the expanded ordinance to ticket people living in their cars. This measure does not solve homelessness; it simply criminalizes it.
Our community has a “systems problem.” Service providers see families and individuals daily who are living in vehicles because they are unable to use or are afraid of the shelter system. We do not have the resources to address this crisis, and this punitive ordinance only punishes people for a systemic failure.
What is most disappointing is that just two months ago, city leaders met with numerous service providers. We had a solution-focused discussion about collaboration, increasing case managers, and improving outreach – ideas the city agreed would provide a “north star” for our work.
Instead of investing in those proven solutions, the city is choosing to spend money on enforcement. We cannot ticket our way out of this crisis. I urge the city to abandon this harmful measure and invest in the compassionate, collaborative solutions we have already identified.
Sincerely,
Beth Hall Roalstad, MSW
CEO of Homeward Pikes Peak
