COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—Homeless people in Colorado Springs are getting their one-way bus tickets paid for if they want to move to be near family or friends.
The Salvation Army is providing the money for Colorado Springs police to buy the tickets when homeless people request them. The officers are also responsible for verifying that the homeless have a relative or place to stay at their desired destination and to check that they’ve arrived.
“We call to make sure there’s a form of support on the other end,” said officer Dan McCormack.
City officials say the idea is not to kick the homeless out of Colorado Springs but to help them better themselves.
“People tell us all the time: They need to get home, they want to get home,” said M.J. Thompson, one of the three Colorado Springs police officers in the department’s Homeless Outreach Team. “It kind of comes out in conversation. We’re not offering people bus tickets just to get them out of here.”
The initiative began Wednesday and so far three people have gotten bus tickets to San Diego, Corpus Christi, Texas, and Birmingham, Ala.
The Salvation Army is using $5,000 from a recent $20,000 grant to buy the bus tickets. Bill Sisterson, Salvation Army business administrator in El Paso County, said tickets so far have averaged about $150.
As many as 500 people are estimated to camp in tents in Colorado Springs because they don’t have a place to sleep. The City Council is considering a proposal to ban camping on city property. Homeless advocates say city officials should make sure there are enough shelter beds available before making a decision.
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Information from: The Gazette,
