Photo by Steve Knutson on Unsplash
The Relations and Communications Workgroup would like to share this opportunity for us all in Presbytery to be aware of it and, perhaps, for those with parking space to consider whether or not they could collaborate with the effort being facilitated by the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado.
Whether or not we can join this particular effort, we believe it is good for us all to be aware both of the challenges for those currently without housing and work being done to be of aid.
Thank you, Mark Meeks, Relations and Communications Workgroup.
When we think of people experiencing homelessness, we often imagine people living outside, camping, or perhaps staying in a shelter, but we don’t always think of people living in their car. And yet, hundreds of individuals and families are estimated to be sheltering in vehicles in the seven-county Denver metro area each night and there are upwards of a thousand statewide.
A major problem for people who shelter in a vehicle is finding a safe, legal place to park. Whether it is to sleep, to take a job, or to make a meeting with a case worker, finding reliable places to park where the risk of losing one’s vehicle is low is a major concern. It is also true that people who shelter in a vehicle are often less connected to services and thus fall through the cracks of the Continuum of Care set up to deliver services to people experiencing homelessness.
This is where the proven model of Safe Parking comes in. Safe Parking recognizes a vehicle as a stabilizing resource for a person experiencing homelessness and meets the need for a safe, reliable place to park, while offering services such as case management, mental health services, resource navigation, connections to medical care, and job coaching. Faith communities, nonprofits, and homeless service providers partner together to extend resources to people sheltering in their car.
Colorado Safe Parking Initiative has organized to bring together these resources in our state. To date they expect to have nine Safe Parking sites up and running by the end of year in municipalities including Longmont, Broomfield, Arvada, Golden, and soon Denver. CSPI hopes to open at least twelve more sites next year.
Communities of faith, particularly those with lots of parking space that goes unused for much of the week, will play a vital role in this initiative. Will you consider bringing this initiative to your faith community and connecting with the CSPI? If so, I would love to have a conversation with you. You can simply reply to this message, or click here to email me (Kathleen) directly.
Sheltering in vehicles is often a first stop for individuals who lose permanent housing. Without intervention and support, many fall deeper into homelessness and may eventually end up on the streets. As winter approaches and the COVID-19 pandemic continues apace there is an urgent need for our unhoused neighbors to find safe, stable, resource rich options where they can keep themselves and their families safe from the elements as well as coronavirus.
Thank you for your commitment to serving our community and your continued partnership with Interfaith Alliance of Colorado.
Onward,
Dr. Kathleen Van Voorhis & Logan Robertson
The Interfaith Alliance of Colorado
Interfaith Alliance of Colorado