Variety of solutions

As an editor of newspapers in multiple counties, sometimes I feel like I get a front-row seat to the problems and proposed solutions owing through the Denver metro area. One of those major problems is homelessness.

It’s been interesting over the last year to watch how each municipality and county has chosen to view the growing crisis.

In Arapahoe County, I have been impressed with the proactive, somewhat uni ed, approach many are taking. Littleton, Centennial, Sheridan and Englewood clearly care on a regional level about working together and solo to address the growing crisis.

Littleton continues to take the lead, hosting forums and really working with neighbors to talk about what’s happening. In a recent forum, Littleton gave business owners, community leaders and residents the opportunity to talk about the issues.

Of course, business owners are concerned when the homeless may interfere with their ability to conduct business and if the crisis continues to grow — those voices will get louder.

I was also impressed with a forum where a man who had been homeless and struggling talked about the path back. He talked about his struggles and shared a story we all need to hear. We all say we know it’s a problem — but without a face — we just look at the negatives and want it gone.

What this man did in this forum was personalize a national problem. Our homeless population is made up of human beings who should not be tossed aside like trash. ey are not all associated with criminal behavior and our reporters have talked to many of whom are just down on

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To subscribe call 303-566-4100 their luck and falling through a variety of trapdoors that get them stuck. en, we have Douglas County. I can be hard on Douglas County sometimes because I’m not always a fan of the self-care approach to a regional issue. Will a camping ban really work? Is it fair to ship the homeless back into the heart of the metro area? elma Grimes is the south metro editor for Colorado Community Media.

Centennial has hired a homeless coordinator to address the issue head-on.

In Denver, the new mayor jumped out of the gates declaring the homeless crisis an emergency. Hopefully that declaration turns into an approach that includes working with the metro area.

Aurora’s mayor has raised concerns over this practice and rightfully so.

A problem isn’t solved when one area wants to shove it out of sight and claims it isn’t a problem in their county. A problem is solved when all counties and municipalities start admitting it’s a problem for the entire area and clear, united solutions are needed.

I get the concerns. When I drive home in the evenings and see growing homeless camps along the interstate — I get frustrated. When a homeless woman takes o her shirt and my children are watching at a red light — I have concerns.

However, I do not think forcibly moving them to where I do not see them anymore means the problem is gone for me. e problem is there and even with e ort — is going to grow increasingly visible in every city, town and county in the metro area until a true, united e ort is on track.

To those counties and towns already doing it — I say great job. To others — I say the problem is not going away just because you push them out with a policy.

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

MICHAEL DE YOANNA

Editor-in-Chief michael@coloradocommunitymedia.com

THELMA GRIMES South Metro Editor tgrimes@coloradocommunitymedia.com