Directing some Colorado pot tax money to homeless programs is a good call
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper has a plan for dealing with rising homelessness that we hope lawmakers will take seriously in the coming legislative session.
For the need is real. Its not just a feeling that more and more homeless are appearing on our streets and urban trails. According to federal statistics, Colorado saw a 6 percent increase in homelessness in 2016, a rise that is among the fastest in the country. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates the Colorado homeless population to be more than 10,000, well below the states supply of 7,000 beds meant to deal with the issue.
In Denver, the problem has led to large homeless camps near a downtown shelter. The Downtown Denver Partnership this year even hired a private security firm to deal with more aggressive panhandling, and police have added more officers to the area.
Yet the challenges remain.
The governor proposes drawing $12.3 million from state tax proceeds on recreational marijuana to build housing units for both chronic and episodic homelessness, as recently reported by The Denver Posts John Frank. Another $6 million a year would bolster housing for low-income residents and those with behavioral needs.
Thats serious money, and it would be directed to the kinds of tried-and-tested programs geared to getting folks off the streets and into stable environments that can be life-changing. As a former Denver mayor who has seen how difficult it can be to tackle homeless issues, Hickenlooper is tying his on-the-ground experience to a funding stream that seems more than appropriate.
The plan with its focus on job training, addiction counseling and services for the mentally ill strikes us as one that could do some real, noticeable good. And as Hickenloopers budget director, Henry Sobanet, tells us, this is a strategy that could be flexible in its ongoing scope and size.
Yes, of the many factors that lead to homelessness, pot isnt a leader. Other, more addictive ...
