Noreen had been tipped off that Keep Colorado Springs Beautiful was in the business of raiding homeless camps and throwing away what few possessions the homeless have. They throw away sleeping bags, clothes, sheltering materials and even the identification documents Catholic Charities helps homeless people obtain.
Dee Cunningham, executive director of Keep Colorado Springs Beautiful, confirmed with Noreen that anything belonging to the homeless is fair game during the organization’s routine transient sweeps. Thankfully, the law says otherwise and it should be enforced.
Cunningham said her organization supports the “hand-up not hand-out” philosophy of Homeward Pikes Peak. Homeward is the organization that tells us “don’t give” to the homeless, and instead channel our money through agencies with high-paid professional staffs and government subsidies. Apparently, “hand-up not hand-out” justifies a variety of uncharitable acts, including destruction and disposal of personal possessions and unwarranted searches.
Neither Homeward Pikes Peak nor Keep Colorado Springs Beautiful should criticize handouts, as each is the recipient of handouts. Each receives government handouts as well as private handouts. Keep Colorado Springs Beautiful is slated to receive $42,300 from the city’s 2009 general fund, after receiving $45,000 in 2008. Transients sometimes ask for money, but Keep Colorado Springs Beautiful gets its from money the city takes through taxation. And remember, this is the city that plans to lay off some 90 employees in coming months.
A.