KKTV11: With a large military community in Colorado Springs, the city tends to also see a high population of veterans experiencing homelessness. That’s why several organizations work to help those vets find housing and resources.
Earlier this year, the annual Point in Time survey saw a rise in homelessness as a whole; of those who were counted, the survey found that around 11% of those experiencing homelessness were veterans.
While homelessness itself is a nuanced issue, veterans tend to face a particularly unique challenge, one that Khristopher Thomas said he knows well.
“For me, adjusting to civilian life was hard because you have to figure out everything on your own,” Thomas said. “At that point, nothing’s predetermined for you. Yeah, in the military, you’re taught to think on the fly, but most things are predetermined for you.”
Thomas said he served in the Army and the Marines, retiring in 2008. Soon after retirement, he said he began struggling with substance abuse.
“I didn’t possess the tools necessary to cope with what life was throwing at me,” he said.
Years later, he said he was able to begin his recovery journey, culminating in him accepting a position as a case manager at Homeward Pikes Peak.
“Homeward Pikes Peak has been in the community for over 23 years, providing recovery, housing and community collaboration in our community,” CEO Beth Roalstad explained.
Roalstad said tackling veteran homelessness is a unique challenge, which is why she hires people like Thomas who understand the struggle.
“Our staff member, Khris, is really able to translate his personal experience and to build empathy with those veterans who find themselves homeless, as well,” she said.
Thomas said his goal is to provide the resources he could have used when he first left service.
“My recovery journey,” Thomas said, “it kind of guides everything I do now.”
Throughout the past few years, Thomas and Roalstad said they believe Colorado Springs has made major strides in helping the veteran community. Roalstad said they went from being one of few veteran-focused resources to being part of a larger network providing care and resources.
This includes, she said, building apartments to help house veterans either experiencing homelessness or facing the threat of homelessness. The city has also built a community for vets, which Thomas said is absolutely crucial for those leaving the service.
“I struggled in life being separated from my fellow comrades and the community as a whole,” he said. “Working here has reconnected me to the entire community.”
But the most recent figure showing how many vets are still homeless shows Roalstad that there is still work to be done.
“I think we all recognize that Colorado Springs and El Paso County has a housing shortage for the very low income, as does much of Colorado,” she said. “And we all need to be working on the little pieces of it to narrow that gap.”
Roalstad said Homeward Pikes Peak is working toward building more housing for veterans.
Despite the strides yet to happen, Thomas said he believes the growth in aid for the veteran community has been inspiring.
“Honestly, in Colorado Springs, it feels good to be a veteran. The community itself always shows up for the vets,” he said.
If you are a veteran in need of help, you can reach Homeward Pikes Peak here, or call them at (719) 473-5557.
Help is also available 24/7 through the Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You can call 988 and dial extension 1 for specialized veteran services.