The mayor of a city in Colorado pretended to be homeless for a week: why does he need it - ForumDaily
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The mayor of a city in Colorado pretended to be homeless for a week: why does he need it

Aurora, Colorado Mayor Mike Coffman pretended to be homeless to learn why homelessness is growing and what he can do as mayor to address it. More details about the unusual experiment told the publication CBS Denver.

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The mayor went undercover for a week to live among the homeless in Aurora and Denver. He wanted to get answers to his questions directly from the homeless themselves. So he became one of them by taking a week off for that.

“I will write to you periodically,” he told political scientist Sean Boyd as he set out the day after Christmas with a backpack, hat, mask and military uniform. He had no money or food. - I will spend this week on the street. Because of my military background, I spent a lot of time outside in pretty harsh conditions, so I know my limits.”

“What story are you going there with?” Boyd asked.

“I’m a homeless veteran,” he replied. “I have an ID in case I get injured.”

“Be careful,” Boyd told him.

For seven days and nights, Coffman stayed in shelters and shelters for the homeless, sleeping under a tarp in low temperatures.

“I think this is a really difficult problem,” he told Boyd before leaving. “I don’t think many politicians like me understand this.” I have to find answers to many questions: where is their income? how do they exist? what kind of people live in homeless camps?”

On the subject: 'Do not lose faith in a miracle': how an immigrant from Ukraine supports the homeless in Colorado

The responses were overwhelming.

According to him, the camps are made up of avid drug addicts who have formed communities even with informal leaders.

“These homeless people are not a result of the economy or COVID-19. They are not victims of rents or housing. They are part of the drug culture,” the mayor explained.

According to him, this culture includes mostly young people who, he is convinced, openly use methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine, while many well-meaning people provide them with money, food and other basic necessities.

“It’s just amazing that people want to help and think this cause is righteous,” Coffman said. — I remember one of the first homeless people I encountered in the camp. I asked, “Where do you get food?” He initially changed his mind and then responded, “People bring us food.” And I didn’t believe it at first.”

Then, the mayor assured, he saw this happen more than once.

“I think the first car had homemade chicken noodle soup, which was incredible, and banana nut bread, which was also amazing. And 30 minutes later another car arrived with bread and muffins for dessert - everything was homemade. I’m convinced that they don’t even imagine what’s going on in these places.”

“Is this not due to lack of housing?” Boyd asked him.

“Yes, exactly,” he replied. “It’s because of the lifestyle, and a very dangerous lifestyle.”

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Although drug use is prohibited in the shelters where he stayed, most do not search residents, Coffman said. He sent reporters a photo of hypodermic needles on the floor of the bunk below him. According to him, people in the shelter are usually older, receive checks due to disability and do not plan to support themselves on their own.

“The widest category of residents of such shelters are people who have problems with drugs and alcohol. When they get used to this way of life, decades pass and they don’t move on.”

In a sense, he says, it is easier for those who live in shelters to be addicted than self-sufficient.

Coffman believes that many of the people he met came from abroad, and some of them have mental health problems that prevent them from having regular jobs. Most of them can work, but they don't work, he said.

“In my opinion, this is a growing problem in the United States and we have to confront it, we have to be honest about it. This is an extraordinary problem, and solving it will require a different vision,” Coffman said.

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