Colorado's Tent City, Not What Tourists Want to See
As a result many people have wound up homeless.
In my area, the homeless are not spotted often.
Occasionally a person holding a sign stating they will work for food can be spotted and that is about the extent of what I am used to viewing.
However this week I saw something that apparently has become common in many areas of the country.
A group of homeless people living on the banks of Fountain Creek near the intersection of United States Highway 24 and Interstate 25 in Colorado Springs.
Tents of all colors could be seen lining the creek bed with people milling around outside in temperatures that dropped into the 20s at night.
The images reminded me of those seen in Haiti following the earthquake.
The friend I was visiting told me that many crimes have occurred in the camp that is known to the locals as Tent City.
My friend said that one of his friends, a deputy, had responded to the area three times during a 12 hour shift for reported assaults.
While some locals feel bad for the homeless, others believe that most are there as a result of their own doing.
My friend told me that many are believed to have chosen the lifestyle because they were tired of the hustle and bustle of the 9-5 rat race.
Whatever the reason, the fact is many are living outside in cold weather not far from one of America's popular tourist attractions, Pike's Peak.
My friend said the city recently placed portable restrooms along the creek banks for the people.
A story posted on the KOAA-TV Web site tells the story of some of the people living in the Tent City.
Another article published on
The Colorado Springs Independent's Web site tells the story of a man that has become a leader of the tent community.
Other published articles spotlight that the tent community is referred to by some as Obamaville while others believe that the homeless are a legacy left behind by President George Bush.
My thought is, lets stop worrying about who is to blame and instead work together to find a solution. The energy going in to explaining reasons to blame the presidents could be used in a much more positive way.
I traveled to the Colorado Springs area to see what is considered by many a must see area of the country.
In addition to seeing the beauty of mother nature shining through Pike's Peak and its mountain friends, I saw what seems like the continuing decline of America.
Published by Marie Lowe
I have a degree in journalism and work for a daily newspaper. In 2005 I was honored as the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Journalist of the Year. Have just entered the fourth year of my mother's battle with ovarian... View profile
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19 Comments
Post a CommentExcellent writing. I have heard of this particular tent city from my daughter-in-law. I think it is a crime that in this country people have to live in tents.
Continued: The mess of our health Insurance industry contributed to job loss and increasing homelessness. There is an AC writer who got hurt on the job and wrote about his problems with his Insurance, which lead to he and his family becoming homeless. The family did not end up street living like so many others in his situation.
Continued: It was under Bill Clinton's terms of office that workers began losing jobs due to outsourcing, downsizing and restructuring. It got worse during President Bush's terms with even higher unemployment and record breaking numbers of foreclosures.
To blame presidents for homelessness is far-fetched, except in the case of war veterans. Iraqi war vets have becoming homeless much faster than veterans of the Vietnam war. In my lifetime there have always been recessions.
Clinton is the one that gave our jobs away! It is just pathetic how we voted him twice to give our jobs away and W how he messed up my life and now this obamama he is just pure destruction definately.
What a shame this country is suffering and still the prez wants to give our ssi to the mexicans who do not pay taxes leaving our own out in the cold homeless this way is a crime you know I believe he should be impeached.
Burr that is cold! I see now I can vote I am voting now for you thank you so much for guiding me this new ac is very confusing with this fibromyalgia makes me just very stupid you know.
Interesting, well done piece.
Wow, I bet it was incredible to see although sad. I knew nothing of this, thank you so much for sharing Marie.
excellent point. At this time, it is a waste to bklame, its what to do from here