Reply #19: We go on VA recommendations on this one because of the numbers... [View All]

[politicat]

in the area. Denver has one of the largest VA hospitals in the US, and thus tends to attract vets who may or may not be able to maintain their stability. Since a lot are still under care, I do not want to undermine that care; my dad's a vet who has mental issues arising from his service and I know how easily it is for something as simple as a bottle to undermine that care. The YMCA still has a residence hall in the area, so we have, from time to time, purchased a week's shelter there and gifted it to someone.

In Boulder, the shelter has overflow space on very cold nights as well as their regular space. We give a lot to that shelter, and buy heavy sleeping bags in the spring when they go on clearance and give them to the shelter.

The problem in my area is that we have a decent number of trustafarians - relatively rich young'uns who choose to panhandle, then hop in mom's SUV and go off to soccer practice. It has become fashionable to be poor and homeless among the rich and well-housed, and it is often difficult to tell the difference for a layperson. (Not a problem with older folks, who get the majority of our gifts.)