Homeless Union leads collaborative trail cleanup
City Councilor participates on her birthday
On July 12, the Colorado Springs Homeless Union led its monthly cleanup of the section of public trail the group adopted last year near Dorchester Park. Hope COS and Richard's Rubbish Roundup contributed to the effort, and Wacky Waffles was there under the umbrella of Food Trucks Against Homelessness. The City of Colorado Springs provided a dumpster.
On a table with water and snacks for volunteers, there was also a birthday cake. The birthday volunteer was Colorado Springs City Councilor Nancy Henjum.
"I so appreciate the work that the Homeless Union is doing to be a part of the solution in keeping Colorado Springs clean" Henjum said as she collected bits of trash from an underpass, adding that she appreciates the work they are doing in general.
Henjum also expressed appreciation for the Union's work to increase access to public restrooms, not just for those who are unhoused but for everyone.
And, she noted, "The bigger challenge is, 'how do we help find permanent housing for people that are experiencing homelessness?' That is a much bigger challenge that requires more than the City … it's a really significant challenge that we're trying to address."
Homeless Union organizer Kandy Lewis said she appreciated the City providing a dumpster for the day, but that there is an ongoing need for more public trash disposal options as well as access to public restrooms.
