At least 120 displaced people live in La Plata County
Clockwise Veterans Larry Jelinek, Greg Dotson, William Brooks, Butch Krim, Skip Ferguson, and John Jerrett hold a meeting Thursday at the La Plata County Veterans Outreach Center. McBride/Durango Herald)
According to those who provide support services to veterans in Durango, the biggest obstacles veterans face in returning to a “normal” lifestyle are self-esteem, mental illness and mistrust of family society. Most of them just want to be left alone.
The La Plata County Veterans Outreach Office is seeking all assistance it can get to continue providing access to food, clothing, and other services for homeless veterans in the area.
The company confirmed Thursday that it will receive more than $18,000 in donations for operating expenses, according to VOC’s Rockling Scott. This is his first donation since 2018.
The donation came from the Summit Church of the United Methodist Church in Durango, said William Brooks, commander of the Silver San Juan Chapter #48 of American Disabled Veterans.
“We were very frugal,” said Scott. “With that in mind, without this grant, we would have had about six months to open and would have had to sell the space.”
A fellow board member of Brooks said the donation was good news.
Anyone interested in helping the organization can call directly at (970) 317-5718, said Lochling Scott, who helps drive transportation services for the Veterans Outreach Office in La Plata County. said.
The small center can supply clothing and food and help people access health and treatment services, but community support is sorely lacking and more storage is needed, Brooks said. said.
The Neighbors in Need Alliance, a nonprofit that conducted La Plata County’s out-of-housing count and survey announced in July, determined that at least 400 homeless people live in La Plata County, according to the VOC. At least 120 of them are veterans.
VOC board member Skip Ferguson is angered by the city of Durango and La Plata County closing the unmanaged Purple Cliffs camp and failing to take steps to help displaced homeless communities .
However, he also states that the inhabitants of Purplecliffe should have been responsible for their traces on the land there.
He said someone needs to hold the homeless accountable at weekly check-ins. Essential for supporting the veterans community.
“If you live on top of that mountain and you have a manic depression or an anxiety disorder, there’s only one place to go and it’s down,” Brooks said.
Veteran William Brooks, commanding officer of Disabled American Veterans Silver San Juan Chapter #48, speaks at a conference held at the La Plata County Veterans Outreach Center on Thursday. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Veteran John Jerrett speaks at a conference held Thursday at the La Plata County Veterans Outreach Center. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Brooks said there is a “fine line” between enabling and helping those who distrust society and prefer the streets.
“They may have many needs, but what will move them forward to something functional and at least help them get their lives on track? Maybe not to stay in Durango?” I can’t,” he said.
Brooks was homeless in 2014 and said, “It was a very difficult time.”
To finally find housing, he said, he had to find self-esteem.
“There are some people who are down, down, down, down,” he said. “They have been disappointed. They have failed. They are disillusioned with the system. And they start to lose faith in the whole and then in themselves.”
Skip said the VA office was understaffed and lacked adequate funding.
David, a homeless Persian Gulf War veteran who declined to disclose his last name, said many homeless veterans from Durango served in Afghanistan.
“They still have itchy skin,” he said.
“The easiest way I can explain it is that I’m not really a good person,” he said. A man with a family and kids can never get it together.It took me 10 years to get over it.”
He said veterans are too often treated with pills instead of therapy and other mental health services.
“One NFL football player earns as much as he spends on his education in-state,” he said. “He can pay this guy $40 million, but without lead he can’t get books and buildings and pay his teachers? But he needs a raise and he gets 10 more.” do I have to?”
Brooks said it is difficult for members of the homeless community to access specialized mental health care.
For the Veterans Outreach Center in La Plata County, agents can use more coats, Scott said.
Coats, trousers, boots, sleeping bags and non-perishable foods are all welcome with VOCs, but no toothpaste, David said.
Williams and Scott also said they needed donated coats. This is to collect more items to lend to those in need.
