The Buildout

Homelessness Part II: Rural Communities Take Action
On our second episode focused on responses to homelessness, we hit the highway, away from Colorado’s densely populated cities and downtowns to rural communities in the southwestern part of the state. The affordable housing crisis is just as dire in cities like Durango or Cortez, but in many cases, they face greater challenges when it comes to increasing the supply of affordable housing.
When it comes to reaching people, rural housing insecurity tends to be more hidden away; it’s not uncommon for people experiencing homelessness to couch surf, or to live in their cars. This can make it harder to assess the need, which can then make it more difficult to get the necessary resources.
But these challenges have only inspired creative, collaborative strategies. In this episode, we hear from a soup kitchen that is way more than just a soup kitchen, and an organization building relationships throughout the region to better serve those in the greatest need.
Links to resources you heard about in this episode:
- Get Involved with Manna Soup Kitchen
- Learn more about Project Moxie
- Learn about the Neighbors in Need Alliance
- Read NINA and Project Moxie’s 2022 Unhoused Count and Survey
- Colorado’s Affordable Housing Toolkit
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