Colorado Springs nonprofit aims to change public perception of homelessness
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — "Colorado Springs is a tourist city,” explained Bernice Mulvihill. “I used to be proud to be from here. And now how I view the city is: It's beautiful on the skin, but below the surface, it's ugly.”
Mulvihill is passionate about helping those who are struggling with housing. She volunteers and helps organize for the nonprofit Spreading Smiles and Sandwiches, an organization dedicated to change the public perceptions of those experiencing homelessness. The organization is founded by Drew and Christina Hausfeld, a Colorado Springs couple passionate about helping those experiencing homelessness.
Since 2016, volunteers for Spreading Smiles and Sandwiches have come together at Dorchester Park on the second Sunday of every month to help hand out supplies to displaced people. At these meet-ups, volunteers distribute a hot lunch, a to-go lunch, granola bars, water, clothing, shoes, sanitary items, compassion, and additional resources to help those living on the street.
Mulvihill is from Colorado Springs and has lived in the city since 1995. When she rented her first apartment in the Springs, rent was about $244 each month, and that was for a fully furnished apartment. She said she was able to pay rent and utilities on a job that paid $5/hour (just over federal minimum wage at the time). Today, Mulvihill said surviving on that wage and finding an apartment at that price would be something out of a science fiction movie. The average rent in Colorado Springs, according to a recent study, is above $1,300/month.
Mulvihill also shared she recently went through a divorce, and experience that led her to realize how expensive the cost of living has become.
"When I was going through my divorce, I found out I could no longer afford to live here in Colorado Springs. I found out that I couldn't even qualify for an apartment," Mulvihill said. "Living in a house...homeowners become blind to everything that is going on outside of their bubble. Once I was out in the community and started building relationships with the homeless, many of them told me that they had jobs. Still, the money they were making wasn't enough to sustain living in Colorado Springs, which blew me away."
Tamara Clark-Wagner, a SWAP (School to Work Alliance Program) specialist with Pikes Peak Board of Cooperative Education Services, occasionally volunteers with Spreading Smiles and Sandwiches. As a SWAP specialist, she helps young adults with career development, pre-employment transition services, and other forms of social work.
Clark-Wagner works in several Colorado Springs schools, and she shared that Pikes Peak BOCES research shows over 10,000 kids in District 11 schools are experiencing homelessness.
"Some of the biggest misconceptions people have about the homeless population is many think they're all on drugs, they're lazy, dangerous, they don't want to work, and chose to be on the streets," Clark-Wagner said. "I want people to realize that the homeless populations are our brothers and sisters, they are our people, and we need to take care of them."
In addition, Spreading Smiles and Sandwiches often partners with other like-minded nonprofits, like Paws It Forward.
Connie Panko, the founder of Paw It Forward, started the organization three years ago. Paws It Forward provides free leashes, collars, harnesses, pet food dishes, spay and neuter services, and most importantly pet food to people (and their pets) who are experiencing homelessness.
"If I can help a dog or cat, I'm helping the owner," Panko explained.
"Pets provide companionship, trust, loyalty, warmth, and safety in the winter to their owners," Panko said. "I've driven through the streets and have noticed owners have one blanket, and the blanket is on the dog. If I can provide a blanket for the owner's dog, then the owner can keep a blanket for themselves."
Panko said pets could act as an alarm to wake up a sleeping owner in the case of danger.
"There are people who don't feel the homeless should not have a pet unless they have a home, but what most fail to realize is, the people they see on the street had a home and had the dog first, and take their pet with them," Panko said. "So, who am I to judge? I'm not here to judge. I'm here to help."
Mulvihill mentioned that she had spent time at homeless campsites for many years, and with each visit, she felt a greater sense of trust with the people she encountered.
"Once they had that trust in me, they were real. A lot of the time, the people around us are fake," Mulvihill said. "I've done a lot of work in the campsites. One day at the campsites, I observed the people there and noticed they had a whole community. I remember seeing a group of people working together on a bike. One person was fixing the chain, one on the motor, and one had a saw. Long story short, I saw that they had the skills! More skills than homeowners."
Mulvihill said since she almost became homeless herself, her most important message to everyone is: "Anybody can end up in this situation. It could happen to you."
Spreading Smiles and Sandwiches is always looking for donations, whether it's food, toiletries, or clothing. You can email cvegasgirl@gmail.com to learn how you can donate to their cause.
Paw It Forward is also appreciative of donations like pet food, leashes, etc. You can email pawitforwardpif@gmail.com to learn how to donate.
Lindsey Ford is a multimedia journalist at Rocky Mountain PBS. You can reach her at lindseyford@rmpbs.org.
Julio Sandoval is a multimedia journalist at Rocky Mountain PBS. You can reach him at juliosandoval@rmpbs.org.