COMMUNITY FEATURE hidden and away from people as much as possible. Jones set up his own camp and is proud of his self-sufficiency. “The police came and asked me to move but I didn’t want to. I have everything I need here and I don’t bother anyone. I wish [the police] would leave me alone,” Jones said. Bolt said more than 25% of St. Benedict residents have moved into homes or apartments. La Puente’s most recent count of unhoused individuals in the Valley recorded the fewest number of unhoused individuals on record, according to Bolt. There are more factors contributing to the success than just the St. Benedict camp, but she believes the camp played an important role. MAKING IT TO THE SPRINGS St. Benedict played a significant role in helping Buchanan and Plunkett get off the street. They both found jobs while living at the camp. Buchanan also connected with behavioral health services at the San Luis Valley Behavioral Health Group and began receiving therapy for trauma from her childhood and first marriage. “I was depressed, and didn’t realize it. I was living with GRIZZLY HAS FOUND COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN THE ST. BENEDICT ENCAMPMENT. there for them too.” Vigil said those experiencing homelessness in Alamosa are primarily from the San Luis Valley. A few of the people, like Plunkett and Buchanan, are traveling to Alamosa to seek services. Coleman sees the St. Benedict camp as a way for the Alamosa community to take care of its people. “What I really like about the Valley is we really protect our own and support our own. There has been some opposition, but really I have seen this community step up and help these folks, and I know we can continue to try and change lives,” Vigil said. Vigil said most people understand that if the camp is closed or the city provides less support to those experiencing homelessness, then the unsanctioned camping will pop up near the river and in other public places. Vigil wants to see the City of Alamosa do more to help people recover from homelessness. “Providing people a place to stay for one year is good. But I worry that it’s not good enough, because the Valley doesn’t have a lot of programs for people to move to from the camp,” Vigil said. “The camp’s not enough because it doesn’t really give people the security they need to find a job, get a home, and move on with their lives.” A COMMUNITY, BOTH GOOD AND BAD For Christina Bolt with LaPuenta, the camp’s most important service is creating a community for individuals going through a shared experience. “I don’t think that growth ever happens in isolation. In my life, most of my growth has happened when I’ve had a good community around me,” Bolt said. “I think that when people have other folks to rely on and to go to, it sparks a desire to grow and change.” Bolt said she has seen people become more motivated to enroll in services, work with a case manager, or try to find a job. The communal nature of the camp has also led to fewer deaths among the unhoused. “We have seen very few overdose deaths at the camp. Our folks are in community and able to help with Narcan quickly and effectively,” Bolt said. “We have not had any deaths POPEYE WEARS A CROSS AROUND HIS NECK AT ALL TIMES. HE SAID HE DOESN’T CONSIDER ST. BENEDICT AN ENCAMPMENT, HE SEES IT AS A HOME. because of exposure out there, either, because if you are not prepared for the winter, people out there will give you tips on how to survive the cold.” But the community in the camp doesn’t work for everyone. Bolt said it can be hard to live in close proximity under stressful circumstances. The La Puente outreach team continues to serve a small number of individuals who are illegally camped around Alamosa. Lilelk Dyapp Jones said he has refused to move to the camp because he doesn’t feel safe living near other people. “Being around other people can be toxic for me, “Jones said. According to Jones, he has had bad experiences with the police and other people living on the street, so he tries to stay ADHD and PTSD and trying to make it on my own without realizing I was sick,” Buchanan said. “I was constantly having anxiety attacks, and I didn’t even know it. I thought it was normal. It was no wonder my life was a mess.” Buchanan and Plunkett left the camp to live in an RV. They had some negative interactions with the police because of their wood-fired stove, and they felt leaving the camp was their only option. But the two continued to participate in case management, behavioral health, and other services they signed up for while living at St. Benedict. In time, they received a housing voucher and an apartment. Buchanan’s time at the camp even created the opportunity for her to attend college. She is studying to be a vet technician. They moved to Colorado Springs in November so she could finish her clinical work and graduate. “I’m glad I’m in school and have a future,” Buchanan said. “God must have wanted me to come to Alamosa, to [St. Benedict] so I could get help and get therapy and get housing and go to school and end up in Colorado Springs after all.” January 2025 DENVER VOICE 11
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