Cheyenne sees uptick in homelessness

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - The homeless population has grown significantly in Cheyenne over the past year, according to area shelters.

"A lot of people are struggling," said Teresa Garrido, executive director of COMEA House, a Cheyenne shelter that provides beds and food for those in need.

Garrido says unlike in years past, COMEA is often at capacity.

"There are even nights when our overflow area is full and we just pull out mattresses and put them on the floor in the cafeteria so that they have somewhere warm to sleep at least," Garrido said.

The numbers clearly demonstrate the need.

In April of 2008, 932 people spent the night at COMEA. In April of this year, 1,518 stayed over.

To Garrido, the most troubling part is that families make up a good number of the new clients.

"It's difficult to watch the little kids who come through and are homeless," Garrido said. "Homelessness is a difficult situation for anybody but when you're younger that's all you know and it's sad to see and it's definitely out there."

Virginia Sellner, executive director of the Wyoming Coalition for the Homeless, says the trouble is statewide, mainly because of the economy.

"We have heard about people saying that they came here, got lured here because of job opportunities then when they got here there weren't any," Sellner said.

Garrido says the positive to come out of all this is that donations have matched the need, but she worries whether people will be able to remain that generous in the months ahead.

"We need more resources to maintain that and make sure everybody that needs help is getting the help," she said.

Garrido hopes the shelter's 5K race this Saturday will bring in the money needed to keep offering help through the holidays.