There are enough homeless students in Westminster to fill 40 classrooms. This fact means that more than 1,000 students in our community are homeless or unstably housed. There are also over 500 other individuals experiencing homelessness within the City. The Westminster Legacy Foundation and community members working with the unhoused have convened a study group - to examine this issue in depth and consider best practices and alternatives for the Westminster community. As this Study Group delves farther into the impact on Westminster’s unhoused students, we will endeavor to support them by providing necessities to make it easier for them to focus on their academics.
In addition to participating in the Study Group, these concerned community members also work and/or volunteer their time to help feed, cloth and assist with finding necessary resources, such as, health care, new ID or social security cards or emergency shelter. These tasks seem mundane yet to our unhoused neighbors, they are extremely challenging. One of the biggest barriers is a lack of a permanent address for an ID card and/or to receive their documentation. Without these basic forms of identification, it is almost impossible for the unhoused to find a job, get health care and so much more. Furthermore, without places to shower and launder their clothes or even find appropriate clothes to look for a job, then they are again at a serious disadvantage. These are some of the issues being researched and discussed with the Study Group.
If you would like to join our Study Group, please email namartin@westminsterco.gov!
If you would like to make a donation to support basic needs for Westminster’s unhoused neighbors, please follow this link. One of the biggest needs is support for the only 2 food pantries left in the southern part of Westminster. Each pantry serves hundreds of food insecure and unhoused neighbors each month in this area.
