Building a stronger community, together
- Gina Cathcart
- 3 minutes ago
- 4 min read
If you spend enough time on social media, you'll find no shortage of people willing to tell you what's wrong with our community. Homelessness. Crime. Addiction. Vacant buildings. Struggling neighborhoods. The problems are easy to see, and most of us agree they deserve attention. What is much harder—and far more important—is deciding what we're willing to do about them. Real change rarely begins with criticism. It begins when people come together, roll up their sleeves and become part of the solution.
As election season approaches, it is easy to look for one person to blame for homelessness, crime, addiction or the challenges facing our community. The reality, however, is that these issues are far more complex than any one elected official can solve. Sheriffs help keep communities safe, operate county jails and enforce laws within their jurisdiction. Police departments investigate crimes and respond to public safety concerns. Mayors, city councils and county commissioners establish budgets, set priorities, and support programs that impact housing, public health, and economic development. Judges apply the law and oversee cases that come through the court system. Each play an important role, but none can single-handedly end homelessness, eliminate crime, cure addiction or repair broken families. These challenges are influenced by housing availability, mental health resources, substance abuse treatment, education, employment opportunities, family stability and community support systems.
Pueblo has a visible homelessness problem–it is not unique, however. Communities across the country—including much larger cities like Denver, Colorado Springs, Albuquerque, Phoenix and Seattle—are struggling with the same issues. According to the latest national data, roughly 745,000 Americans were experiencing homelessness on any single night in January 2025. Colorado has seen significant increases in homelessness in recent years. The 2024 Colorado Point-in-Time count found 18,715 people experiencing homelessness, up from 14,439 the year before.
It is reasonable to hold elected officials accountable for the responsibilities they actually have. It is less reasonable to blame a sheriff for problems that no sheriff, anywhere in America, can solve alone. Homelessness, addiction, mental illness and crime are community challenges that require law enforcement, schools, nonprofits, churches, businesses, treatment providers and citizens working together.
Housing is essential, of course. But when you look deeper, many people experiencing homelessness have also lost connections—to family, employment, treatment, education, faith communities, support systems, or a sense of belonging. The same can be said for crime.
Most people don't wake up one morning and decide to become addicted. Most children don't grow up hoping to join gangs. Most people don't aspire to live on the streets. Somewhere along the way, something broke down: a family, a support system, a treatment opportunity, a school connection, a job or the hope itself for something better, something different.
That's why communities matter.
Homelessness, addiction and crime are not signs that Pueblo is uniquely broken. They are challenges facing communities throughout America. What will distinguish Pueblo is not whether we have problems, but whether we have the courage to come together and address them.
If we want a safer Pueblo twenty years from now, we need to invest in Pueblo's children today. Every child who has a mentor, a caring teacher, a supportive coach, a safe home or a trusted adult is one more child with a greater chance of building a healthy future.
Imagine if every adult committed to one act of service? If we truly want to strengthen our community, there are countless ways to make a difference. We can volunteer with organizations like the Boys & Girls Club, mentor a child, tutor a student, donate school supplies, sponsor youth activities, or simply become a trusted adult in a young person's life. We can support seniors by volunteering at senior centers, visiting those who may be isolated, assisting with meals, transportation or companionship and helping ensure that our elderly neighbors remain connected to the community. We can also support those experiencing homelessness by volunteering at shelters, donating clothing and necessities, supporting food programs, assisting with job readiness efforts or contributing to organizations that provide housing, mental health services and addiction recovery support.
Not everyone can solve homelessness. Not everyone can prevent crime. Not everyone can change a life overnight. But every one of us can do something. Strong communities are not built by politicians alone. They are built by neighbors helping neighbors, by people who choose to provide service to others and by individuals who care enough to invest their time, talents and resources into the lives of others. If we want a healthier, safer and stronger Pueblo tomorrow, one of the best things we can do today is support our children, seniors and vulnerable members of our community who need us most.
Will homelessness disappear? No.
Will crime disappear? No.
Will Pueblo be stronger? Absolutely.
A stronger Pueblo starts with stronger people. And stronger people are built through stronger families, stronger neighborhoods and a community that chooses to care. The opposite of homelessness is not housing. The opposite of homelessness is community.
Gina Paradiso Cathcart is the director of CareCorner In-Home Care. It is Women-Owned and Operated. She is a healthcare educator and passionate about service to others and quality of life issues. She can be reached at ginaparadiso@carecorner.org
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