Mental illness is a big factor in Cheyenne's homeless population

Oct. 06--CHEYENNE -- Two Cheyenne Police officers shared information with about 30 people Wednesday to help them better understand ways to interact with those who suffer from mental illness and substance abuse.

This interaction extends to the area's homeless people, as many are mentally ill and have substance abuse problems.

Nationally, 46 percent of the homeless with severe mental illnesses also have substance abuse disorders.

And because of Cheyenne's location on the Transcontinental Railroad and at the intersection of two major interstates, the city sees an annual influx of transients who pass through town on their way to other places, according to a news release from the police department.

Reserve Cheyenne Police Officer Constant Marquer and CPD Officer Joann Young presented ways to help people better communicate with the homeless population here.

The number of homeless people around Cheyenne has increased, Marquer said.

Based on a "point-in-time count" in January 2015, there were 171 homeless people in Cheyenne.

In January 2016, that number increased to 226.

The point-in-time count also showed that of the total, there were 63 unsheltered homeless in 2015 and 47 in 2016.

Unsheltered homeless live under bridges, in parking garages or anyplace they can find, Marquer said.

Marquer estimates that in reality, the number of homeless in Cheyenne is substantially more.

During the program, the two officers focused on different types of mental illness, like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

They also listed ways to communicate with people with mental illness.

Young suggested avoiding asking prying questions or preaching to those with mental illnesses. Other communication blockers include interrupting them when they are speaking.

"It's not a crime to be mentally ill," Young said. "The majority of people that we talk to, we let them go on their way. Sometimes friends and family members or people interacting with them don't understand why we didn't take them and get them help," she said.

"It's because regardless of how much we want to get help for people and how much we want to get resolutions for people, we can't force them. We do our best to give people the resources they need," Young said.

Officers also touched on the idea that the homeless contribute to city violence.

CPD Chief Brian Kozak said, "The perception that some of our homeless population is dangerous is not accurate."

Some local residents have concerns about using the downtown parking garage because they see homeless people there, Kozak said.

"We have never had an assault, mugging or robbery in the parking garage," he said. "It's a perception we need to try to resolve. We don't have crimes of violence in the parking garage."

Officials hope to have a better situation in the future here for the homeless, he said.

"I know that both mayoral candidates would like to maybe try a wet shelter in Cheyenne. The Comea Shelter (a homeless facility in Cheyenne) has stepped forward to facilitate that," he said. "The problem that we have now is in order to go to the shelter in a community, you have to be sober."

A wet shelter would accept the homeless even if they weren't sober, and would have programs to help people become sober.

Kozak said he also encourages people not to give money to panhandlers.

"There are so many resources here for food, clothing and stuff like that; when you're giving money to panhandler, you're paying for their drug and alcohol addiction," he said.

___

(c)2016 Wyoming Tribune-Eagle (Cheyenne, Wyo.)

Visit Wyoming Tribune-Eagle (Cheyenne, Wyo.) at www.wyomingnews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.