DISQUS

The Colorado Independent: Western Slope News Round Up

  • Wendy Norris · 2 years ago
    nice round-up, Leslie Seems like there are quite a few quality of life issues affecting the Western Slope.


    Health care, child care, and housing, chief among them.


    Couple of questions:


    <ul><li> The suicide rates in Mesa County are really staggering. Have social service program cuts affected prevention programs or are the victims among those that are historically difficult to reach? </li></ul>


    <li> What is spurring the growth in Rifle? Lack of affordable housing in what are considered more affluent communities in the region or new jobs centered in the city? </li>


    <li> Are the problems associated with child care simply an issue of a population boom that finds need exceeding demand or are there stiff regulatory barriers in place regarding licensure, qualifications, etc., that make in-home or locally-owned (not chain) day care centers too difficult. </li>

  • Leslie Robinson · 2 years ago
    Many Problems, Few Safety Nets The answer to all your questions is "Yes."


    Tremendous growth in the oil and gas industry and second home owners have put a crunch on affordable housing. Housing construction costs and land values have put "medium cost housing," whether it includes home purchases or rentals, out of the reach of medium paid employees. Rental homes in Rifle now average around $1200 per month. A retail employee in Rifle probably takes home about $2,000 in monthly wages.


    That kind of economic pressure certainly helps put mental health issues to the forefront and other social issues such as substance abuse and domestic violence.


    Contruction and rental costs also squeeze the "mom and pop" retailers and service businesses such as child care. Plus, revenues hardly match the effort. Because of labor shortages, some larger companies have started employee child care services.


    Cuts in state and federal support of human services have been the crulest of all because it has hurt the poorest in the community. For instance, in Garfield County there is a 100 year waiting list for mentally disabled clients to enter home care services because of funding cuts.

  • Wendy Norris · 2 years ago
    100 year waiting list for MRDD home care? < rubs eyes >


    100 years!?!?