COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.— A long-time community service member has returned to Colorado Springs to tackle two major challenges.
The City of Colorado Springs hired its new housing and homelessness officer to address housing and homelessness in the community.
“I was raised in Colorado Springs and very challenging circumstances,” Aimee Cox said.
Cox says a single mom raised her, so she saw firsthand what low incomes could do to a family.
“Housing stability was always an issue,” Cox said.
Cox says she worked for the City for 15 years as a Community Development Manager and the Colorado Springs City Council’s first administrator.
“I worked with Mayor Steve Bach to launch the initiative to end homelessness,” Cox said.
Her homework is to figure out a balanced approach.
“Public safety and compassion,” Cox said. “We have to have a community that people feel safe. Your community does not thrive if residents do not feel safe.”
She says housing plays a critical role, emphasizing how serious the housing crisis is in Colorado Springs.