Bridges of Colorado: Formerly homeless, jailed vet headed home with new coping skills

Mental Health Colorado President and CEO Vincent Atchity said his organization supported the new program that will help people leave the justice system and focus on their mental well-being.

He expects it will help those facing charges such as trespassing, public nuisance and other lower-level crimes, and free up the court system for those who have committed more egregious crimes.

“There’s a significant chunk of the population with the lower charges, that can just be steered away from the pursuit of prosecution,” he said.

Ultimately, Mental Health Colorado would like to see far more mental health treatment for residents before they have run-ins with the law, including through supportive housing, which can offer mental health services along with an affordable place to live.