About 20 people attended the Eastern Plains Chamber of Commerce April 6 meeting. Members introduced themselves and their individual businesses. The chamber welcomed guest speaker Jack Briggs of the Springs Rescue Mission. Briggs attended the U.S. Air Force Academy and was in the United States Air Force for about 30 years. He was a major general and director of operations for Headquarters U.S. Northern Command and Peterson Air Force Base. He retired from USAF in 2017. He then became vice president of public safety and ran the Covid-19 response team at New York University, the largest private institution in the United States. Briggs became president and CEO of Springs Rescue Mission in October 2020. The rescue mission began in 1996 by a couple supplying sandwiches to the homeless near Motor City in Colorado Springs. It is now a 14-acre resource campus, partnering with about 40 organizations. The Springs Rescue Mission is a Christ-centered, low-barrier Gospel rescue. ìWhat this means is there is no religious criteria for people to come to the rescue mission,î Briggs said. ìWe meet people where they are at, for those on the socioeconomic ladder who have no place left to go. We have the Gospel infused in everything we do, because we believe it is our secret sauce to helping them transform their lives.î The three pillars of the rescue mission are health, work and housing. Health is their first concern. The second is work. Briggs said, ìThe power of work in someone’s life is transformational.î The third pillar is housing ó providing a temporary place to stay while they address their health and engage in vocational training. There are beds for 450 people, but they will always make space if more is needed. They serve about 600 meals a day; more than 100 people participate in daily addiction and recovery programs and about 130 participate in vocational training. Programs include a four or 12-18-month men’s program, and a four-month women’s program. A 12-18-month program for women is currently in the works. They have lockers for people to store belongings, along with an outside facility. The no-smile-left-behind bus program is also available. This includes a Medicaid provider van every Monday to help with feet and teeth. Every quarter, Colorado University medical students provide a foot clinic. They will also take pets that accompany a homeless person who comes to the Springs Rescue Mission. ìIn fact, we are the only pet shelter in Colorado that takes owners.î Briggs said. The rescue mission continually helps about 20 people per month out of homelessness and back into the community, and about 40 people per month attain employment. For the people who transition back to the community, the mission will remain in contact with them for two years. ìWe believe to our very core, everyone has dignity and worth. We are not a handout organization. We are a transactional organization. This is important,î Briggs said. ìEverything that happens on the street is transactional. When you give to someone on the street without asking for anything in return, it makes you feel better but it emphasizes to them that they are worthless. When you see someone while waiting at a stoplight, instead of giving money, the best thing to do is engage with them by asking their name. If possible, repeat back to them their needs written on their sign and inform them the Springs Rescue Mission can help them at no cost.î Colorado Springs is No. 9 in the nation for reducing homelessness. Briggs said, ìFaith-based and non-faith-based organizations, city and county all working together results in a better community.îVisit https://springsrescuemission.org for more information.The next meeting of the Eastern Plains Chamber of Commerce is May 4 at Grace Community Church, 9475 Grace Church View.
