GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — Veteran homelessness continues to be a challenge in Colorado. In Grand Junction, one more has been added to that group.
As the sun set Monday night, Coast Guard veteran Elizabeth Saunders sat in the yard packing her things after being evicted from Creekside Apartments.
Saunders tells WesternSlopeNow she ended up violating the lease because of too much trash, clutter and uncleanliness in her home.
Owner of Welcome Home Real Estate and Properties Louise Eden tells WesternSlopeNow Saunders was given a notice in June, then given another notice after not cleaning up within the time limit because she was doing both active and potential damage, like fire hazards, to the apartment.
When Eden filed for eviction in August, Saunders did not show up to court for the hearing.
According to Eden, the judge rescheduled for next week, and Saunders sent in a written response saying she couldn't make it to that one either.
A third court hearing was set, and the judge, according to Saunders, ruled in favor of Eden and gave the go-ahead for eviction. She hopes judges "start to be a little more considerate towards people."
Saunders' neighbor Mark Tanner says he and the VA both helped her clean her apartment and even got a trailer to haul away trash last January.
VA Homeless Program Supervisor Sarah Robinson says the VA can help veterans with anything from mental health to finding jobs or taking care of essential needs.
The now-homeless veteran relied on a VA affordable housing voucher and supportive services for roughly a year and a half before it expired earlier this year.
Robinson adds people can re-enroll in the program, though it takes time to get into an actual home.
Saunders says she did make efforts to clean up both her bathroom and bedroom, though the progress wasn't enough.
Saunders argues she should've been given more leeway because of her mental health and military service. Eden says she was but nothing changed.
For now, Saunders will keep her things in a storage locker as she figures out where to go from here.
Robinson tells WesternSlopeNow there are still a couple vouchers open for veterans who find themselves going through similar hardships.