Board approves Colorado Springs warming center

Despite controversy surrounding the location, a Colorado Springs warming center will be back open this winter.

The Downtown Board of Review voted 6-2 on Wednesday to approve the Salvation Army Warming Center to open up for business in October.

Major Richard Larson with the Salvation Army said this was a very good, very important decision.

“Without the warming center, people would be left out to get frostbite or even die in the cold,” Larson said. “This way they have somewhere warm to go.”

But the process to reach a decision was an emotional one.

Ryan Tefertiller on the Review Board said he heard complaints from neighbors that he had to take into consideration.

“They felt that the shelter brought in a disproportionate amount of crime and littering and loitering last year,” he said.

So before anything could be approved, the board, the neighborhood, and the Salvation Army had to agree on a plan.

“The plan is to have more security and staff and no longer serve food so there are no lines outside of the shelter,” Tefertiller said.

Major Larson said they will be doubling their budget to $300,000 for this winter to make it happen.

The shelter will be able to hold 153 people per night. Each person will get a mat and a blanket to sleep on. The shelter is a come-as-you-are center, and people can bring pets.

“This is very needed and it’s a bigger need than one neighborhood’s.

But we will work to be good neighbors,” Larson said.

The shelter opens in October from 7 p.m. to 9 a.m. It is located at 505 South Weber Street.