Local project to provide more long-term shelter for homeless

As winter weather approaches, Colorado Springs is doing more to address shelter needs of the homeless.

The city is teaming up with the Springs Rescue Mission on a $6.8 million project to increase the number of long-term shelter beds from 60 to 150. A mission spokesman said donations will pay for most of the work.

The city is contributing technical assistance and helping the project acquire nearly $130,000 in grant money.

Officials said much of the project involves combining two existing buildings into one facility that will allow residents to stay for several days at a time, instead of on a day-to-day basis.

The project meets one of the stated goals of Monday’s World Habitat Day by filling a need for more long-term homeless shelters.

The mission also wants to establish an expanded, permanent day center to provide homeless-related services.

“Showers, laundry facilities and direct access to onsite service providers,” mission spokesman Stu Davis said. “It’s something we need but haven’t really had here.”

Davis said the project should be finished by next fall, with an expanded and renovated kitchen increasing the seating capacity from 70 to 200.

Officials said they’ve also expanded the current shelter by three beds and will open it Nov. 1.

“Eventually, we won’t have to turn away as many people because of lack of bed space,” Davis said.