Local shelters nearing capacity during winter storms

Southern Colorado is bracing for another round of snow and freezing temperatures this weekend.

Several winter shelters are available in Colorado Springs for people who need a place to stay warm.

“It’s very important that to have someplace for people to go in this severe weather,”Gene Morris said. He is the director of the R.J. Montgomery Center shelter on South Sierra Madre St. “We have anywhere from 170 to 190 people here every night.”

Shelters fill up quickly during snow storms. Colorado Springs police officers head out during severe weather to make sure everyone has a chance to get warm.

“When our shelters are running at capacity, and they can’t take any more people in, some people are just forced to stay outside,”Officer Brett Iverson said. He is part of the Colorado Springs police homeless outreach team. “We’ll walk the trails, walk back in the woods where we know they’re hanging out, and really just check on them and encourage them to seek some sort of shelter.”

Morris said his shelter is willing to work with anyone who needs a place to stay warm.

“We’re here if somebody needs shelter. They just need to come down, and we’ll figure something out,” he said.

Iverson said it’s important to look out for others.

“We are a community, and some people are just down on their luck,” he said. “We want to look out for each other and try to take care of each other and show compassion.”