More warming shelters sought in Colorado Springs

The Salvation Army said city leaders are trying to find other buildings to use as temporary warming shelters but the city did not announce any new plans Monday.

KRDO NewsChannel 13 contacted the city for the comment on the matter and is still awaiting a response.

Last weekend, the Salvation Army Warming Shelter on Weber Street was forced to turn people away because it was full on one of the coldest nights of the season. A staff member said she shelter has increased its capacity from 150 to 170 during the recent cold spell.

“But it still isn’t enough,” said Michael Williams, a homeless man who spent Sunday night at the shelter. “Only five spots were left when I got here.”

On Monday, the El Paso County Coroner’s Office confirmed that two homeless people died in the cold weather between late November and Early December. However, the office is awaiting toxicology reports to determine whether exposure was a factor in the deaths.

The question is where do people go for the night if they’re turned away at shelters?

“I know a lot of homeless men,” Williams said. “Mainly they go down the river, they go in abandoned houses and buildings, construction sites, abandoned cars, tents, bus stations, hospitals. Even the police stations let them come in and sit down if they want to.”

KRDO NewsChannel 13 will update this story when there are new developments.