Pueblo sets sights on permanent location for homeless shelter
It’s been more than a year since there has been a permanent warming shelter location for the homeless in Pueblo. After looking at a number of potential spots, the city believes they finally have the right fit.
The old Wayside Cross Gospel Rescue Mission building on 4th Street is currently in the process of being turned into the Pueblo Rescue Mission.
The shelter would serve as a year-round transitional shelter for the homeless in the Steel City. Wayside Rescue Mission closed its doors in 2017.
Kathy Cline with Pueblo Rescue Mission has been helping homeless in town for more than a decade. She says this is the perfect spot for the city’s permanent year-round homeless shelter.
“It’s always been the obvious choice for me,” said Cline. “I begged them to finish this project when they first started.”
From the Bargain Box Store on 4th Street to the current temporary shelter on 9th Street; over the past year, the city has suggested multiple spots for either a temporary or permanent location.
Pueblo City Councilman Mark Aliff and the rest of the Pueblo Commission on Homeless believe this building has all the right ingredients.
“This is the place where we know it was zoned,” said Cline who is also involved with the Pueblo Commission on Homeless. “We aren’t going to run into too many obstacles as far as folks not wanting us in their neighborhood. Plus, the set up is already here. We just have to put it back together again.”
Those renovations would cost an estimated $1.3 million, but the city has already applied for state grant money to cover much of the costs.
The proposed shelter would have 75 bunks in total — 50 designated for men, and 25 for women. On exceptionally cold days, the shelter can bring in more homeless with mats.
The shelter would also come with toilets and showers. However, Cline says this would be more than just a shelter.
“We will be working with the homeless to transition into independent living where they will actually have a stable living environment; which means housing, whether its an apartment or an actual home,” Cline said.
It is unclear when the transitional shelter will be operational. The goal is by some time this year.
As for Pueblo’s temporary warming shelter on 9th Street that opened last December, it is set to shut down at the end of this month.
So far, homeless in the area visited the shelter around 8,000 times the past four months.
