Pueblo announces new permanent homeless shelter

For years Pueblo has lacked a permanent solution to its homeless shelter needs. Going through several locations that always seemed to upset their neighbors.

Now after getting funding from the state, the Steel City should finally get that solution and in a familiar spot.

Located on 4th street, it used to be the Wayside Cross homeless shelter. It closed back in 2017 and that’s what started the long process but now those same doors will open again.

Kathy Cline with the Pueblo Rescue Missions says there is a lot of work that needs to be done, “As you know it is nothing but a shell of a building right now.”

But with $1.3 million from the State Housing Board, Cline says they will be able to house one-hundred men and women.

Not only providing them with beds but a daily meal, shower facilities, and a resource center to get them back on their feet.

It’s been a huge amount of work to get to this point, but Cline says it’s worth it.

“It’s the best feeling in the world,” says Cline, “We’re not going to be coming down to November and December of another year saying O my gosh what are we going to do we got to keep people from freezing. We are going to have a place for them to come.”

It is possible construction could start as early as July, but Cline says that’s being optimistic.

The other hope is to have everything done toward the end of 2019 before Colorado’s coldest winter weather sets in.

Even with the funding from the state, Cline says ideally they need $400,000 for beds and other operational costs.