Permanent homeless shelter in Pueblo set to open in January
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- Wednesday, members of Pueblo’s government were invited to take a first look inside the city’s brand-new transitional homeless shelter.
For nearly two years, the city of Pueblo has been without a permanent homeless shelter. In early 2019, the Pueblo Rescue Mission along with the City announced they would be moving back into their old shelter location on 4th Street to open a permanent shelter location.
Unfortunately, Pueblo Rescue Mission says the shelter will not be ready for habitation by the end of 2019 as they initially hoped. Water line issues have forced the opening to be delayed until mid-January.
In the mean time, the temporary homeless shelter on 9th street remains open, but Kathy Cline with Pueblo Rescue Mission says the new transitional shelter will be worth the wait.
“When you know where we came from in this building and where we are now -- it’s really amazing,” said Cline.
Construction on the new shelter began back in September of this year.
The dozen or so Puebloans that toured the shelter Wednesday were able to see all of the shelter's new amenities.
Those amenities include showers, laundry room, 100 beds and a kitchen serving the homeless seven days a week. The transitional shelter will also have a navigation center designed to help homeless transition from the streets to housing.
“They are no longer sleeping on the ground, and sleeping in a warehouse," said Cline. "They’ll have a bed, a meal, and a shower. They'll have dignity. That’s what I see here. Dignity is back.”
Pueblo’s Mayor, City Council Members and County Commissioners were all invited to Wednesday’s first tour of the new facility. Unfortunately, none came out to see the progress.
