PUEBLO – Pueblo’s temporary warming shelter is proving to be life-saving for folks trying to escape the sub freezing temperatures.
But temporary remains the problem because there’s no permanent solution – yet.
Pueblo’s Commission on Homelessness, approved earlier last month, says they hope to have a site announcement in the next couple of weeks.
Currently, Pueblo Rescue Mission is opening their shelter early so the homeless don’t have to be out in the cold too long.
“When it’s that cold out there, nobody should be walking the streets,” said Kathy Cline, executive director of the Pueblo Rescue Mission.
“We have a lot of folks that, you know, are not in the best of health,” she explained.
That includes folks like Stephen Brackens, who’s been on the streets of Pueblo since 2014.
“[The shelter has] gotten me off the streets, to where it’s cold and also I have COPD and asthma so that comes into effect, too,” Brackens said.
He believes if it wasn’t for the shelter, his health would be at risk.
“If I lay my head down and I stop breathing for some odd reason, I know the staff is gonna help,” he described.
The 25 board members who make up Pueblo’s Commission on Homelessness are also helping by narrowing down their choices for the site of a new permanent shelter.
“We wanna make sure that we’re prepared so that we never, ever, ever go through this issue again,” said Cline, who is also a board member.
Brackens says a permanent shelter can provide the warmth only a place like home can provide.
“It helps us to know that someone is out there to help us. It makes us feel like we’re welcomed.”
The board plans to announce their site plan at their meeting on February 20.
It starts at 3:00 p.m. inside the community room at Pueblo Police headquarters.
The public is welcome to attend and share feedback.
