(PUEBLO, Colo.) — The City of Pueblo and the Pueblo Rescue Mission have come to an agreement that the Rescue Mission’s buildings be signed over to the City so it can take the homeless shelter in a “new direction.”
The Rescue Mission is a nonprofit organization that provides members of the unhoused community with different resources such as shelter, food, and residential programs. The agreement between the Rescue Mission and the City follows an investigation in September that revealed an employee of the Rescue Mission was allegedly stealing funds from people staying at the shelter.
Additionally, the Pueblo Rescue Mission was suspended from services through Care and Share Foodbank for Southern Colorado for misappropriating food, the City said. Currently, the Pueblo Soup Kitchen is providing both breakfast and lunch meals to the unhoused community.
Now, the Pueblo Rescue Mission’s executive board has committed to the dissolution of the nonprofit organization by Dec. 31, 2024, so a third-party agency can take over the programming and oversight of the shelter while looking to restore public trust in the operation of the city’s only permanent homeless shelter.
“The City of Pueblo and the current executive board leadership of Pueblo Rescue Mission are committed to a long-term plan to get back to reliably, ethically, and compassionately serving the unhoused of our community,” said Pueblo Mayor Heather Graham. “Receiving the deeds to the two buildings is the first step in the process before a contract is made with an executive director or we’re able to secure a qualified agency to provide financial oversight for long-term stability. We are all committed to the same goal of ensuring Pueblo unhoused are cared for and can seek shelter.”
According to the City, the Pueblo Rescue Mission signed the deed of the 710 W. 4th St. Porchlight Campus building over to the City of Pueblo on Thursday, Oct. 3, and the 728 W. 4th St. main campus building will also be signed over as part of an agreement with the City.
The City of Pueblo plans to seek an executive director or put together a request for proposal (RFP) for a third-party agency to take over the Pueblo Rescue Mission’s role as the provider of a homeless shelter. An emergency ordinance will be brought before Pueblo City Council on Tuesday, Oct. 15 for authorization of emergency funding.
At that time, the City said Mayor Graham and the City Council will determine the next steps and outline a plan for the permanent shelter. The anticipated timeline for new oversight to begin in that role is January 2025.
Currently, Safeside Recovery Center is one of the community partners offering wrap-around support services to unhoused individuals living at Pueblo Rescue Mission as part of the “Step Back In” program. Safeside Recovery Center will continue to offer their services and has committed to more robust daytime programming which will now take place in the main campus building.
On Saturday, Oct. 12, Safeside Recovery Center will host a fundraising event called Harvest of Hope to assist those who were affected by the alleged misappropriation of funds and financial mismanagement by a former Pueblo Rescue Mission employee. The event will be held from noon until 3:00 p.m. at the 710 W. 4th St. Porchlight location and will include a silent auction, music, food, and community connection.
The Pueblo Police Department continues to investigate financial misconduct by the Rescue Mission employee.
