Grand Junction council agrees to release $185,000 to shore up shelters while Homeward Bound consolidates

Grand Junction — City leaders agreed during a Sept. 1 workshop to release roughly $185,000 in previously allocated city funds to Homeward Bound to help keep local shelters open through the winter, while the nonprofit works to consolidate its two shelters and secure further funding.

Homeward Bound interim executive director Dan Pritzker told the council the organization operates two shelters — North Avenue (individuals) and Pathways (families and individuals) — that are licensed for about 134 beds each but are running below capacity because of staffing limits. “So we're gonna need to consolidate operations into 1 location,” Pritzker said, explaining the nonprofit plans to move into the newer Pathways facility and strengthen on-site case management as it shortens average lengths of stay.

Pritzker outlined recent financial pressures: the organization's prior combined budget was about $2.3 million with 26 full-time positions; after cuts the run rate is closer to $1.7 million. He said monthly operating costs run about $60,000 for North Avenue and $80,000 for Pathways, that some donors raised $150,000 to carry North Avenue through October–December, and that Homeward Bound still needs roughly $40,000 for Pathways in December and larger sums in January and February. “We still have about $300,000 that we need to raise from now until February,” Pritzker said.

Council members pressed for details about how clients would move from emergency shelter into transitional or permanent housing and whether people could return to services after reaching a time limit. Pritzker said the day‑by‑day case management plan — what happens at day 3, day 30, or day 90 — remains under development and will require stronger partnerships with transitional-housing providers and other local agencies.

Several councilors and public commenters urged a regional approach. One councilor proposed a matching-grant model to incent other jurisdictions and private funders to participate; others favored simply releasing the city's existing allotment now and using it to leverage county or philanthropic support. City staff said about $185,000 remains unspent from prior allocations to Homeward Bound (resource center/navigation center funds) and that the county had tentatively indicated $30,000 in its proposed budget for early 2026.

After discussion, the council voiced broad agreement to release the allocated city funds to Homeward Bound and to continue coordinating with county officials and local partners. Staff were asked to proceed with implementation and keep the council apprised of any supplemental requests.

The council emphasized the contribution is intended to cover a limited transition period while Homeward Bound pursues grants and donations and restructures operations. No formal ordinance or final contract was adopted during the workshop; the action was recorded as a staff direction/consensus to release allocated funds and continue intergovernmental coordination.

Next steps: Homeward Bound and council staff will track donations designated for each shelter, pursue the March grant allocation Pritzker referenced, and reconvene with county partners early in the new year to consider additional support or formal agreements. The council recessed after about an hour and will continue other agenda items at the next workshop.