Mayor asks council for $455,000 to extend SafeSide shelter contract, expand transitional housing and pet services

Mayor Graham and city staff updated the Pueblo City Council on shelter operations managed by SafeSide Recovery and requested council direction on funding the contract through December 2026 and on planned expansions.

City staff said the shelter contract—awarded in May 2025—covers basic operations at about $53,000 per month. Since SafeSide became the operator, the shelter expanded to nightly operations and increased outreach meals from roughly 42 to about 80 per day. Staff reported outcomes since December 2024: 32 clients moved to next-step housing, 25 clients currently receiving counseling, about 10 clients securing employment per month, six in training through Pueblo Community College, three moved to sober living and three to skilled nursing; two are pursuing GEDs and one joined the Marine Corps.

The city has an on-site clinic partnership (MOU approved by council) providing behavioral health and primary care weekly; staff said the clinic has served 165 patients in the period since July 2025, with 229 visits and an 84% fill rate, and most patients were shelter clients.

To continue shelter operations for June–December 2026, staff proposed a funding package totaling about $455,000: $110,000 from CDBG allocations, $145,000 from ARPA interest, $100,000 from the general fund and an additional $100,000 (presented as part of the funding mix during discussion) to cover the seven months not already appropriated in the 2026 budget. Staff noted that some 2026 dollars were already allocated but additional subrecipient agreements and county review could delay disbursement until June or July.

The mayor and staff also described planned capital and program expansions: eight non-congregate (transitional) housing units, a secured campus with a single entrance and a pet-kennel facility so people with animals can access services without separation. Staff estimated the expanded campus would raise the monthly operating need to roughly $65,000 (about $13,000 more per month) when fully active; funds for those capital elements would be held in a capital account until the facilities come online and be reimbursable.

Councilors asked about coordination with United Way and other nonprofits, substitution of grant funds for general-fund support, timelines for the non-congregate units, and operational details for keeping people and pets together. Staff said United Way previously helped coordinate the shelter transition, SafeSide is exploring a second operating location, and the city will pursue grants but has not issued operation-specific grants to offset the general-fund ask.

Next steps: council was asked to consider the funding proposal so staff can negotiate a contract extension and finalize operating and subrecipient agreements; staff warned that allocations and disbursements require county vetting and could be delayed until midyear.