Every day in Pueblo Dave Tinnell sees the familiar faces of his city’s homeless. They’re the men and women living a reality that he has learned not to question. It’s not his job, he says. His job is to make sure they’ve got a safe place to warm up when it’s cold, to cool down when it’s hot and lay their heads when it’s time to rest.
Tinnell is the manager of the Pueblo Shelter, also known as the Pueblo Rescue Mission. But, until just days ago, Tinnell was not sure if he would be adding ‘former’ to his title. But an April 14th vote to approve $464,000 by the Pueblo City Council kept him employed and the doors open for many of the city’s homeless. The money should keep the shelter running through the end of 2025.
“I am a believer in the good Lord,” Tinnell said. “I just didn’t feel like we were going to get closed.” But things got dicey before the mayor cobbled together funds initially earmarked for other city agencies, including the fire department, unused housing consolidation funds and last year’s Mayoral Runoff Election project.
The shelter, which is open “seven days a week,” has the capacity to serve a combined 45-50 men and women. It also serves a single meal each day, with dinner being served at 4:30 each day. “Yesterday,” he said, “I cooked,” chicken being the entrée. Tinnell also said every meal also includes a salad.
Nearly all of the food served at the shelter, the burly, bearded Tinnell said, is donated. “We do have a tiny budget. If there is a shortfall, we can go to the store.”
The men and women who rely on the shelter, Tinnell said, all have a story. But it’s their story. “Why is it that you choose to be homeless and live on the street,” he said, is not something he needs to know. “We only ask that you not bring narcotics or paraphernalia,” and that “you get right before you come here.”
There have been times when the shelter’s peace is broken, but it is rare, Tinnell said. That usually happens when “we’re getting a new crowd of people,” who might not be familiar with the rules. But, in the main, he said it’s a safe place. “You build a rapport with them, especially with some of our regulars. You get to know them by name, and they respect you. You don’t want to turn anyone away.”
Beyond providing a meal and a bed, Tinnell said the shelter can sometimes offer clothing and other necessities. “They’re thankful.” A helping hand, he believes, can go a long way.
While the shelter is open to both men and women, those staying over night are separated by gender. But, Tinnell said, “at the present time we do not allow minors.”
Pueblo City Councilman Dennis Flores praised the mayor for finding the money for keeping the shelter open along with his council colleagues for their unanimous vote in approving the funds.
“We have an obligation to manage our homeless situation,” the term-limited Flores said. “This is a position I am totally comfortable with. It’s based on simple morality.”
While Flores said there will be opponents to spending the money on the homeless, “If the shelter is closed down, you’ve got more problems.” “You’ve got to do something about it,” Flores said.
He describes what the city is doing as simple pragmatism. It’s a matter of public health and safety. “You’ve got people with some real mental health problems, and you’ve also got criminals, too.” To deal with the homeless situation, the city has recently begun cleaning up some of the homeless encampments that have proliferated along the Fountain Creek.
