This past year was a great one for the Rescue Mission, highlighted by the opening of our new, year-round shelter. And while there is much to do to finish our campus and expand the work we’re able to do, we wanted to take a moment and reflect back on 2016.

We had a “literal” groundbreaking of a year.

We began construction of our new campus and served and reached more people than ever thanks to the efforts of our team at SRM, as well as the generous and crucial support of you, our neighbors and community.

The largest milestone and newest fixture on our campus, the year-round shelter opened on November 18 and has enabled us to reach more neighbors in need than ever before.

Women’s Winter Shelter and Year-Round Shelter

For the first time, we’ve opened a shelter dedicated to serving the needs of women in our community. The shelter has 32 beds with the ability to add an additional 20 mats on the floor for women during the coldest nights.

Since opening our shelters in November, we’ve already provided more than 10,000 nights of shelter to our neighbors in need. How great is that? That’s more nights of shelter than we provided in the entire 2016 fiscal year, but because of the new expanded capacity, we provided these nights in just a little more than 60 days.

Also, we’ve provided more than 240 nights of shelter for the homeless community's pets.

New Pantry Services for Guests and Families

We also recently revamped the way we distribute household items and food to women, families and men in need. Guests now receive points they can spend inside the pantry, which now operates much like a store. Through small changes like this, our hope is that we provide our guests a dignified experience.

Mission Catering Expands

Springs Rescue Mission’s social enterprise, Mission Catering expanded operations by moving into First Presbyterian’s kitchen. This new partnership has enabled Mission Catering to increase its capacity and the work they’re able to do to serve our community and support the Mission.

New Partnerships and Projects

We exist to empower individuals with resources and services needed to find a pathway out of homelessness, poverty or addiction. Some of those we serve however are considered chronically homeless. To help these neighbors in need, we’ve entered into a partnership with Nor’Wood Development Group to build Greenway Flats, a 65-unit permanent supportive housing complex. This facility will be on the Mission’s 9-acre campus.

In addition, we’ve finalized partnerships with social service agencies in Colorado Springs to provide services for our guests directly on our campus. These agencies will have offices in our resource center—set to be complete by the end of this spring.

As you can tell, great things have happened at Springs Rescue Mission with plans in place for even more great things in the years ahead!

Hope for the New Year

We are greatly looking forward to 2017.

The hope we have for the future is because of the hope you’ve instilled in us and the faith we have in the Colorado Spring’s community.

We had a great year in 2016 and know that 2017 will also be one for the record books. There are many opportunities to make a difference in the lives of this in our community. As always, we invite you to join us in helping our neighbors in need, whether through donated goods, financial gifts or volunteering.

Thank you for being part of our community and investing in helping our neighbors experiencing homelessness.