The
Bridge Emergency Shelter
a program of Cortez
Addictions Recovery Services
Overview
We envision a community where people can
access emergency shelter in a manner that supports their dignity
and encourages self-sufficiency. Our mission is to provide
shelter and hot meals for homeless and stranded men and women
during the cold months of the year.
History
The current emergency shelter operation
began in January 2006 following the death of a community member
during a cold spell in December 2005. Our first season was in a
small space in the old jail in the
Justice
Building
at Empire Avenue and
Mildred Road
.
It was a completely grassroots
effort; all the work was done by volunteers. We served 89
unduplicated clients. Our 2006-2007 shelter season was housed in
a larger space in the old jail at the same location. Jackie
Barker, Shelter Manager, was the only full-time employee. Night
shift workers were hired as needed. During this season we served
199 unduplicated clients. Community support in the form of time
donated to work the shifts, donated food, clothing, and money
was the key to a successful season.
Current
Season
We opened the shelter on October 15,
2007; the last day of the season will be April 15, 2008. Jackie
Barker continues as the Shelter Manager and we have contracted
with four regularly-scheduled night shift workers and two
on-call for the night shift. We do not serve families. Men or
women with children are kept safe and provided a meal while
arrangements are made for shelter at a motel and referrals are
made to appropriate agencies.
-
Clients
are let in beginning at 6:00 PM. We admit clients any time
of the night. Clients must leave the shelter by 7:00
AM each day.
-
We
serve adult men and women; families are taken in and cared
for until arrangements can be made to move them to a
different location.
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Once
a client enters the shelter they cannot leave except to
smoke outside the door; if they choose to leave, they will
not be re-admitted that night.
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Warm
meals are served nightly and food is available for
breakfasts.
-
Coffee,
hot chocolate, and juice are available all the time.
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Intoxicated
clients are allowed; they are put in a room near the staff
office so that they can be checked regularly.
Contact
Jackie Barker, Shelter Manager
Shelter: 970-565-9808
Cell: 970-769-7697
Monetary donations may be sent
to: The Bridge Emergency Shelter at CARS,
35 North Ash Street. Cortez, CO, 81321.
Detox
Services
Currently, formal detox services are not
offered at the shelter; however, the Shelter Manager and
volunteers are learning how to make referrals to treatment
centers and networks have been established for several clients
to begin the process of moving toward sobriety and
independence.
Our
Future
In collaboration with many organizations
in the community the Bridge Shelter and
Detox
Center
will construct a building at the northwest corner of Empire
Avenue and Park Street on land donated to CARS by the county and
with finalized agreements by the City of Cortez
regarding building plans and city codes and regulations.
The facility will include a
full-service kitchen, dining area, showers, laundry, resource
library, and space for spiritual gatherings. Staff will include
a full-time manager, case managers (one each from the Navajo
Nation and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe) and counselors and clinical
supervision from CARS. Other services will include referral
resources, day labor, housing assistance, social services, and
transportation.
The detox facility will be open
24 hours, 7 days a week. The shelter will be open seasonally
from mid-October to mid-April. Hours will be from 6:00 PM to
8:00 AM. Clients
will be admitted any time of the night. No adult man or woman
wanting shelter will be turned away. Men or women with children
will be kept safe until appropriate arrangements can be
made.
The development of this project
is overseen by a Steering Committee representing the following
organizations and agencies:
-
Cortez Addictions Recovery
Services Alan Cook, Executive Director
-
Christian
Ministries
Nancy Thomas, President
-
City of
Cortez
Jay Harrington, City Manager
-
Cortez Police Department
Roy Lane
, Chief of Police
-
First United
Methodist
Church
Al Strauss, Pastor
-
Graces Kitchen Gerry
Hart, Director
-
Montezuma
County
Sheriff Office Gerald Wallace, Sheriff
-
Montezuma County Department
of Social Services Denis Story, Director
-
Navajo Nation Department of
Behavioral Health Services Rita Cantsee, Program
Supervisor in Shiprock
-
Southwest Colorado Mental
Health
Center
Lillian Ramey, Director of
Cortez
Center
-
Southwest Intertribal Voice
Art Neskahi, Director
-
Southwest
Memorial
Hospital
Director of Social Services
-
Ute
Mountain
Ute Counseling and Treatment Services Director, Ute
Counseling and Treatment Services
-
Interested Citizens Hal
Shepherd, Gene Peck
In addition, a Task Force for the
capital campaign has been organized and there will be a strong
effort in spring and summer of 2008 to raise the initial money
for the building. People who are
interested in serving on the Task Force may call M. B. McAfee at
970-560-5017. Donations toward this effort may be sent to The Bridge Emergency Shelter
at CARS, 35 North Ash Street,
Cortez, CO, 81321.
Click
here to see the floor plan of the proposed Bridge Emergency
Shelter and Detox Center. (PDF)
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