'New' Caring & Sharing

It surprises many that our little Shangri-La of Salida, Colorado has many adults, children and families living in homelessness.  But rarely a night goes by without someone needing a place to sleep.  On our cold winter nights, this is not just a matter of convenience; it’s a matter of life and death.  

Chaffee County Hospitality Inc. (formerly known as the Chaffee County Homeless Coalition) wants to ensure that those who need it will have a warm and safe place to stay during the coldest months of the year.  Now its own 501c3, CCHI will once again operate a winter shelter for men and women who are experiencing homelessness.  

The shelter for men will be in The Lighthouse, located at 346 G Street with space for 10 men.  The shelter for single women will be in the 1St Christian Church, located at 302 4th Street with space for 10 women.  Families will be lodged in local motels.  The shelter will be open from 8:30 p.m. – 8:30 a.m. during the months of November – April.

CCHI needs to raise $76,000, which will be used to pay the night staff, purchase motel vouchers, sleeping bags and pads, tents and other cold weather supplies as needed.  

Besides this Go Fund Me page, donations may also be given to Chaffee County Hospitality Inc.   Make checks payable to Chaffee County Hospitality Inc. and mail them to the First Presbyterian Church, 7 Poncha Blvd., Salida, CO 81201.

Salida is a caring community and members of Chaffee County Hospitality Inc. feel this is an important service we can provide to those who are struggling.  We thank you for your generous donations.

Imagine it being 10 degrees and snowing and you have no place to call home.  It’s dark, you’re wet and scared, you have no place to stay warm, and no money to pay for a motel.  What will you do? Maybe find someone who will let you crash at their place? Stay in your car, if you have one.  Maybe grab a few blankets or a sleeping bag at the local thrift store and set up camp out in the surrounding hills?  Maybe walk the streets all night trying to stay warm? It’s hard to imagine such a thing happening in our little mountain Shangri-La of Salida, Colorado, but it happens all the time.  

Salida has a permanent population of about 40 men, women and children who are experiencing homelessness, and the Winter Shelter Committee (part of the Chaffee County Homeless Coalition), is seeking donations to open a winter shelter.  

The proposed shelter will be located in The Lighthouse (part of the Caring and Sharing organization) located at 348 G Street and will operate from November – April.  Because of space limitations, the shelter will be for men only, and it can hold up to 10 men per night. Women and children will receive vouchers for local motels. The shelter will be open from 9:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. during the months of November – April.

The Winter Shelter Committee hopes to raise $15,000, which will be used to pay the night oversight staff, purchase motel vouchers, and purchase sleeping bags and tents and other cold weather supplies as needed.  Donations may be given through Caring and Sharing—designated “Winter Shelter”—and mailed or dropped off at 220 West 4th Street, Salida, CO 81201.

Salida is a caring community and members of the Chaffee County Homeless Coalition feel this is an important service we can provide to those who are struggling.  We thank you for your generous donations.