The City of Grand Junction, HomewardBound of Grand Valley, and United Way of Mesa County cut the ribbon on the new HomewardBound Resource Center at 261 Ute. Ave. on Monday, December 11, 2023 at 10 a.m.
The Resource Center is scheduled to open on Wednesday, December 20, 2023. It will be operated with a low-barrier model to provide immediate shelter during the daytime hours for underserved individuals and those who are unhoused in the community.
“The resource center will be a place where all are welcome,” said Rick Smith, executive director of HomewardBound of the Grand Valley. “It will provide that valuable place of connection— while allowing individuals who are in the greatest need the ability to access vital services, in a safe and warm environment.”
The center is a hard-sided pavilion that can be cooled or heated depending on the weather and provides access to meals, restrooms, showers, secured storage, and health care and other services. The center will also offer designated space for providers, non-profits, and faith-based organizations in the community to come together to offer their services in a safe, centralized location. HomewardBound will provide professional staff at the site during hours of operation and will work with a collective of other service providers to help inform and steer the overall direction.
“The city is a proud partner in this collaboration to provide critical, dignified services to members of our community who are unsheltered and are seeking a safe place where they can feel like they are welcome,” stated Mayor Anna Stout. “This new short-term Resource Center, on a city-owned parcel of land, is centrally located to enable easy access for those needing a warm place to have a meal or get connected to additional resources.”