Richard Lyon, a member of the unhoused community, states, “I truly believe places like this help encourage recovery and without it, with it, we could increase the number of sobriety people out there.”
Just one year ago, the City of Grand Junction opened its doors to the unhoused community, giving them a place to stay warm and cool.
Philip Masters, outreach and services coordinator with United Way states, “It's very cold outside right now with the resource center, but if it wasn't here, they would have nowhere to go for a few hours of the day.”
Lyon states, “Without it, I'd be cold. I'd probably have pneumonia. I'd probably freeze to death, because I don't really know anybody in the area. So, like, it's a huge blessing to have places like this. I myself am a recovering addict and alcoholic. I've got 27 days clean and sober today.”
Lyon says he has been unhoused for years and with the Resource Center he says, “I just want to try to outbreak that stigma. Not everybody's out there trying to get the next fix. Some people had their houses burnt down and became homeless. Some people just need a hand up.”
WesternSlopeNow spoke with Amber Henning, chief advancement officer with Homeward Bound and she says, “It's been amazing to recognize how many services have been provided in the course of just a year. the fact that 75,000 unique services have been provided to individuals experiencing houselessness is incredible and that's enough to celebrate in and of itself.”
KREX News 5