The Bridge Legacy

The Bridge Emergency Shelter was founded in 2006 to address the problems of homelessness and hypothermia in the city of Cortiez.  In its early years, the Bridge was staffed only by volunteers.  Today, it operates with a staff of 14 and continue to depend on its many volunteers.  

 The Bridge has been located at 735 N. Park Street in Cortez at the corners of Park and Empire.  On the first floor, the new building provides overnight sheltering for up to 53 people in the emergency shelter located on the as floor.  The Bridge is the only low barrier shelter in the area.

​

The second floor will house up to 26 formerly homeless people in the transitional housing apartments consisting of 2- 2-bedroom apartments, and 10- 1-bedroom apartments.  There is a handicapped apartment on the first floor.  Residents of transitional housing are expected to be employed or have regular income from another source and pay no more than 30% of their income. The transitional apartments will generate income to offset some costs of sheltering operations and pay the loan payment.

The Bridge secured more than $251,000 from the local foundations, businesses and community members toward construction of its $2.5 million facility.  Other funding for the project includes $1.2 million in grants from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs and $100,000 from foundations outside of our region.  In fall 2018, it received a grant of $560,000 from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka and its Affordable Housing Loan Program to cover the remaining building expenses.

The new facility is the first of its kind in the state of Colorado that includes shelter, labor opportunities and transitional apartments under on roof.