Crossroads expansion in Pueblo is 'in a holding pattern' after missing state funding deadline

Ever since a deal fell through last month for Crossroads Turning Points to build a new facility to expand its services, Crossroads CEO Charles Davis said the organization’s plans for a necessary expansion have been stuck in limbo.

Crossroads had hoped to expand its substance abuse treatment services by building a 20-bed group care facility on a 2.65-acre site at 1725 W. Pueblo Blvd., which currently houses the Brass Saddle restaurant and bar, but the deal fell apart in the Pueblo Zoning and Planning Commission and subsequently, the Pueblo Board of Appeals.

Hanging in the balance of those decisions was nearly $1 million in funding for Crossroads, which had a June 30 deadline to find a location to house its Circle Program or forego the state funding.

Because the deal fell through, the deadline was missed and the funding foregone. But Davis said he’s put in requests asking the state to reconsider.

“We really haven’t heard much, so I don’t have any answers at this point,” Davis said.

“We’re also looking to see if there’s any other funding sources we might be able to tap into that could help us with this program. But right now, we’re just kind of in a holding pattern. We’re just moving forward with what we have and … hopefully opportunities present themselves coming down the road.”

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The local need for the state-funded Circle Program — which offers community-based residential treatment to individuals with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders with locations in Pueblo, Grand Junction and Fort Collins — and for substance abuse services in general, continues to grow in Pueblo.

Rob Archuleta, chief innovation officer at Crossroads, said opening a new, 20-bed inpatient facility would “barely even break the surface of what is needed” locally.

The Circle Program is currently operating out of the Crossroads facility at 1711 E. Evans Ave, but needs a more appropriate facility to grow into.

The program, Archuleta said, offers a a higher level of care than typical in-patient recovery services and is based on a medical model, requiring nurses, access to doctors and counselors to address patients’ co-occurring issues.

“Our first priority is to continue to keep Circle where it’s at and continue to provide services,” Archuleta said.

“Because there’s a huge need in our community and people need help and they need services.”

But without the state funds, Davis said Crossroads does not have the means to open a new facility to better meet the community demand.

“We’ve got to find the funding first,” Davis said.

“It’s one thing to look for properties, but without a way to fund it, it’s not something Crossroads could undertake on its own. That would be a little steep for us. But hopefully, we’ll be able to find some kind of help that would make sense for the program.”

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Chieftain reporter Zach Hillstrom can be reached at zhillstrom@gannett.com or on Twitter @ZachHillstrom