KSJD

Inside The Bridge’s New Building

KSJD | By Daniel Rayzel

Published October 10, 2019 at 10:34 AM MDT

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The Bridge’s new building is located at 735 N. Park St. in Cortez. The Bridge will now provide three services under one roof: an emergency shelter, a day labor center, and transitional apartments.";

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Executive director Laurie Knutson says the overhang was added to help shelter people waiting in bad weather, an improvement from The Bridge’s previous space. Past the front doors is a vestibule for additional sheltered waiting space.";

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At the south end of the building, transitional apartment renters will have access to their own entrance. “I think most of us that have a key to something recognize that we have some ability to control something,” Knutson told KSJD.";s:

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Outside of the apartments, on the upper level of The Bridge, is a shared living area. Some finishing touches throughout the building are being added, such as a TV for the stand.

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Views from The Bridge include Mesa Verde, shown here, and the La Platas.

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Apartments come with either one or two bedrooms, each one holding two people. Knutson says rents will be just under $200 per month for a furnished apartment.

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Each apartment at The Bridge includes a full kitchen.

Daniel Rayzel / KSJD

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On the main floor is The Bridge’s emergency shelter. Rooms will sleep different amounts of people, like this nine-person room with bunks. It’s an incentive, Knutson said, for people to be moved into quieter rooms with fewer roommates.";s:

Daniel Rayzel / KSJD

The Bridge has a new home at 735 N. Park St. in Cortez and will be opening for the winter on Oct. 21.

Rebranding from “The Bridge Emergency Shelter” comes from the new combination of three services under one roof: an emergency shelter, a day labor center, and transitional apartments.

Laurie Knutson, executive director of The Bridge, says the apartments have fulfilled a dream of the organization in assisting in housing security.

“I think most of us that have a key to something recognize that we have some ability to control something,” Knutson said. “If we’re sick, we can sleep in. We can cook and eat when we want. And the ability to do those things is just one of those great exhales in life.”

Prior to opening for use on Oct. 21, The Bridge will be hosting an opening ceremony and tours at 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 19. KSJD readers can get a preview of the new space in the photo gallery above.

Knutson joined KSJD’s Daniel Rayzel to share the importance of promoting housing independence and being able to provide all three services in one building.