The mission of Pueblo Area Interfaith Hospitality Network is to provide shelter, sustenance, and intense case management to homeless families with children in the Pueblo Community. PAIHN works to alleviate the problem of homelessness and assists clients in their return to productive self-sufficiency, thereby reducing their dependence on public assistance.
On September 17, 2004, a Point-in-Time survey was conducted by local agencies to count the number of homeless people in Pueblo County. All of the public and private agencies that provide services to the homeless population recorded the number of people served during that day. Others went to locations where homeless are known to congregate.
The study revealed that on that day, a typical day, there were 3276 homeless people in Pueblo County. 2491 of those counted were people in families -- including 1672 children. This means that families with children account for 76% of the homeless population.
The study also confirmed that the number of homeless in Pueblo County had increased by more than 50% in the past twelve months, and that there is a nightly need for an additional 825 beds for homeless families with children.