Downtown El Paso Welcome Center faces possible closure as funding runs out

EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — The Downtown Welcome Center, operated by the Opportunity Center for the Homeless, could close by the end of August if new funding is not secured, according to organization officials.

The Welcome Center opened in 2022 at the request of the City of El Paso following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The center serves as a centralized point of entry for people experiencing homelessness, connecting them with more than 40 community partners that provide services including medical care, meals, case management, transitional housing, and resources for veterans.

According to the Opportunity Center, more than 11,000 people have received assistance through the Welcome Center since it opened.

“The Welcome Center is not just another shelter,” said John Martin, deputy director of the Opportunity Center for the Homeless. “It’s a point of entry.”

Martin said losing the center would have immediate consequences for the community.

“I believe that you’ll see immediate impact within two to three months,” Martin said. “You will see an increase in the number of individuals who are living on the streets.”

Destiny Venecia reports on Downtown El Paso Welcome Center faces possible closure as funding runs out (Credit: KFOX14)

The Welcome Center also includes dedicated beds for veterans experiencing homelessness.

“So what we did here is we created eight dedicated beds for homeless veterans so that they have a place to stay to get the support services they need,” said Carol, a representative with the Welcome Center.

U.S. Army veteran Dominique Pritchard, who is currently experiencing homelessness, said programs like the Welcome Center provide critical support.

“There are a lot of homeless veterans out there. I just got homeless myself,” Pritchard said. “This kind of gives a good outreach… so everybody can get the opportunity that they need and actually get that support that they need.”

Residents staying at the Welcome Center also say the facility provides safety and stability while they work toward permanent housing.

“It’s much better, much safer than being out on the street,” one resident, Carol, said. “Having a roof over your head during the nighttime and a place to sleep.”

The funding uncertainty follows a vote by the El Paso City Council last month.

Council members initially voted 6-2 to allocate approximately $430,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to the Welcome Center.

About an hour later, the council reconsidered the action.

The second vote ended in a tie, and Mayor Renard Johnson cast the deciding vote against the funding.

In a statement to KFOX14, Mayor Johnson said:

The City of El Paso remains committed to addressing homelessness. The decision regarding the Welcome Center was not about walking away from people in need.

The mayor added that the program had relied on one-time federal funding that “was never intended to support permanent operations” and said the city must make “responsible, sustainable decisions about taxpayer dollars” as those funds expire.

City Representative Ivan Niño, who initially voted in favor of the funding before changing his vote, also issued a statement.

My goal and priority is to move beyond one-time funding solutions and identify a long-term, sustainable funding strategy that allows these essential services to continue for years to come.

He added that the city’s Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget remains under development and is not scheduled for final adoption until the end of August, meaning discussions about the Welcome Center are ongoing.

The Opportunity Center said it is actively pursuing grants and other funding opportunities to keep the Welcome Center operating.

“I do believe strongly that the City of El Paso should be involved as we work through that,” Martin said. “But sometimes you have to make difficult decisions.”

According to the Opportunity Center, without additional funding, the Welcome Center could close by the end of August.

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