In an effort to do everything Colorado Springs can to help people who are homeless get inside during this winter’s cold snaps, Mountain Metro Transit will provide free city bus rides for people to reach emergency shelters or the downtown bus hub.

“We’ve had drivers say we’ve seen people who need a ride, they don’t have any money and we’re leaving them out in the cold,” said Elaine Sheridan, spokesperson for the city’s public bus system.

This is the first time for the pilot program, Sheridan said.

Mayor Yemi Mobolade announced the new initiative during a news conference held outside the city administration building Friday in the chilly afternoon.

The city’s housing and homelessness response department will pay for the rides that will be free to people who live on the streets, Sheridan said.

The program will be activated day and night when temperatures fall below 19 degrees, Mobolade said.

Specifics of the initiative, such as how people who qualify will be identified, are still being worked out, Sheridan said.

“We’re expecting most people to ride with their passes,” she said, “but there will be people who really need this service.”

Among other changes to the Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management’s emergency sheltering protocols during this winter season is increased capacity to accommodate nearly 1,000 people per night.

The expansion in cots and mats is being spread across three organizations that provide primary homeless shelters for single adults, families and military veterans.

The additional space is being paid for by regional foundation grants and donations totaling $860,000, toward a goal of $900,000 for the season, said Aimee Cox, the city’s chief housing and homelessness response officer.

As the new severe and extreme winter weather shelter plans were activated last weekend when temperatures fell below 20 degrees Fahrenheit and again this week on Wednesday and Thursday, Springs Rescue Mission lifted restrictions for people who may have been on behavior-related probation or other limitations and allowed them to spend the night inside.

Catholic Charities of Central Colorado offered vouchers at three motels for families.

And The Sanctuary Church opened its gym for overnighters, including about 115 people on Thursday, according to Melissa Oskin, founder of Hope COS, which provides popup warming and overnight sheltering when temperatures dip below 20 degrees.

Springs Rescue Mission saw 475 on cold nights this week, said Travis Williams, president and CEO.

In response to questions from media regarding complaints from neighbors who live around The Sanctuary Church and say people are littering, trespassing on private property, yelling at neighbors and defecating in their yards, Joel Siebersma, director of mental and behavioral health integration for Hope COS, said the organization is in contact with neighbors and the nearby West Middle School about such problems.

“We have working relationships in these types of situations,” he said. “It’s tough to have these scary interactions, and I get it. I understand why it’s disconcerting. We try to mitigate the effects as best we can.”

Some people who use the church as a shelter also volunteer to help pick up trash as the weather warms up and they leave the facility until the next inclement temperature event, he added.

Cox said such complaints also come across her desk, and her office works with the city’s police and fire outreach teams and organizations that provide homeless services to balance meeting the needs of street people and local residents at the same time.

“It’s a continuing process,” she said.