Springs Rescue Mission is excited to announce that it has completed renovations to the former “4U Motel” in downtown Colorado Springs. The new building will offer 12 units of transitional housing under the name “The Studios by Springs Rescue Mission.”

Thanks to help from community partners and generous donors, the re-imagined property will now serve a dozen formerly homeless men and women working to rebuild their lives after graduating from SRM programs.

“For years, the 4U Motel was a blight — sadly, it was a hub of drug use, prostitution and illegal activity,” said Chief Development Officer Travis Williams. “We hope the renewal of this property will serve in the transformation and redemption of those who reside within its walls: a place of safety, security and hope.”

The 300-square-foot units each feature individual living and bedroom spaces, a private bathroom, storage areas, a communal kitchen (shared with one neighbor) and a community laundry area.

Completing The Studios brings the total number of SRM transitional housing units to 36 (not including the 65-unit Greenway Flats permanent supportive housing complex), addressing the city’s critical shortage of transitional housing and improving SRM’s efforts to re-integrate guests into the community. 

“As Colorado Springs continues to experience population growth and rising rents, the demand for stable housing solutions has never been greater,” Williams said. “We hope this provides a soft landing for the men and women we serve as they work to rebuild their lives and reintegrate into this community.”

The renovation of the property included:

- Asbestos abatement, mitigation of toxic contaminants, repairs to the building’s structure and parking lot, and installation of safety features;

- Replacement of major systems, including electrical, plumbing and HVAC;

- Updates include the replacement of finishes and fixtures throughout, as well as the construction of six new shared kitchens;

- Repairs to the facade, fresh paint (SRM color scheme) and signage.

Colorado Springs-based Norwood Development Group purchased the property in 2022, helped fund renovations, and leased it to Springs Rescue Mission for $1 per year indefinitely. Norwood maintains a long-standing partnership with SRM, including previous work on the 65-unit permanent supportive housing project known as Greenway Flats in 2019.

"When we learned the hotel was for sale, we immediately saw an opportunity to end the cycle of tragic and criminal activity and create a place of healing," said Norwood CEO Chris Jenkins. "With SRM located just a block away, we knew this could become an extension of their life-changing services.”

The planning and design process began in partnership with Echo Architecture in mid-2023, with the renovation itself beginning earlier this year with contractors Land & Form and FlintRock Construction.

“Working alongside Springs Rescue Mission is consistently a fulfilling experience, recognizing that the spaces we help create and build can encourage personal transformation and empower individuals to overcome homelessness,” the contractors said in a joint statement. “The Studios provide a vital subsequent step, delivering an affordable housing solution to support program graduates in their reintegration journey with the community.”

Tenants of these transitional housing programs are offered 18-month leases as they work to secure permanent housing. During that time, each resident pays program fees designed to gradually acclimate individuals to paying rent and living responsibly once again. Those fees start at $500 per month, stepping up in $50 increments to end at $750 per month.

Like all SRM’s transitional housing programs, The Studios are designed for sober living. Tenants are expected to remain clean and sober in this phase of their journey, and drugs and alcohol are not permitted on the premises.

“Spring Rescue Mission is proud to help contribute to the enhancement of downtown Colorado Springs by renovating a previously abandoned building and restoring it to serve a noble purpose in our community,” said outgoing President & CEO Jack Briggs. “We are grateful to our partners for enabling this significant improvement."

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