The only low-barrier homeless shelter in Stanislaus County is at risk of closure after county leaders warned they may not be able to keep funding the program past the spring.

The Access Center Emergency Shelter, known as ACES, provides 182 beds in downtown Modesto for people with mental illness, substance use struggles, or pets -- populations often turned away from traditional shelters. The facility has been run by the Salvation Army since it opened in 2019.

Major Darren Stratton of the Salvation Army said the shelter is full nearly every night.

"The shelter accommodates 182 beds, plus four additional MPD referral beds, and those beds are generally full every night," Stratton said.

But the program's $3.2 million annual budget depends heavily on state Homeless Housing, Assistance and Pr

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