LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- As the nights get colder, a Las Cruces homeless shelter is seeing more people staying, and now more meals than ever are needed to feed hungry mouths.

Looking for work, the Gonzalez family moved from Los Lunas to Las Cruces, and once it got here, the job didn't work out and it was left on the street.

Sarah Gonzalez said she's been living at the Gospel Rescue Mission with her three kids for three weeks.

She said she never imagined herself in this position, but she's happy that there is somewhere to go.

“I always thought homeless were homeless and they were awful and gross, but when you get to know them it's not really that way,” said Gonzalez.

She and her husband need just a little longer in the shelter until they can get back on their feet.

“We got dropped off here, so we made it a home for now,” said Gonzalez.

“The work is running out, and they're looking for jobs. Because of the economy they're not getting the job,” said Charles Vivarette.

At the mission, more beds are being used. In the past few days, beds have spilled over into the dining hall. Now more mouths need to be fed. Last year about 28 food boxes were delivered; now that number is up to 80.

“We were feeding anywhere from 80 to 90 people a night on average. Now what we're seeing is anywhere from 120 to 140 people at night, so that tells you right there something has changed,” said Vivarette.

The gospel rescue mission said about 200 more people are staying a month compared to this time a year ago. Last year there were no families; now there are three families staying at the shelter.