MCALLEN- The city of McAllen is hoping to be reimbursed hundreds of thousands of dollars they've pitched in to help with Sacred Heart Church.

Numbers of people going to the Respite Center at Sacred Heart Church have dropped significantly. The city of McAllen is hoping to get reimbursed for the money they've spent soon.

Tents, showers, security and equipment rentals are just a few of the things the city of McAllen has pitched in to help with at the Respite Center.

"From day one, we've done what we believe this community should do. And that's to treat human beings as human beings, and let somebody else worry about the immigration issue, " Rodriguez said.

City manager Roy Rodriguez tells us the city has spent more than $430,000 dollars.

"We're committed to continuing to help the respite center. Catholic charities has taken the lead, almost from the beginning. We've become a support to them."

Rodriguez says they are hoping to get reimbursed by the federal government.

"It has been an extension of what the federal government should be doing and therefor we expect to get reimbursed."

Rodriguez says they cannot continue to pay a bill that he says should be paid by the federal government. Rodriguez adds the city will continue to offer the Respite Center support as long as it's needed but he hopes there will no longer be a need for the service soon.