Colder temperatures are expected this week and the Denver Department of Housing Stability will provide extra shelter from 1 p.m. Tuesday through 11 a.m. Wednesday.
The city’s cold weather shelter activation plan kicks in when one of the following criteria is met:
- The National Weather Service issues a cold weather advisory, extreme cold watch or warning
- overnight low temperatures of 25 degrees Fahrenheit or below are forecast
- 2 or more inches of snow are expected in Denver
The National Weather Service in Boulder said the high temperature will be around 48 degrees on Tuesday and drop to about 19 degrees overnight.
This season, families that need shelter must go in person with their children to the Inn at the Highlands, 2601 Zuni St. Vouchers will no longer be issued over the phone.
Intake hours for family shelter vouchers begin at 7 a.m. on the day the shelter is activated. Voucher capacity has been expanded and staffing at the Connection Center has been increased.
If motel voucher capacity is reached, a dedicated family congregate shelter will be opened as backup when needed. Families who need additional support or have questions can call the Connection Center at 303-295-3366.
Individuals who need shelter should go to the city’s “front door” shelter access points, denvergov.org/findshelter, which have expanded capacity for the cold weather. Front door shelters include:
- For individual men – Denver Rescue Mission Lawrence Street Community Center, 2222 Lawrence St.
- For individual women – Samaritan House, 2301 Lawrence St.
- For youth/young adults ages 12-24 – Urban Peak, 1630 S. Acoma St.
- For families – Inn at the Highland, 2601 Zuni St. For additional support or questions contact the Connection Center at 303-295-3366.
Round-the-clock shelter will be available at The Aspen shelter, the former DoubleTree hotel, 4040 Quebec St., and at city facilities at 2601 W. 7th Ave and 375 S. Zuni.
All shelter sites are pet-friendly and provide food, showers, and blankets. Transportation will run daily from downtown shelters to cold weather shelter sites. Security will be present at each site and shelters will deactivate once the weather improves.
Last winter, the city provided more than 67,000 nights of shelter to people in need.