Now that cold weather, wind and snow have arrived, more and more unhoused people are opting to stay in a shelter. For the most part, these shelters are run by private nonprofit (mostly church-related) agencies, with transportation and some funding assistance from the city. Admittedly, these shelter options don’t work for everyone. People who don’t deal well with rules, waiting in lines, curfews, or lots of people crowded together in confined spaces--or with people in general--will avoid these places except on the most frigid nights. And there is virtually no place that accommodates couples without children (but see The Action Center info below), or those with pets (other than service animals). But for those who want a (usually) warm, dry place to spend the night, and are willing and able to navigate the shelter system, here are some options.
(Note that valid state-issued IDs and proof of TB shots may or may not be needed to get into these places, and if they are, the facilities generally give you time to get them. Call or go to the facility to find out.)
(Note that valid state-issued IDs and proof of TB shots may or may not be needed to get into these places, and if they are, the facilities generally give you time to get them. Call or go to the facility to find out.)
Single women and transgender individuals age 18 and up (without children)
Delores Project Emergency Overflow Beds* (Address confidential) Call 303-534-5411 on Mondays for weekly bed availability--9am for first time guests, and 11:30am for returning guests--or at 5:30pm nightly for no-show availability. A small number of beds are randomly assigned Mondays at 9:30am at the Gathering Place (1535 High St). The facility is closed 8am-5pm M-F but guests may stay in on weekends. Dinner, snacks and a light breakfast are provided.
Women’s Homeless Initiative/Capitol Hill United Ministries* 20-25 women are hosted nightly by various faith communities throughout the area. Go to St Francis Center (2323 Curtis St) each morning to apply for beds which are randomly assigned at 8:15am. Women assigned beds check in at 5pm. No-show beds are assigned to women on wait list at 5:30pm. Buses transport women from St Francis to the location _starting at 5:30pm, and back starting at 7am the next morning. Dinner and breakfast bags are provided at the host location.
Samaritan House Holy Rosary Program (Catholic Charities) / Denver’s Road Home Overflow Shelter Access* Go to Samaritan House (Broadway and Lawrence) from 5-6pm any night. 70 women may stay there, and additional women are transported to the Peoria overflow facility starting at 7pm, returning to St Francis (2323 Curtis St) in the morning. (No walkups are allowed at Peoria.) Dinner is served starting at 6pm before women are transported to Peoria. Women participating in this emergency shelter program are given preference for any openings in the Samaritan House Extended Stay program.** _Openings for this program are randomly assigned at 8pm.
(See below for info on the Action Center and motel vouchers.)
Single men age 18 and up
(without children)
Salvation Army/Crossroads* Go to Crossroads (1901 29th St) by 4:30pm Sundays and Wednesdays to sign up for randomly assigned emergency shelter beds. Those assigned a bed will keep it until the next random drawing is held. Working homeless individuals can obtain a bed with storage for a modest reservation fee.
Denver Rescue Mission’s Lawrence Street Shelter / Denver’s Road Home Overflow Shelter Access** Go to the Lawrence Street Community Center between 5:30am and 12 noon daily to sign up for the bed lottery. _(You can also sign up each morning before leaving the Lawrence Street Shelter OR Overflow Shelter, if you stayed there that night). The bed lottery will assign you either a bed or a mat at the Lawrence Street Shelter (200 beds and 115 mats) or to the Overflow Shelter (up-to 300 mats). Bed assignments are posted at 12:30pm at the Lawrence Street Community Center. Walk-ups for shelter access will be accepted at the Lawrence Street Community Center beginning at 6:30pm as space is available until 10pm. Once capacity is reached at these facilities and/or after all transportation has left for the Overflow Shelter, and the Lawrence Street Shelter doors close at 10pm, you will be referred to other area shelters as they have capacity. The Lawrence Street Community Center serves dinner from 6:30-8:00pm; and breakfast from 6–7:30am. Buses transport guests to the Overflow Shelter starting at 7pm, leaving from the Lawrence Street Community Center; and from the Overflow Shelter back to the Lawrence Street Community Center, starting at 6am. (No walkups are allowed at Peoria.)
(See below for info on The Action Center, and on motel vouchers for men with medical conditions.)
Unaccompanied Youth
Urban Peak* (1630 S Acoma St) For ages 15-21. Call the shelter at (303) 974-2908 prior to your arrival to be sure there’s a vacancy. They serve three meals a day and snacks. If the shelter is full you’ll be referred to other sheltering options.
The Comitis Crisis Center* (2178 Victor Street, Aurora--303-341-9160), operated by Mile High Behavioral Health Care, provides the Homeless and Runaway Youth Shelter program for young people ages 12 through 17. The program has two parts. Safe Place provides a place where a youth needing a break from a difficult family situation can stay for 24 hours. You can call ahead or just walk in. Often a guest will transition from Safe Place to the Basic Care Program--a 21-day program with family reunification as the goal--call the 24-hour number above for more information.
Families
Family Promise Eight to ten families are hosted by various faith communities throughout the area. To be eligible, you must have at least one child under age 18 living with you full time. Heads of families should call (303) 675-0713 for additional eligibility info and to see if there are openings. Host locations serve breakfast and dinners, and showers and laundry facilities are available. During the day families can use the services of the program’s day center. The program may be able to arrange off-site shelter for family cats and dogs through a partnership with PetSmart. Families generally remain in the program for up to 60 days.
Comitis Crisis Center (2178 Victor Street, Aurora--303-341-9160), operated by Mile High Behavioral Health Care, has an emergency overnight shelter with about 40 beds for families with a youth under 18. To get in, go to the center at 6:30pm. A lottery will be held if there aren’t enough beds for all. Families may also apply for Comitis’ longer term transitional housing program, for which there is a waiting list.
The Family Services Program (2301 Lawrence--303-294-0241), run by the Samaritan House, has a family floor with 21 rooms. Families admitted into the program can stay up to four months. Admission is through a lottery which is held each day that one or more rooms become available. Call by 7:30am to find out if a lottery will be held that day--and for eligibility info and program details.
(See below for info on the Action Center and above for info on motel vouchers.)
The Action Center _(8755 West 14th Avenue, Lakewood--303-237-7704) has a shelter program with 22 beds for couples, families and single adults. Guests may stay in the program for up to 45 days while working with case managers to develop and accomplish housing and other goals. Each day, shelter guests receive breakfast and dinner and can choose to pack a lunch. The shelter is closed between 6:50 am and 5:30 pm. Call for more information on eligibility and to find out if there are openings.
* For transgender individuals--
Gender determined by self-identification in this program.
**For transgender individuals--
Gender determined by sex designation on state-issued identification in this program.
Delores Project Emergency Overflow Beds* (Address confidential) Call 303-534-5411 on Mondays for weekly bed availability--9am for first time guests, and 11:30am for returning guests--or at 5:30pm nightly for no-show availability. A small number of beds are randomly assigned Mondays at 9:30am at the Gathering Place (1535 High St). The facility is closed 8am-5pm M-F but guests may stay in on weekends. Dinner, snacks and a light breakfast are provided.
Women’s Homeless Initiative/Capitol Hill United Ministries* 20-25 women are hosted nightly by various faith communities throughout the area. Go to St Francis Center (2323 Curtis St) each morning to apply for beds which are randomly assigned at 8:15am. Women assigned beds check in at 5pm. No-show beds are assigned to women on wait list at 5:30pm. Buses transport women from St Francis to the location _starting at 5:30pm, and back starting at 7am the next morning. Dinner and breakfast bags are provided at the host location.
Samaritan House Holy Rosary Program (Catholic Charities) / Denver’s Road Home Overflow Shelter Access* Go to Samaritan House (Broadway and Lawrence) from 5-6pm any night. 70 women may stay there, and additional women are transported to the Peoria overflow facility starting at 7pm, returning to St Francis (2323 Curtis St) in the morning. (No walkups are allowed at Peoria.) Dinner is served starting at 6pm before women are transported to Peoria. Women participating in this emergency shelter program are given preference for any openings in the Samaritan House Extended Stay program.** _Openings for this program are randomly assigned at 8pm.
(See below for info on the Action Center and motel vouchers.)
Single men age 18 and up
(without children)
Salvation Army/Crossroads* Go to Crossroads (1901 29th St) by 4:30pm Sundays and Wednesdays to sign up for randomly assigned emergency shelter beds. Those assigned a bed will keep it until the next random drawing is held. Working homeless individuals can obtain a bed with storage for a modest reservation fee.
Denver Rescue Mission’s Lawrence Street Shelter / Denver’s Road Home Overflow Shelter Access** Go to the Lawrence Street Community Center between 5:30am and 12 noon daily to sign up for the bed lottery. _(You can also sign up each morning before leaving the Lawrence Street Shelter OR Overflow Shelter, if you stayed there that night). The bed lottery will assign you either a bed or a mat at the Lawrence Street Shelter (200 beds and 115 mats) or to the Overflow Shelter (up-to 300 mats). Bed assignments are posted at 12:30pm at the Lawrence Street Community Center. Walk-ups for shelter access will be accepted at the Lawrence Street Community Center beginning at 6:30pm as space is available until 10pm. Once capacity is reached at these facilities and/or after all transportation has left for the Overflow Shelter, and the Lawrence Street Shelter doors close at 10pm, you will be referred to other area shelters as they have capacity. The Lawrence Street Community Center serves dinner from 6:30-8:00pm; and breakfast from 6–7:30am. Buses transport guests to the Overflow Shelter starting at 7pm, leaving from the Lawrence Street Community Center; and from the Overflow Shelter back to the Lawrence Street Community Center, starting at 6am. (No walkups are allowed at Peoria.)
(See below for info on The Action Center, and on motel vouchers for men with medical conditions.)
Unaccompanied Youth
Urban Peak* (1630 S Acoma St) For ages 15-21. Call the shelter at (303) 974-2908 prior to your arrival to be sure there’s a vacancy. They serve three meals a day and snacks. If the shelter is full you’ll be referred to other sheltering options.
The Comitis Crisis Center* (2178 Victor Street, Aurora--303-341-9160), operated by Mile High Behavioral Health Care, provides the Homeless and Runaway Youth Shelter program for young people ages 12 through 17. The program has two parts. Safe Place provides a place where a youth needing a break from a difficult family situation can stay for 24 hours. You can call ahead or just walk in. Often a guest will transition from Safe Place to the Basic Care Program--a 21-day program with family reunification as the goal--call the 24-hour number above for more information.
Families
Family Promise Eight to ten families are hosted by various faith communities throughout the area. To be eligible, you must have at least one child under age 18 living with you full time. Heads of families should call (303) 675-0713 for additional eligibility info and to see if there are openings. Host locations serve breakfast and dinners, and showers and laundry facilities are available. During the day families can use the services of the program’s day center. The program may be able to arrange off-site shelter for family cats and dogs through a partnership with PetSmart. Families generally remain in the program for up to 60 days.
Comitis Crisis Center (2178 Victor Street, Aurora--303-341-9160), operated by Mile High Behavioral Health Care, has an emergency overnight shelter with about 40 beds for families with a youth under 18. To get in, go to the center at 6:30pm. A lottery will be held if there aren’t enough beds for all. Families may also apply for Comitis’ longer term transitional housing program, for which there is a waiting list.
The Family Services Program (2301 Lawrence--303-294-0241), run by the Samaritan House, has a family floor with 21 rooms. Families admitted into the program can stay up to four months. Admission is through a lottery which is held each day that one or more rooms become available. Call by 7:30am to find out if a lottery will be held that day--and for eligibility info and program details.
(See below for info on the Action Center and above for info on motel vouchers.)
The Action Center _(8755 West 14th Avenue, Lakewood--303-237-7704) has a shelter program with 22 beds for couples, families and single adults. Guests may stay in the program for up to 45 days while working with case managers to develop and accomplish housing and other goals. Each day, shelter guests receive breakfast and dinner and can choose to pack a lunch. The shelter is closed between 6:50 am and 5:30 pm. Call for more information on eligibility and to find out if there are openings.
* For transgender individuals--
Gender determined by self-identification in this program.
**For transgender individuals--
Gender determined by sex designation on state-issued identification in this program.
Motel Voucher Program (DHS)
(Department of Human Services):
If no other shelter options are available,
hotel vouchers may be issued to:
1.Single women
2. Families
3.Adults with issued medical statements
verifying medical conditions.
The following policies apply to the Motel Voucher Program:
Vouchers will NOT be distributed for failure to access shelter
options that have capacity (i.e. missed bus, behavioral
restrictions, refusal of shelter options available, etc.)
Individuals or heads of household must demonstrate residency in
Denver County.
People may not receive more than 12 nights of motel vouchering
within the previous 12 consecutive months.
During winter months (October-April), if the overnight lows
are below 40 degrees, WITHOUT proof of residency,
DHS will voucher after 7pm at Samaritan House
(Park Ave. at Lawrence) for single nights only,
Those eligible for motel vouchers can request them
at the following locations and times...
9am - 3pm M-F DHS, 1200 Federal Blvd, General Assistance,
5pm - 8:30pm 7 days/wk Samaritan House (Park Ave at Lawrence)
after 9pm. 7 days/wk Denver Sheriff’s Department/Downtown
Detention Center (490 W Colfax Ave)--families only
(When cold weather policy is in effect from Oct-April, single women may receive a motel voucher from the Sheriff’s Department on an emergency basis when accompanied by a community partner--e.g. Denver Police Department/Street Outreach Team workers.)
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