Metro Denver communities are preparing for an incoming blast of arctic air that’s expected to plunge the region into a deep freeze over the weekend, opening cold weather and warming shelters for people who need a warm place to stay.
“Cold weather poses a serious danger to people who are unsheltered, and the city encourages people to come inside,” Denver city officials said in a news release Tuesday.
Here’s a roundup of where people can seek shelter overnight or warm up during the day.
Denver
Four overflow cold weather shelters are open across Denver and the city will keep them open through at least 11 a.m. Tuesday, according to Denver’s Department of Housing Stability.
People in need of shelter can visit the Stone Creek shelter at 4595 Quebec St., which used to be a Best Western hotel, and facilities at 2601 West 7th Ave. and 375 South Zuni St., city officials said.
People are also encouraged to go to the city’s regular “front door” shelter access points, including:
- Denver Rescue Mission’s Lawrence Street Community Center at 2222 Lawrence St. for individual men, open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily;
- Samaritan House at 2301 Lawrence St. for individual women, open from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. daily;
- Urban Peak at 1630 South Acoma St. for 15- to 20-year-olds, open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily;
- The Salvation Army Connection Center for families with children, which people should call for intake information at 303-295-3366 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday and Sunday.
Volunteers of America’s Colorado branch is also opening shelters and extending facility hours during the freezing weather.
From Friday to Monday, women in need of shelter can warm up, find a place to sleep and enjoy a hot meal at VOA’s Sinton Sanctuary at 1147 Santa Fe Drive in Denver.
The VOA’s Mission Community Center at 2877 Lawrence St. in Denver also will extend its hours on Saturday to serve hot meals and offer everyone a place to warm up, according to an emailed statement from the group.
Aurora
Aurora opens severe weather shelters when temperatures fall to 20 degrees or 32 degrees with one inch of precipitation, including at:
- The Aurora Day Resource Center, 3387 E. 19th Place, for adults 18 years and older. The shelter opens at 5 p.m., for activation updates text “Advance” to 38276 or call 303-343-7808;
- Comitis Crisis Center, 2178 Victor St., for families. Text “Warmup” to 313131 for updates or call 303-341-9160.
Englewood
The city has two overnight severe weather shelters when temperatures dip to 20 degrees or 32 degrees with snow or rain for more than three hours overnight.
Englewood’s severe weather shelters include:
- HAAT Force at 4300 S. Lincoln St. in Englewood Hotline: 720-483-7864;
- Overflow shelter: Movement 5280, 3190 S Grant St. in Englewood, Hotline (call after 2pm): 720-483-7864.
Englewood day warming shelters are open when temperatures are expected to fall below 20 degrees or below freezing with rain or snow. Warming shelter hours vary by day and location and are available online.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
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