Denver Activates Emergency Shelters Amid Coming Cold Snap
Denver is activating its emergency shelter operations for the fifth time this year, beginning Wednesday afternoon, in anticipation of frigid temperatures this Thanksgiving weekend. City officials have warned that temperatures in the region are expected to drop to the low-to-mid 20s from Wednesday through Monday, posing a significant risk to individuals without shelter.
Starting at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, three emergency shelters will open: the former Best Western hotel at 4595 Quebec St., which now serves as a homeless shelter, along with city facilities located at 2601 W. 7th Ave. and 375 S. Zuni St. These shelters will remain operational until closing at 11 a.m. on Monday.
This is the third activation of Denver’s emergency shelter plan this season, with previous openings occurring on November 19 and during the first significant snowstorm three weeks prior. The city’s cold weather plan aims to provide additional shelter options for those not currently residing in city shelters or third-party homeless units.
City officials emphasized the life-threatening dangers that cold weather poses to unsheltered individuals. Denver offers a variety of shelters catering to specific demographics, including the Denver Rescue Mission Lawrence Street Community Center for men, Samaritan House for women, and Urban Peak for youth aged 15-20. Families in need of shelter are urged to contact the Connection Center at (303) 295-3366 for assistance.
As Denver braces for an icy Thanksgiving weekend, the city is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of its most vulnerable residents.
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Photo credit denvergazette.com
