Winter Shelters
In preparation for unhoused individuals needing shelter on extremely cold nights, the following are two potential options that operate in Arapahoe County. There are some important differences between who each can serve this year. Severe Weather Shelter Network (SWSN) shelters people on the floor of a church and serves single adults who are able to get up and down from the floor under their own power. HAAT Force serves those who cannot stay in a congregate setting like SWSN, such as: families, people with pets, people with physical disabilities, etc.
Severe Weather Shelter Network (SWSN)
About
Severe Weather Shelter Network partners with organizations and agencies in the community to provide emergency overnight shelter on life threatening winter nights for individuals living on the streets. They provide shelter for single men and women. Click here for more information.
What constitutes “Life Threatening?”
They use the generally accepted guidelines of 32 degrees or colder with wet conditions or 20 degrees or colder with dry conditions. These are the overnight temperatures and conditions that will mobilize volunteers to open designated shelter space.
How do I get connected?
To stay with Severe Weather Shelter Network, an individual MUST register online at https://swshelternetwork.com/get-help/. Registrations for previous years are no longer applicable, so registrations must be for the current season. Registrations no longer need to be done in person like they did in the past. Although it’s now possible to register on the same day as a sheltering night, people should still register ahead of time.
Operations for the 2021-2022 Winter
October 1st to April 30th .
What to expect?
If the individual is registered, they will call the hotline at 720-398-4041, or check the website, to see if SWSN will be operating that night. If SWSN is operating that night and the individual has been registered for the season, they will then have to reserve a spot for the night. Reservations are limited and operate on a first-come-first-serve basis.
If the person has been able to reserve a spot for the night, they will receive information about where the sheltering location will be. Sheltering will happen at a local church in Englewood, where people will receive a mat to sleep on the floor, as well as a warm meal. For individuals coming from Littleton who need to take the bus to Englewood, bus tickets will be handed out most likely at the Life Center.
SWSN operates in three Regions, the South Region (Englewood, Littleton), the Central Region (Lakewood), and the North Region (Arvada).
HAAT Force
About
HAAT Force partners with organizations and agencies in the community to provide motel vouchers on life threatening winter nights for individuals living on the streets. They use the same definition for “life threatening” as SWSN: 32 degrees or colder with wet conditions or 20 degrees or colder with dry conditions. Click here for more information.
They differ from SWSN in that they will shelter the following: families with children, people with physical disabilities, people with pets or service animals, pregnant women, people recently released from hospital in need of a place to recover, vulnerable older adults.
Operations for the 2021-2022 Winter
October 1st to April 30th
How do I get connected?
HAAT Force does not have online registration option, so pre-registration for the season will mostly happen at rotating locations or on the day of the sheltering night. Registrations for previous years are no longer applicable, so registrations must be for the current season. If possible, it’s best to register ahead of time. To learn about registration sites, call the hotline at 720-483-7864.
What to expect?
If the individual is registered, they will call the hotline at 720-483-7864 to see if vouchers will be issued. The hotline will be updated around 8:30am or 9am. If HAAT Force is operating that night and the individual has been registered for the season, they will then be eligible to receive a voucher.
If the individual is able to secure a motel voucher for the night, they will have to go to a designated location to pick up the voucher (locations vary). They will receive two bus tickets as well as some food for the night.