DENVER (KDVR) — Denver has new rules surrounding its severe weather shelters, and those rules are being put into effect, just as a cold weather storm system began to blast the Denver metro area.
The city announced Friday that it would be activating its cold weather shelters on Monday afternoon, and will keep them open until Thursday. Earlier this year, Denver announced that it was consolidating its newcomer shelters with its new 24/7 cold weather shelters, due to low levels of migrants now arriving in the city, and increased calls from advocates to ensure the unhoused population has options during extreme weather.
The city ultimately closed its short-term migrant shelters in October after serving almost 43,000 people.
Under the new plan, Denver will provide 24-hour emergency shelter when overnight forecast temperatures are at or below 25 degrees, or if there is two inches of snow accumulation forecasted.
FOX31 Pinpoint Weather Team Meteorologist Liz McGiffin took a look at the approaching storm systems and said Denver may not reach 2 inches of snow, but nearby areas like the Palmer Divide could see several inches of snow, depending on the storm's track. According to the National Weather Service Boulder's forecast, Denver could see no snow during Monday's storm, but could also see 2 inches or more if the storm tracks more northerly.
When, where Denver's severe weather shelters are open
Denver activated its Cold Weather Shelter plan from 1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 4 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7.
Shelter will be available through the Department of Housing Stability at the Stone Creek shelter (former Best Western hotel) at 4595 Quebec St., as well as at facilities at 2601 W. 7th Ave., and 375 S. Zuni St.
"Cold weather poses a serious danger to people who are unsheltered and the city encourages people to come inside," the city's release stated.
There are also "front door" shelter access points in Denver, which are expanding their capacity for the cold weather. Those shelters are located at:
Families in need of shelter are instructed to call the Connection Center at 303-295-3366. More information about Denver's shelter plans is available online here.
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