Denver is offering four emergency shelter site options for homeless people to stay warm ahead of extreme cold conditions slated for this weekend.

The artic blast, which meteorologists expect to last from late Friday to Monday, is expected to send temperatures to as low as -10 degrees. That includes the potential impact of snow hitting the metro area.

Denver’s Department of Housing Stability (HOST) has, once again, extended its operations of emergency shelters until 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21. By that time, HOST will have operated its emergency shelter sites for 22 days straight through two different extensions since Dec. 30.

24/7 shelter sites HOST offers are located at Stone Creek shelter (former Best Western hotel), 4595 Quebec St., the Aspen shelter (former DoubleTree hotel), 4040 Quebec St., plus city facilities located at 2601 W. 7th Ave. and 375 S. Zuni St.

Amid this weekend’s arctic blast, HOST is offering additional shelter within the the former DoubleTree hotel’s ballroom. 

“Cold weather poses a serious danger to people who are unsheltered, and the city encourages people to come inside,” HOST officials said in a statement Tuesday.

One of Denver’s most common strategies to provide homeless people shelter during extreme weather is its emergency cold weather shelter protocol, which typically lasts five-to-seven days and provides three shelter sites.

But to provide outreach to those living on the streets in winter weather remains a more complicated challenge.

“HOST and our contracted partner outreach teams work to engage with their clients and also head out into the city to reach as many folks living unsheltered as possible,” Katherine Wamsley, a spokesperson at HOST, told The Denver Gazette in an email.

The city’s cold weather plan provides additional shelter for people who are not in city shelters, or third-party homeless units.

“Our teams provide outreach coverage during day and evening hours during cold weather activation and will coordinate with multiple agencies and partners to connect with individuals in need of shelter,” Wamsley said, adding homeless advocates also assist in the effort.

Other strategies HOST implements during cold weather shelter outreach is through the use of printed fliers and donations of hats, gloves, hand warmers and other winter gear, according to the department.

Additionally, Denver offers “Front Door” shelter access points for specific homeless demographics. Those sites include:

• For individual men: Denver Rescue Mission Lawrence Street Community Center, 2222 Lawrence St.

• For individual women: Samaritan House, 2301 Lawrence St.

• For youth ages 15-20: Urban Peak, 1630 S. Acoma St.

• Families in need of shelter should call the Connection Center at (303) 295-3366.

“If a person is unable to make it to a Front Door shelter on their own, outreach can sometimes also assist with transportation,” Wamsley said, adding transportation to the other emergency shelters are offered at the Front Door sites.

Prior to the Thanksgiving shelter activation, Denver last opened emergency shelters on Nov. 18 and during the winter season’s first snowstorm in early November.

If the shelters reach capacity, then HOST will consider opening other locations “to meet the needs of the community,” Wamsley said.

Denver’s homeless population remains high.

A Metro Denver Homeless Initiative point-in-time count, conducted on a single day in January, pegged Denver’s total number of homeless people at 6,539 in 2024, compared to 5,818 last year.

And the city saw only 150 fewer “unsheltered” people — individuals who sleep in public places, such as parks and in cars — compared to the previous year’s count.

Between 2022 and 2023, Denver’s “unsheltered” homeless population grew by 110 homeless people. This time around, that number dropped from 1,423 to 1,273 in 2024.