Staff at Denver homeless shelters are putting down floor mats and beefing up emergency services to prepare for a polar cold front that will put homeless people without shelter in peril as temperatures drop to below zero over the Christmas weekend.
“It’s dangerous to be outside, especially with this storm coming,” said Stacy Parker, spokeswoman for the Denver Rescue Mission’s chain of eight shelters and facilities for the homeless. “In preparation for this cold snap, we’re making sure we have enough room to get people out of the cold.”
The Denver Rescue Mission is boosting its capacity at three homeless shelters for men in the Denver metro area by hundreds of beds and floor sleeping mats to around 900 beds. Staff members at the shelters are warning people about the cold front, Parker said.
Women, children and men will also be allowed to stay for breakfast and lunch from 6 a.m. to around 5 p.m. at the rescue mission’s Morris Street Community Center, 2222 Lawrence St. Dinner will only be served to men in the evening, Parker said.
Sleeping capacity is also being added to the mission’s 48th Street Center in northeast Park Hill, which is owned by the city of Denver and run by the Denver Rescue Mission. The Holly Center at 5725 E. 39th Ave. will have beds or mats for 200 people, she said.
“We’re finding space for as many people as possible,” Parker said.
Buses will circulate through the city picking up homeless people and taking them to not only the Rescue Mission but numerous other shelters including those run by Catholic Charities, which offers beds for women and children.
As of January 2017, Denver volunteers counted around 5,000 homeless people in Denver.
Anyone interested in helping the homeless can donate money or clothing at the Ministry Outreach Center at 5725 E. 39th Ave., Parker said.
Blankets, gloves, coats, hats, boots, socks are greatly needed, she said.
After high temperatures in the 60s on Wednesday, the weather will take a sharp turn. Snow is expected on Thursday, and temperatures will quickly plummet, the National Weather Service says. Thursday’s high is forecast in the 20s, and Saturday is expected to bring bitter cold with lows below zero and a high in the teens.
“Wednesday will be the final warm day before a chance of snow and cold temperatures throughout the region Thursday,” the weather service says.
