As cold approaches, Mayor Mike Johnston opens Denver Coliseum as emergency homeless shelter
FILE PHOTO: Rob Mays walks his and his wife Kate Mays’ 13-year-old service dog, Shady, across the street to go to the bathroom while waiting to be let into the Denver Coliseum, whichopened as a 24-hour emergency warming shelter on Wednesday.
TIMOTHY HURST/THE DENVER GAZETTE
As cold weather creeps up over the next few days, Denver’s housing department plans to open the Denver Coliseum to homeless people as an emergency shelter for a week starting Friday afternoon.
In a statement, Mayor Mike Johnston described the move as a “pilot” project. The mayor said the city is testing the idea perhaps as an alternative solution to house people when the city sweeps an encampment during frigid weather.
“Cold weather poses a serious danger to people who are unsheltered,” the mayor said. “We’ve heard City Council’s desire to stand up additional cold weather shelter when temperatures reach 32 degrees, and this pilot will allow us to determine the viability of doing so next winter.”
Johnston last week rejected a proposal approved by a divided council that would have banned homeless camp sweeps when temperatures fall below 32 degrees, arguing the measure would have limited the city’s ability to move people during winter months. The proposal, he added, is “unworkable because it does not allow for moving tents when there are public health and safety exceptions or when they are blocking public right of way.”
The coliseum, best known for events and rodeos, will operate as a 24/7, round-the-clock shelter from 3 p.m. on Friday until 9 a.m. on Feb. 16.
Overnight temperatures in Denver expect to average below freezing.
Individuals escaping the cold can walk up directly to the building at 4600 N. Humboldt St. at any point. There are no buses transporting people to or from the coliseum.
This is the second time since 2022 that the place will open as a homeless shelter.
People can also find shelter at the following:
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The Lawrence Street Community Center at 2222 Lawrence St. for individual men
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The Samaritan House at 2301 Lawrence St for individual women
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The Urban Peak at 2100 Stout St. for youth ages 15 to 20
Families in need of shelter should call 303-295-3366, the city said.
Meanwhile, Denver Parks and Recreation will open recreation centers as daytime warming centers during regular business hours on Saturday, Feb. 10. Each center offers drinking water, restrooms, and a place to sit.