High demand at emergency cold weather overnight shelters has prompted Denver’s housing department to open a fifth shelter at the Denver Coliseum starting Saturday.

At the onset of more frigid weather, Denver’s Department of Housing Stability (HOST) is extending its current cold weather shelter activation until at least Thursday, Feb. 20. Until then, overnight temperatures in Denver expect to reach below the city’s emergency housing threshold of 25 degrees.

The shelters are located at The Aspen shelter (former DoubleTree hotel), 4040 Quebec St., and at city facilities located at 2601 W. 7th Ave. and 375 S. Zuni St.

“Emergency shelter space is tight as no one is turned away,” Derek Woodbury, a HOST spokesperson, said on Thursday.

An additional 24/7 shelter will open 3 p.m. Saturday at the Denver Coliseum, 4600 N. Humboldt St. Beds are set up along the hallways outside the bowl area.

“We have seen significant demand for cold weather shelter and see the need for additional capacity,” Woodbury said.

The historic arena has previously served as an emergency shelter in the past two years.

So far this winter season, HOST has activated weather shelters five times. The longest time spanned 32 days from late December through all of January.

“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,” Katherine Wamsley, another spokesperson at HOST, previously told The Denver Gazette in an email.

The city also distributes fliers, hats, gloves, hand warmers and other winter gear, according to the department.

Additionally, Denver offers 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.