With another round of freezing nights in the forecast, Jefferson County officials are flipping the switch on their cold-weather shelter system for the weekend of March 14-16. Starting Saturday and running through Monday, the county will move people sleeping outdoors into a mix of motel vouchers, warming centers, and mobile shelter units where possible. County staff caution that specific options can shift with changing weather, so residents and service providers are being urged to keep an eye on local updates.
What Will Open And Who It Is For
In a post on Jefferson County, officials said the March 14-16 activation will tap both congregate shelters and non-congregate options such as motel rooms. According to Jefferson County, motel vouchers are reserved for people who have already connected with municipal or county homeless navigators, and they cannot be issued the day the activation begins. A separate resource page on Jefferson County lists an after-hours severe-weather hotline along with a notification system for future activations.
How To Get Help During An Activation
Anyone who needs shelter, or is trying to help someone who does, is asked to contact a local homeless navigator or call the severe-weather hotline at 303-271-7511 on days when the system is activated. Motel vouchers require a vulnerability assessment and must be set up in advance through navigation services, so people cannot wait until the first frigid night to apply. Daytime warming centers, including several Jefferson County library branches, will be open as temporary safe spaces from the cold.
Why Officials Are Taking Action Now
County leaders say the move is tied directly to Jefferson County's cold-weather thresholds and the latest forecasts, which triggered a public health advisory. As Denver7 reported earlier this winter, six cities and Jefferson County signed an intergovernmental agreement and pooled about 2 million dollars to keep motel vouchers and mobile shelters running in the face of rising homelessness. Officials say the regional strategy is meant to keep people alive through dangerous stretches of weather while longer-term housing solutions are developed.
How Neighbors Can Help
Residents who want to pitch in are being urged to work through established nonprofits rather than improvising on their own. Jefferson County's homeless navigation team can be reached at [email protected] for guidance on referrals and volunteering. People can dial 2-1-1 for statewide information on shelters and winter supplies, or contact local service providers directly to ask what donations or volunteer shifts are most useful right now. If someone appears to be in immediate danger from exposure, officials stress that the first call should be to 911.
