The Department of Housing Stability (HOST) partners with many agencies citywide to provide shelter for people experiencing homelessness. There are many shelter facilities throughout the city, so rather than requiring people in crisis to navigate a complex system, we have identified specific centrally-located facilities as the “front door” access to the entire system. These locations have longer hours for intake and have transportation available to other facilities. They can also help people navigate which shelter facility is the best option for their individual situation.
HOST is now offering a free circulator bus service for persons experiencing homelessness from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. See the route, stops, and services here(PDF, 97KB) / en español(PDF, 90KB). See also this list of rider expectations(PDF, 47KB) / en español(PDF, 51KB).
If you or someone you know is in housing crisis and needs shelter urgently, please refer them to “front door” facilities, where we offer both walk-up access and have the ability to refer (and sometimes transport) to other shelters as appropriate. Walk-up only centers do not refer to other facilities.
Find this information in printable form here.(PDF, 153KB)
Walk-up Shelter Access & "Front Door" Referral Centers in Denver
For individual men:
Front door: Lawrence Street Community Center, 2222 Lawrence St., (303) 294-0157, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, it is advised to arrive before 6 p.m. for transportation to other locations;
Walk-up access only: Crossroads, 1901 29th St., (720) 305-4640, entry from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, no transportation to other shelters from this location
For individual women:
Front door: Samaritan House, 2301 Lawrence St., (303) 294-0241, 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. daily, it is advised to arrive between 4 and 4:30 p.m. for shelter or transportation to other locations
For families with minor children:
Access to family shelters through The Salvation Army Connection Center
Phone Intake & Eligibility: (303) 295-3366, 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to noon Saturday and Sunday
Walk Up Intake: 11701 E 33rd Ave, 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to noon Saturday and Sunday
For youth ages 15-20:
Walk-up access only: Urban Peak, 2100 Stout St., (303) 974-2908, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays
For those experiencing domestic violence:
SafeHouse Denver, 24-hour crisis hotline (303) 318-9989
Service Animals and Pets:
Service animals are allowed in our shelters. Alternately, Denver Animal Protection offers a Safe Haven Program, which provides two to four weeks of shelter for pets of families experiencing homelessness and during severe weather events. See the Save Haven site for more information.
Other Shelter Facilities
These providers are also part of Denver’s shelter network, but do not transport to other facilities, and are therefore not recommended “front door” entry points. Locations listed here without an address are NOT walk-up facilities.
Delores Project: women and transgender individuals, (303) 534-5411, beds are assigned only by phone at 10 a.m. daily
These facilities are available for people to access during daytime business hours listed, but are NOT overnight shelters. A brief description of services and supports provided is included below.
The City of Denver has endeavored to offer a range of alternatives to traditional congregate shelters. The alternatives include options for couples, people with pets, transgender individuals, people with health conditions, people who are recovering from COVID, families, people living in a vehicle, and other extenuating circumstances. These programs are limited and have waiting lists, and are NOT walk-up accessible. To access these programs, please work with an outreach worker or case manager at one of the “front door” shelters or a day center for a referral.
St. Francis Center, 2323 Curtis St., (303) 297-1576
7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Lawrence Street Community Center, 2222 Lawrence St., (303) 294-0157
7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily
The Gathering Place (serving women, transgender and nonbinary individuals, and children) 1535 N. High St., (303) 321-4198
8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; 8:30am - 1:30pm Tuesdays
Volunteers of America Mission, 2877 Lawrence St., (303) 297-0408
8:30-11:30 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays
Haven of Hope, 1101 West 7th Ave., (303) 607-0855
7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Fridays
Urban Peak Drop-In Center, 2100 Stout St., (303) 974-2900
8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays
Youth ages 15-24. Breakfast served at 9 a.m. and dinner served at 4:30 p.m.
Senior Support Services, 846 East 18th Ave., (303) 832-1622
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Fridays
Seniors age 60+. Lunch served 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Access Points Throughout Metro Denver
Access Points are locations where those experiencing homelessness can access Metro Denver’s Coordinated Entry System (CES). The purpose of Coordinated Entry is to ensure that people experiencing homelessness have equitable access to the housing resources they need to resolve their housing crisis. You can find all the Metro Denver Access Points here.(PDF, 250KB)
Severe weather poses a serious danger to those staying outside, and we encourage people to come inside. HOST, alongside shelter and outreach partners, monitors weather and shelter usage to activate severe weather protocols and shelter expansions as necessary.
The City’s Emergency Operations Plan calls for the opening of recreation centers as warming locations during regular business hours, and additional overnight shelter to ensure capacity for everyone to come inside when temperatures are unsafe. The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE) is the lead agency in monitoring weather conditions and determining when temperatures indicate a need for severe weather activation.
So that people in crisis do not have to figure out where shelter is available, people in need of shelter should be referred to the city’s “front door” shelter access points and will be transported to overnight shelter.
If additional overflow shelter is activated, a banner will appear on the denvergov.org website and additional information will be posted at the top of this page.
2023-2024 Severe Weather Shelter Plan(PDF, 327KB)