AURORA, Colo. — Sub-zero temperatures are expected across the Denver-metro area this weekend. The frigid cold is forcing several homeless shelters to open more areas for people to get indoors starting Thursday night.
Mile High Behavioral Health Care said their new shelter will be able to serve about 120 people.
"This is the emergency shelter that we got the emergency solutions funds from the pandemic, so this will be activated in full over the next five days," said CEO of Mile High Behavioral Health Care, Robert Dorshimer.
They also opened a space in their back lot.
"In the back yard here, we do have heated tents and a space for staff for social distancing reasons, people that need to quarantine, people that are not comfortable inside of a facility. We’re also able to provide that safe camping site as well," Dorshimer said.
Starting Thursday, Mile High Behavioral Health Care and the City of Aurora will be doing outreach, making sure people are aware of the available resources.
"We’re making sure that we’re visiting areas where there are encampments to check on folks to ask if they’d like to come inside for shelter. If they’re not interested in coming inside, we make sure that they have survival kits and the gear that they need to be able to survive these very cold nights," said Jessica Prosser, director of housing and community services for the City of Aurora.
The City of Aurora said people will also be COVID-19 tested and have their temperature checked while staying at their shelters.