City of Aurora issued the following announcement on Nov. 6.
As the weather turns colder and cases of COVID-19 flare in Colorado, the city of Aurora has established plans for a winter emergency shelter to provide those experiencing homelessness with a safe and warm place to spend the night.
The Aurora City Council has given preliminary approval for the emergency shelter in north Aurora, which will be available nightly starting in late November to early December and remain open through April. It will be operated by Mile High Behavioral Healthcare and have capacity for 100 people in a socially distanced environment.
“The combination of cold nights and the spread of COVID-19 raised serious concerns about there being enough available shelter space in Aurora this winter,” said Jessica Prosser, director of Housing and Community Services for the city. “The emergency shelter is a way for us to make sure some of the most vulnerable members of our community have a safe place to stay while observing COVID precautions and preventing the spread of the virus.”
Between the site lease, operational contract with Mile High Behavioral Healthcare, security, trash service and other expenses, the shelter will cost approximately $185,000 a month. It is being funded by federal Emergency Solutions Grant dollars. Additionally, about $100,000 in setup costs and supplies is being funded by the Arapahoe County CARES Program.
In addition to indoor shelter space, there are plans to allow for parking of RVs or the pitching of tents outside the facility for those individuals who are not comfortable in an indoor congregate setting but still would like access to a secure area with services.
Individuals who are referred to the shelter or wish to utilize the shelter will be required to check in at the Aurora Day Resource Center, 13387 E. 19th Place, where they will undergo a health screening for COVID-19 before being transported to the emergency shelter. Individuals will be transported back to the Aurora Day Resource Center in the morning, where there will be food and resources available, including three meals a day. The shelter will be open 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily.
On nights when cold temperatures could endanger the lives of those living without warm shelter and the Aurora Cold-Weather Outreach Team is activated, the emergency shelter will be used in conjunction with the Aurora Day Resource Center, Comitis Crisis Center and motel vouchers from Aurora Warms the Night to accommodate up to 450 individuals in socially distanced settings. This will allow for the same number of people sheltered as in pre-COVID winters.
When details about the opening date of the emergency shelter and the check-in process are finalized, community partners and Aurora’s Homeless Outreach Team will be notified and provided with information to share with those experiencing homelessness in their care networks. The shelter will be located at a vacant warehouse at 3293 Oakland St., but those wanting to access the shelter once it opens should not go directly to the facility but check in at the Aurora Day Resource Center. The Aurora Day Resource Center can be reached at 303.343.7808.
Original source can be found here.
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