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National Western Complex will house the homeless

BEDS FOR 600 PEOPLE

Newsroom El Comercio de Colorado

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Denver is expanding its efforts in providing greater physical distancing for people experiencing homelessness. The city finalized an agreement with another hotel, located downtown, for an additional 151 rooms for people experiencing homelessness. The hotel contract will be sent to Denver City Council for approval.

Denver now has a total of 270 individual rooms available for respite care for individuals who are medically required to be isolated, as well as for protective action for individuals who are not currently symptomatic or ill with symptoms. Denver continues to work with the State and service providers to add up to 3,000 total hotel/motel rooms.

Also, the city welcomed assistance from the Colorado National Guard, which is deploying approximately 250 unarmed personnel to help with current sheltering efforts. Personnel will be deployed to staff at existing overnight and day shelters, supplemental shelter, and activated respite rooms at hotel/motel sites.

National Western Complex Hall

At the request of Denver’s largest homeless shelter providers, the city is opening auxiliary shelters to provide housing and services for individuals experiencing homelessness for the duration of the COVID-19 state of emergency. A shelter will open at the National Western Complex Hall of Education.

Plans are also underway to potentially open another shelter at the Denver Coliseum in the coming days. “The COVID-19 local response has underscored our network of shelter and service providers who are making a tremendous difference in serving people experiencing homelessness with dignity and compassion,” said Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock.