Dozens used Boulder emergency shelter during cold snap as main facility reached capacity

As temperatures dropped to dangerously low levels over the weekend, at least 69 people slept at a temporary shelter at the East Age Well Center on the busiest night, according to a city official. The turnout reflects the continued demand for emergency sheltering during severe weather conditions.

This year’s demand was more than in January 2024, when at least 44 people stayed at the recreation center. But it was less than December 2022, when at least 107 people slept there, far exceeding expectations. 

The City of Boulder, in partnership with Boulder County and local nonprofits, opened the East Boulder Community Center at 5660 Sioux Drive as a 24-hour emergency shelter on Saturday, Jan. 18. The shelter remained open for three nights, until Tuesday, Jan. 21.

For the past two years, the city has used the recreation center as an emergency shelter during periods of dangerously cold weather. This year, however, city and county employees were trained for specific roles in operating the shelter, according to Kurt Firnhaber, the city’s director of Housing and Human Services.

Staff roles included a shift manager and others overseeing intake, data collection, serving meals, handing out blankets and mattresses, and showing people to the showers. Firnhaber said some staff joined those sleeping at the shelter to work on puzzles, play chess and do other activities to pass the time.  

“The vibe there was pretty low-key and calm, and people generally got along pretty well,” Firnhaber told Boulder Reporting Lab. “Really no incidents.” 

City mental health crisis clinicians were on hand to provide support, Firnhaber said. Also attending were staff from All Roads — the city’s largest shelter — and Focus Reentry, which provides peer support for people experiencing homelessness, Firnhaber said. 

The shelter likely provided life-saving accommodations for homeless people who otherwise would not have been able to stay at All Roads, which reached full capacity three days in a row last week. Despite increasing its capacity to 180 beds last year, the North Boulder shelter continues to regularly turn people away due to space limitations.

On Saturday, Jan. 18, at least 30 people were unable to enter All Roads because it was full, according to Andy Schultheiss, a spokesperson for All Roads. He said they were all offered transportation to the city’s emergency shelter. On a typical day when the shelter is full and no emergency option is available, people are provided with a bus ticket and a sack meal.

Temperatures are forecast to drop into the low teens this week. In addition to All Roads (303-579-4404), other nonprofits provide sheltering options for young people (303-447-1207) and women and transgender people (303-447-9602).