COMMUNITY PROFILE “IT WOULD BE A STRUGGLE TO BE DRY OUTSIDE. THIS KEEPS ME ALIVE ON A COLD NIGHT,” SAID PERRY, WHO STAYED AT MISSION ARVADA IN DECEMBER. MISSION ARVADA PROVIDING LIFE-SAVING SHELTER STORY AND PHOTOS BY GILES CLASEN MISSION ARVADA is working to address winter shelter needs for unhoused individuals after the Severe Weather Shelter Network shut down permanently during the summer of 2024. The SWSN coordinated shelter in churches during extreme weather in Arapahoe and Jefferson counties but closed due to insufficient funding and declining church involvement. “Being open during severe weather is a lot to take on, but it’s working,” said Karen Cowling, director of Mission Arvada. “It’s always down to the wire when [cold] weather comes, but we’ve managed and will find a way.” Mission Arvada is one of the few non-profits providing case management and day program services to the unhoused community in Arvada. The organization had been an overflow emergency shelter in previous years but did not have the staff or other resources needed to provide regular cold-weather shelter. “When we started, we estimated the [severe weather] shelter would cost around $25,000 to $30,000. But with the infrastructure needs of the building and other expenses, we’re now closer to $100,000, and it may go up from there if we have too many cold nights this winter.” Most of the funds to cover the additional costs have come from individual donors and churches. The City of Arvada is not providing funds for the cold weather shelter services. “ A FEW YEARS AGO, A VETERAN FROZE TO DEATH ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE CHURCH, AND WE VOWED NOT TO LET THAT HAPPEN AGAIN.” 8 DENVER VOICE February 2025
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