HOW WSN OPERATES
Admittance and Referral Procedure
Winter Shelter Network serves single women and women with children in Douglas County, Colorado who are in need of temporary shelter between January 2 and March 31 each year. Applicants must be residents of Douglas County and be able to pass a warrant check. Due to the limitations of our program, we are unable to serve individuals who are in an active domestic violence situation, are dealing with a substance abuse issue, or who have an untreated serious mental health condition. Unfortunately, at this time, we are unable to serve adult males. Qualified residents should apply via the button below. Applications received before 2:00 pm will receive a response the same day. Applications received after 2:00 pm or on weekends will be responded to on the following business day.
We are committed to being a DRUG, ALCOHOL, and WEAPON-free program. Guests must agree to the WSN Guest Guidelines before admittance. Failure to adhere to these guidelines will result in removal from the network.
Each night of the week a different host church opens its doors to registered WSN guests. The location of the shelter is not disclosed to the public. For the 2022-23 season, guests may be given a hotel voucher on some nights when a host church is not available. The Guest Guidelines are still applicable when a guest is housed in a partner hotel.
WEATHER AND AVAILABILITY
The Winter Shelter Network (WSN) operates nightly from January 2 through March 31, regardless of the outside weather conditions. In a regular season, one Overnight Host Church opens its doors each night to Douglas County single women or women with children. Guests must apply via our website and undergo a warrant check before being accepted into the program. Applicants who are not admitted or do not qualify for the WSN will be referred to other services. Once accepted, guests reserve space for themselves and/or their family via our Coordinator. Space is reserved on a first come, first served basis. Guests are not allowed to "walk in" to the shelter without a confirmed reservation. Guests must adhere to the program guidelines at all times. Failure to adhere to the program guidelines will result in immediate termination.
WSN Eligibility Criteria
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Douglas County Residents
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Women and children only
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Valid, current ID
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No active wants/warrants
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No drug/alcohol use
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No pets
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Not fleeing from domestic violence
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No significant untreated mental health concern
Households who do not meet our eligibility criteria or who are unable to be served due to capacity are encouraged to call 211 or Douglas County HEART at 303-660-7301 for assistance.
Typical Daily Schedule for Guests