The City of Colorado Springs Housing and Homeless Response Department, along with Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management, serve as the primary coordinating agencies in support of protecting people who are unhoused when life-threatening winter weather occurs.
The primary coordinating agencies do not direct shelter operations.
The Winter Weather Sheltering Plan has two levels:
Severe Winter Weather
- Happens when temperatures are forecasted to reach 19 degrees Fahrenheit or lower at any point in a 24-hour period
- COS Housing and Homelessness Response Department notifies partners of extreme winter weather
Extreme Winter Weather
Happens when any of the following criteria are met:
- A maximum temperature of 9°F for 2 or more consecutive days
- Wind chill of -18°F or lower
- Snowfall of 10 inches or more is realized within a 24-hour period
Helpful Information
Shelter/Warming Center Locations
The Springs Rescue Mission and The Sanctuary Church serve as the region’s two main warming shelters. These locations also offer meals and other resources for those experiencing homelessness. If you see an unhoused person that may need support, please refer them to the Springs Rescue Mission or The Sanctuary Church.
- Call 719-401-3111 for people who need transportation to warming shelters.
- Call 911 if you see any resident experiencing what you think is an emergency medical situation.
- Call 911 if you see smoke or signs of a fire.
Shelters
- Springs Rescue Mission
- Sanctuary Church
- Hope House
- Salvation Army Family Hope Center (families only)
- American Red Cross (on standby)
Day Shelters
- The Place
- Catholic Charities (offers motel vouchers and Marian House Kitchen)
Getting help/How to help
Any residents who need referrals for food, utilities assistance, transportation, clothing or other services should contact Pikes Peak United Way 2-1-1.
- Phone: Dial 2-1-1 or 719-955-0742 or toll free at 1-866-488-9742.
- Text: Send your zip code to 898211. Standard message and data rates may apply.
- Online: Search the database of services at ppunitedway.org.
Pikes Peak United Way 2-1-1 is multi-lingual, free and confidential. Trained information specialists staff the hotline from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday. The 2-1-1 staff will monitor messages over the weekend and during non-business hours and respond within a few hours. Residents needing support, especially transportation, can assist the 2-1-1 staff by leaving a precise location if they need transportation to a warming shelter, or call the transportation assistance number directly at 719-401-3111 for more immediate response.
Transportation
Transportation is a critical component of the Winter Weather Sheltering Plan. Safe and reliable transportation ensures individuals experiencing homelessness can access warming shelters and warming centers during cold weather events.
Services may include:
- Mountain Metro Transit: Pre-positioned bus pass vouchers within the community,
- Lyft: Pikes Peak United Way/2-1-1 Ride United Program with Lyft
- Silver Key and Envida may be activated in Extreme Winter Weather
- Targeted transportation from outreach teams and partner agencies.
Mountain Metro Transit Severe Winter Weather Sheltering Transport Pilot Program
This free-fare program offers people experiencing homelessness transportation to an approved shelter location.
Boarding Protocol
- Riders will be picked up and dropped off at established bus stops.
- Any individual stating they are traveling to a designated warming shelter may board without a physical pass.
- All MMT routes may intake riders under this protocol.
- Riders boarding non-shelter routes will be transported to the Downtown Terminal for transfer.
- Riders from the Downtown Terminal will board routes that provide direct access to identified warming shelters, routes 1, 3, 5, 10, 11, 18, 19, 25, and ZEB
Belongings and Carts
- Riders’ belongings must not block aisles and must remain under their control.
- Service animals and pets in carriers/kennels are permitted.
- Shopping carts are not permitted due to safety and space limitations.
- When belongings prevent boarding, MMT Dispatch will coordinate with Hope COS for alternative transportation.
Service Hours
All existing MMT rider policies and standard operational hours remain in place during activations.
Demobilization
Upon deactivation, transporting individuals back to their preferred locations will rely on existing physical MMT bus passes distributed through partner agencies, and exceptions covered by partners like Hope COS.
Supporting Agencies
- American Red Cross (ARC)
- Ascending to Health Respite Care
- Care and Share
- Catholic Charities
- Colorado Springs, Communications
- Colorado Springs Mayor’s Office, Community Affairs
- Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD)
- Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD)
- Common Spirit (St. Francis – Penrose Hospitals)
- COS I Love You
- Crossfires Ministries
- El Paso County (EPC) Communications Department
- El Paso County Department of Community Resources
- El Paso County Department of Human Services (EPCDHS)
- El Paso County Public Health (EPCPH)
- El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPSO)
- Envida Cares
- First United Methodist Church
- Homeward Pikes Peak
- Hope COS
- Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) of El Paso County
- Mountain Metro Transit (MMT)
- Pikes Peak United Way/2-1-1
- Silver Key
- Springs Rescue Mission (SRM)
- The Place
- The Salvation Army (TSA)
- The Sanctuary Church
- UCHealth
- Westside Cares
Stay Informed
Follow responders on “X,” formerly known as Twitter, for more information about resources, changing conditions and response:
The following organizations either post about the availability of their services on their websites, or provide a method to contact them to inquire about the status of their services: