According to The Denver Post, the number of COVID-19 cases among Denver’s homeless population recently tripled from 16 to 53 in three days time. Hotel rooms are now being set up as shelters. The city currently has 227 individual rooms available with 142 occupied and more rooms scheduled to open. “We really see this as a harm reduction effort, that the more we can give the spacing and the distancing that people need, the more likely they are to stay healthy and safe,” said Chief Housing Officer Britta Fisher.
The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless has secured an additional 274 motel rooms for those at high risk for health complications and those referred by shelters and hospitals, spokesperson Cathy Alderman said in a release. The coalition also has an option to add an additional 138 rooms if the others are filled.
As of Monday, Denver has seen a total of 1,358 positive coronavirus cases and 60 deaths, Public Health Director Bob McDonald said at the news conference.
The new women’s shelter is expected to take many of those already staying at shelters run by Catholic Charities of Denver, said Nisa LaPoint, a spokesperson for the organization. Catholic Charities will shift staff to the Coliseum, as well, LaPoint said, and the coalition’s Stout Street Health Center will screen those going into the new shelter.
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