Homeless Boulder Fast Help in Boulder, CO

Shelter Tonight

Where you can sleep tonight in Boulder, and what to do if Boulder is full or restricted.

Quick picks (tap and go)

If your phone battery is low, these links get you to safety faster.

How to use this page

Shelter rules change with weather, funding, and capacity. Don’t assume tomorrow is the same as today. If you hit a closed door, ask anyone volunteering:

  • “Where are they sending people tonight?”
  • “Is Longmont open?”
  • “Is Denver taking overflow?”

People living this know more than brochures.

Boulder shelter

Boulder Shelter for the Homeless (BSH)

Boulder’s main shelter. Beds are limited. Intake rules change constantly based on “coordinated entry” and housing plans. Staff can be helpful, but the system can feel rigid.

Hours (typical):
Check-in: ~5:00pm–7:00pm
Exit: ~8:00am
(Cold weather may change this)

  • ID requested (but sometimes alternatives allowed).
  • No drugs/alcohol on property.
  • Your bag is searched.
  • You must leave early, even on freezing weekends.

Expect:
crowded, loud, early wake-ups, and strict schedules. It’s survival, not comfort.

Address:
4869 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80304
Google Maps

Website

Coordinated Entry (How Boulder decides who gets a bed)

If they tell you “You need coordinated entry,” it means you have to get assessed to be allowed into certain beds. This process is part of Boulder County’s homeless system.

Real talk:
Sometimes Coordinated Entry blocks people from shelter even in freezing weather. It can feel like a wall instead of a doorway.

If denied, ask: “Is there emergency overflow anywhere tonight?”

Start here:
Boulder County Housing & Human Services

Longmont & St. Vrain

Winter shelters & hotel programs (seasonal)

Longmont sometimes has seasonal shelter beds or motel vouchers through local partners when temperatures drop. Funding changes yearly.

  • Check with OUR Center.
  • Ask about “cold weather activation.”
  • Sometimes churches rotate beds weekly.

OUR Center website

Denver (overflow option)

A lot of Boulder folks ride into Denver for shelter because there are more beds, especially during cold weather activation. It’s a long ride, but the difference is real.

Denver rescue shelters (multiple locations)

Denver has several large shelters that activate during cold weather. Times change, but there are usually beds somewhere. Ask on arrival:

  • “Where’s overflow tonight?”
  • “Which route goes there?”

Google Maps search

Cold weather activation

“Activation” means Denver opens extra beds when it’s dangerously cold. The threshold is usually based on temperature/wind chill forecasts.

  • Check forecast.
  • Call Denver shelter hotline if available.
  • Ask people on the street – they know faster than officials.

Survival tips for shelters

Curfew & buses

Know bus times in both directions. Nothing hurts like missing a shelter because of a late bus.

  • Screenshot schedules.
  • Set an alarm for your bus.
  • Keep $4 emergency fare hidden.
Protect your bag
  • Sleep on your straps.
  • Lock zippers with a tiny carabiner.
  • Don’t flash valuables.
Leaving at 8am

Boulder Shelter forces everyone out early, even weekends and freezing weather. It’s brutal, but plan for it:

  • Have a warm spot in mind (library, rec center, bus).
  • Layer before they kick you out.
  • Hold your rage — save it for better battles.
Intake & ID

If you don’t have ID, be honest. Sometimes they allow other documents. Ask a case manager tomorrow about help replacing ID.