Severe Weather Shelter

The City of Lakewood is part of a regional severe weather sheltering plan coordinated with Jefferson County and six other cities in the county. This plan provides temporary cold weather shelter for individuals in need during severe cold weather events between October and April. Jefferson County Public Health declares a severe weather event. To learn when these events are declared and what that means, use the button below.

Cold Weather Activation

Lakewood’s homeless navigators proactively engage with people in need throughout the community to help connect them with county-provided shelter.

To reach Jefferson County's After-hours Severe Weather Hotline, please call 303-271-7511.

Resources for the Unhoused Community

Homelessness is a growing humanitarian crisis affecting nearly every city in the U.S. The City of Lakewood is dedicated to extending a compassionate hand to our unhoused neighbors, helping connect them to critical resources to find refuge, hope and healing as they navigate challenging times and work to get back on their feet. 

Lakewood Navigation Center

The City of Lakewood is expanding year-round support for individuals experiencing homelessness concurrent with the 2025 cold weather season through the renovation of the Navigation Center. Once reopened, the Navigation Center will serve enrolled program participants and provide reliable shelter every night of the year for those in the program. The Navigation Center, operated by Volunteers of America, will provide:

• More than 100 year-round shelter beds (an increase from the 75 beds previously available only on selected cold nights only). 
• Housing-focused services designed to help residents transition into stable, long-term housing.
• Daily access to essential support and case management for those in the Navigation Center program. 

Learn more

Services and Resources for Unhoused

• Heading Home Jeffco
• Lakewood Navigation Center
• RecoveryWorks Bridge Housing
• Colorado Coalition for the Homeless
• Mile High United Way

Food Assistance

• Mean Street Ministry Food Bank
• The Action Center
• Benefits in Action
• Food Bank of the Rockies
• Mile High United Way 

Women and Children Services

• The Dolores Project
• Family Promise of Greater Denver
• The Family Tree
• Samaritan House