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 Oct. 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026. A severe cold weather event is declared by Jefferson County when overnight low temperatures are 32°F or lower with accumulation of snow greater than 1 inch, or 20°F or lower with or without snow. The Heading Home Jeffco website keeps real time info on activation and duration of severe weather shelter programming. 

Lakewood’s homeless navigators proactively engage with people in need throughout the community to help connect them with county-provided shelter. If you know someone in need of shelter during severe weather, visit Heading Home Jeffco for resources and updates. 

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

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. 

Below is a list of resources to support those experiencing homelessness within our community.  

Services and Resources for Unhoused

• Heading Home Jeffco
• Lakewood Navigation Center
• RecoveryWorks Bridge Housing
• Colorado Coalition for the Homeless
• Salvation Army
• Catholic Charities of Denver
• Mile High United Way
• Saint Francis Center 

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
• Catholic Charities Samaritan House
• Samaritan House
• Denver Area Youth Services