Imagine a shelter for people experiencing homelessness that’s more like a Costco — a huge warehouse-like space that was once the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Convention Center near the Aurora and Denver border — with something different down each aisle.
That’s the idea around a new shelter opening Monday.
”So this side is gonna be males and there’s a whole ‘nother room that looks similar to this that will be female designated — there are a total of 286 cots, but with the ability to increase for severe weather,” said Andrew Bogage, development director of Advance Pathways, a Denver-based non-profit that will run the shelter, whose capacity is 640 people, or guests, as they are called by staffers.
Bogage led journalists, community workers, potential volunteers and potential guests on tours Thursday afternoon. So many people showed up that several people were directing cars trying to park in the lot outside. The first spot he pointed out will be called Tier 1: Compassion, with space for about 300 people, regardless of whether they are using substances…