The City of Denver extension of the Denver Coliseum’s severe weather shelter expired Saturday morning. Earlier this month, due to below-freezing temperatures, the city kept the coliseum open as a 24/7 severe weather shelter until 9 a.m. Saturday.
Migrants and un-housed residents at several cold weather shelters, including the coliseum, said they were told to leave Saturday morning. Several advocacy groups are questioning why there wasn’t a second extension or why other shelters weren’t allowed to stay open, since the temperatures are still expected to drop below freezing Saturday night.
“One week we’re in a shelter, the next week on the streets,” said Juan Carlos, a Peruvian migrant.
Carlos saw several families that were forced to leave the coliseum and helped escort them to DCC for temporary shelter. Carlos migrated to Denver five months ago and said he’s worried for other migrant families who aren’t used to the cold.
“It breaks my heart seeing the kids out in the cold,” Carlos said.