Donations to the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless help to provide clean, comfortable shelter for their residents. The Shelter attempts to provide an array of personal care items as a means for clients to regain and maintain dignity, and as a necessity for those who, in finding their way to an independent and productive life, are employed or are seeking employment.
Most Needed Items
Toiletries:
Travel size toiletries (especially shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, bath soap and deodorant) Also useful: hand sanitizer, disposable razors, shaving cream, Kleenex, Q-tips, sunblock, ChapStick, combs, lotion, earplugs and reading glasses
Over the Counter Medications (new):
Ibuprofen, Tylenol, aspirin (daytime and p.m. types), Benadryl, cough drops/cough syrup/cold & allergy medicine (without alcohol), Pepto-Bismol, vitamins (multi, C, E, fish oil), nasal strips, band aids, antacid, antibiotic ointment and aloe
Staying Warm:
Sleeping bags
Camping equipment: sleeping pads, tents, large backpacks
Hats & gloves (warm, winter), socks (long, winter), large-size winter jackets, winter boots (adult sizes) Due to very limited storage space, the Shelter accepts only good quality, adult-sized (large and extra-large) winter outerwear (coats, socks, hats, gloves).
Linens:
Bath towels, wash cloths, twin-size cotton blankets
Services Provided by Boulder Shelter for the Homeless
Morning Services, which includes breakfast, showers, access to laundry facilities, storage, mail, phone, and messages, are available from 6am until 8am (clients must arrive by 7:30am), seven days a week, year-round to those not staying overnight at the Shelter.
Winter Sheltering
Boulder County Cares: The Boulder Shelter street outreach program, also known as Boulder County Cares (BCC), utilizes trained volunteers that canvass the community every winter evening, distributing blankets, gloves, hats, and other warm clothing, and providing food to unsheltered homeless people who are living on the streets. BCC clients may also receive, when appropriate, transportation to the Shelter or other local care providers.
Transitional Housing: The Boulder Shelter for the Homeless Transitional Housing Program provides housing and case management services for individuals and families for up to 2 years.
Housing First: In 2006 the Boulder Shelter, in collaboration with Boulder Housing Partners, launched the Boulder County Housing First Program, a new approach to addressing chronic homelessness in Boulder County. This program targets chronically homeless individuals who live on the streets and tend to have high incidences of mental illness, addictions, and/or physical disabilities. The Housing First program provides permanent housing, with on-going intensive case management, for these individuals. Similar programs in other municipalities have shown that once these individuals have stable housing, they begin to work on the other hurdles in their lives. Studies have also shown that Housing First programs are highly cost effective as they significantly reduce demand on hospital emergency rooms, jails and court systems, and human service agencies.
For more info, go to https://bouldershelter.org
