Aurora Warms The Night
Keeping Aurora's Homeless Warm At Night

                                       GROWTH IN SERVICES SEEN

In the first quarter of 2012, volunteers gave 500+ hours of service to AWTN.  Their donation of time and talent resulted in more help for the homeless as witnessed by the following: 549 articles of clothing – everything from shoes to coats were distributed, 23 toiletry bags were distributed and 54 additional requests for individual toiletries were filled.  In a two week period in March, 134 homeless persons visited AWTN’s offices to see staff for counseling and other personal issues.  The combined efforts of  volunteers and staff made this growth possible.

Please click here for the April 2012 newsletter

SERVICE SUMMARY: 10/26/11-2/29/12

On October 26, Aurora had its first severe weather, and AWTN issued 53 motel vouchers to provide shelter to a total of 76 homeless persons– 55 men, 16 women and 5 children. Through February 29 we have issued a total of 1340 vouchers to provide 2062 person-nights of shelter – 1285 to men, 568 to women, and 209 to children.  Unduplicated homeless persons assisted by the voucher program through 12/31/11 total 284 – 147 men, 78 women, and 59 children. The average cost per person per night of a voucher is $21.14.  We are grateful to the many motels which collaborate with us to “warm the night” for the many homeless who have sought our help.

Please click here for the March 2012 newsletter

                THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS

We thank our many Donors: The Anschutz Family Foundation, The Denver Foundation, and Mile High United Way; the many Aurora-based Corporations and Businesses, religious Congregations, as well as many individuals whose generosity has made it possible for us to bring so many of Aurora’s homeless men, women and children in from the streets on severely cold nights. To date we have issued 1022 vouchers which provided 1626 person/nights of shelter to the homeless at a cost of $19.63 per person per night.  If you wish to contribute, checks should be made payable to Aurora Warms the night and mailed to1555 Dayton Street, Aurora, CO 80010.

Click here for newsletter

During December, 16 inches of snow fell in the Aurora area.  There were 11 nights in which the temperatures dropped below 20 degrees with the wind chill factor making them feel even colder.  For those nights AWTN activated its motel voucher program to provide shelter to more than 1000 homeless men, women and children.  Since the first severe cold weather spell in October, AWTN has provided shelter for more than 1300 persons at a cost of more than $30,300.

 For a full version of the January 2012 newsletter- please click here.

While this fall has surprised us with some warmer than average temperatures, there have still been some very cold days and nights.  From October 26 to November 18, AWTN provided 321 nights of shelter for homeless men, women and children, at a cost of approximately $7,000.

The average number of people we see on any severely cold day when we issue vouchers has tripled since the program began in 2006, due in part to the economic downturn and lack of jobs.  We thank you for your continuing support in helping us meet this critical need!    

Click here to organize a winter food drive

Click here for AWTN’s December 2011 newsletter

A therapist and a case manager from the Aurora Mental Health Center are now housed full-time at the offices of AWTN.  They have begun an outreach effort offering a shorter-term intensive case management program for homeless persons. 

Walk-in hours are from 9:00 to 2:00 Mondays and Wednesdays. Appointments are required at other times.  In less than a month’s time, the program has expanded quickly. More than 24 clients now receive counseling and referrals for physical and mental health issues. 

Click here for AWTN’s November 2011 newsletter

Aurora Warms the Night under pressure to provide shelter…read the article by clicking here.

Recent severe cold weather accompanied by snow and wind resulted in AWTN’s beginning its winter motel voucher program. On three activation days, AWTN volunteers dedicated many hours to register homeless persons and issue vouchers. During the October 26^th storm, motel vouchers were issued to 70 homeless individuals and families eligible to receive them.  During the November 1^st and 2^nd cold spell and snow storm, 88 persons were served.  All voucher recipients also received small motel-appropriate food packages to sustain them over the duration of their motel stay.

Under a continuing grant from Mile High United Way, AWTN has initiated an 18-month program to support the physical and mental well-being of 20 chronically homeless people. Currently there are 11 enrollees ranging in age from 43 to 59.  They are receiving intensive case management in a cooperative program of AWTN, Arapahoe House, Aurora Mental Health Center and Metro Community Provider Network.  The program assists the enrollees in 1) addressing medical, mental health and substance abuse issues, 2) acquiring benefits, and 3) taking steps toward self-sufficiency. A group meeting is held once a month at the offices of AWTN. A second cooperative program, utilizing staff from Aurora Mental Health Center has just begun.   Two full-time AUMHC staff, a case manager and a therapist, are now working on-site at the AWTN offices.  They have begun an outreach effort offering a shorter-term intensive case management program to homeless persons.  It is anticipated that 120 individuals will be enrolled within the year.

Click here for AWTN’s October 2011 newsletter

During the 2010-2011 cold weather months we sheltered nearly 25% more people than we did in 2009 –most of whom were women and children.  Overall, we served 312 unduplicated persons, providing 2,764 nights of shelter at cost of  $59,000. The cost of providing so many homeless people with shelter was funded with some foundation grants and government support, but primarily through many generous donations from individuals, congregations and corporations.  We anticipate helping at least the same number of people during the coming cold weather season, which will soon be upon us!  We would be grateful for any amount that you might find it in your heart to contribute. 

Checks should be made payable to

Aurora Warms the Night and sent to

  P.O. Box 1362, Aurora, CO  80011.