THIS MONTH'S HEAVY SNOWFALL -- combined with the schedule at the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless -- prompted Boulder Outreach for Homeless Overflow to set a record of its own.
The nonprofit organization, better known as BOHO, has partnered with various faith communities in Boulder since 2009 to offer emergency overnight shelters for homeless people on nights with freezing temperatures or when it rains or snows and temperatures dip below 38 degrees.
The overflow shelters were established to support people who could not find space at the Boulder Shelter, which has 120 beds at its winter shelter.
On Thursday, BOHO set a record when its shelter at Congregation Har Hashem, 3901 Pinon Drive, took in 162 guests, according to Nancy Brinks, chairwoman of the BOHO board.
"It really goes to show that we pick up -- and have all season long -- what the Boulder Shelter doesn't have room to accommodate," Brinks said.
The Boulder Shelter typically closes its overnight shelter April 15 each year, but after a large storm brought more snow to Boulder early last week, it stayed open a few extra nights before closing Thursday.
At the BOHO shelter Monday night, Brinks said, 157 people checked in. Of those, 21 were first-time users.
BOHO shelters have been open 17 of 23 nights so far in April, according to organizers.
In all, nearly 1,200 people have used a BOHO shelter at least one night this season, according to volunteers, and Brinks said the organization is ready to be open into May if cold temperatures return.
"I suspect we've got a few more in us, and you never know what the weather will throw at us," she said. "This spring has been just wild."
Contact Camera Staff Writer Joe Rubino at 303-473-1328 or rubinoj@dailycamera.com. ___
(c)2013 the Daily Camera (Boulder, Colo.)
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