Mother House to open new Emergency Shelter Focusing on Women, Transgender folks, and Non-Binary Community

Increase in housing insecurity, evictions, and domestic violence incidents during COVID underscore urgent need for emergency shelter for at-risk populations

Boulder, Colo. (June 19, 2020) — Mother House, a Boulder County-based nonprofit serving at-risk mothers and their newborns, announced today it is opening a new emergency shelter for those who identify as women, transgender, or non-binary. Funded through a generous grant from the Community Foundation Boulder County, the pilot emergency shelter is the first of its kind since the BOHO women’s shelter closed its doors in 2016.

The Lodge is scheduled to open this fall as a pilot program and will operate out of a small collection of community spaces throughout Boulder. The Lodge anticipates serving 20-40 clients per night and an average of 80-100 unique clients per year. 

“For almost 40 years, Mother House has played a significant and meaningful role in serving expecting mothers and mothers of young children in Boulder and the surrounding area,” said Lisa Sweeney-Miran, Executive Director of Mother House, “There is a real need in Boulder for a separate shelter for women, transgender folks, and persons who identify as non-binary - an alternative to men’s sheltering, unsafe housing situations, or sleeping outdoors. The Lodge is the next chapter in Mother House’s long history of serving those in our community who often feel overlooked.”

The Lodge will have a bilingual navigator on staff to assist all shelter residents with developing and executing  a personal plan to achieve housing or other permanent outcomes, these may include elements of access to community programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, employment, and education. They may also include referrals to our community partners in the area for our residents to engage with the programming offered throughout the region.

The Lodge will function as a year-round shelter and will operate for 12 hours a night. “We're proud to announce the opening of the shelter during Pride Month, a time to celebrate the inclusive nature of The Lodge and our community.” said Shanan Collins, Programs Director at Mother House. The Lodge was made possible through initial funding provided by Community Foundation Boulder County.

“Community Foundation Boulder County is pleased to provide this grant to Mother House. Their work aligns with our commitment to increasing equity and making Boulder County a place where all people can thrive,” said Jeff Hirota, Community Foundation Boulder County CEO.

Community support for the Lodge is greatly appreciated and can be made at mother-house.org/lodge