BOHO Womens Shelter

BOHO Launches Women’s Shelter
Since its formation, BOHO has provided emergency
shelter services to supplement Boulder Shelter for the
Homeless (BSH) and Bridge House (BH). BOHO
serves those who are not otherwise served either
because of lack of capacity or because needs are not
met.

ollowing a three month pilot program, BOHO officially offered a !omen"s Shelter program
beginning #une $. %n the first three weeks of operation, the program has grown faster than we e&pected.
Starting with two guests on the first night, we now have a strong growth trend in attendance, as the
accompanying chart shows. 'his week"s average attendance is over $$ guests and is e&pected to
continue to grow as women begin to trust that it will continue.

'he most closely guarded (and respected) street secret is the location of one"s s(uat (hidden sleeping
place). )ost s(uats are illegal. Homeless women sleeping alone and hidden are at risk of assault,
e&posure, and arrest. *et, the decision to trade a given way of sleeping for a new one is taken carefully.
+ woman"s s(uat may be lost when she tries a new shelter program. + change from the hyper,alertness
and self,reliance of a s(uat to the safety and community of the !omen"s Shelter can take some time.
'he -oint in 'ime survey showed that ./ to 0/ homeless women in Boulder are in need of emergency
shelter, but are not served by e&isting programs. BOHO conducted interviews and a focus group to
determine the needs of Boulder"s homeless women. )ost unserved women need and want a women,
only program, often because of recent or threatened assaults.

BOHO"s !omen"s Shelter program has a limit of $1 guests in its current configuration, and is
committed to continue indefinitely. !omen who have stayed with the program have e&pressed their
gratitude, and their comments have included, 2% felt really safe34 2%t was so (uiet34 3'his was the best
sleep %"ve had in a long time34 and 2'wo women from the church stopped in to make tea and talk to us
and we loved the visit53
%n ebruary, )arch, and +pril, BOHO operated a pilot !omen"s Shelter program for a total of thirty
nights, as an ad6unct to the 7mergency !arming 8enter. BOHO collaborated in part with the Boulder
Homeless !omen"s %nitiative (BH!%), which is co,sponsored by St. #ohn"s 7piscopal 8hurch and the
Bridge House, in the design of the pilot program. 'hat program helped us to understand the emergency
shelter needs of women who are not served by other shelter providers.
!e have printed and distributed nearly 9// flyers and handbills describing the new !omen"s Shelter
program, and women are learning about the program from other agencies and from women who are
already in the program.

BOHO constantly e&plores the needs of the unserved and develops collaborations to improve the
efficiency and effectiveness of services for Boulder"s homeless residents.