Current Update
***HAAT Force provides shelter October – April under certain weather conditions.
We will update our website and hotline when we intend to voucher for hotel rooms. You must be registered to shelter with us.
October Registration Flyer
October Severe Weather Season Registration Calendar
Resource Days will be Fridays in October on the 9th, 16th and 30th
from 10 am – 1 pm at Spirit of Hope (4300 S Lincoln St, Englewood).
Stop by for breakfast and lunch, shelf-stable and frozen meals, hygiene items, clothing, shoes and case management.
Email info@haatforce.org with questions
2024-25 Motel Vouchers
2024-25 Individuals Sheltered
What We Do
HAAT Force stands for Homelessness Awareness and Action Task Force
We offer severe weather shelter and resources and case management for people who are unhoused in the South Metro Denver region.
Our History - Since 2010
In 2010, a group of individuals concerned about homelessness in the South Metro Denver area started to brainstorm about what they could do to address the issue. Click Read More below to learn more.
Read More about our history
Soon they convened a large gathering of representatives from local government agencies, nonprofits and faith communities to identify what services were currently being provided and what the gaps were. Severe weather shelter was identified as the most pressing need.
In the same year, in response to that meeting, HAAT Force – Homelessness Awareness and Action Task Force – was founded by Peter Reif, a member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Highlands Ranch and Rev. Cammie Houpt, a Deacon at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Centennial. HAAT Force’s founding mission was to provide life-sustaining severe weather motel vouchers to people experiencing homelessness in the South Metro Denver area. A Board of Directors was formed, in addition to a partnership with Giving Heart, a non-profit in Englewood. HAAT Force obtained its 501c3 status in 2012. Peter Reif passed away shortly after that, and Rev. Houpt continued her leadership of our organization until her retirement in 2020.
In 2020-2021, the all-volunteer Board of Directors managed HAAT Force’s operations. We organized and managed a continuous shelter program in response to the covid pandemic, in addition to a medical motel voucher program. We expanded our scope to include referrals to resource navigators. In 2021, HAAT Force hired Sienna McGrath a part-time Executive Director. HAAT Force recently added a Program Director and Severe Weather Assistant.
OUR IMPACT
Our goal for the 2024-2025 Severe Weather Season was to support individuals formerly served by Severe Weather Shelter Network (SWSN), our partner organization who suddenly closed their doors in August, and to continue to support clients who qualify for HAAT Force. We saw triple the need for sheltering due to the closure of SWSN and the continuing increase of people experiencing homeless in the Denver Metro area.
2024-25 Total Nights of Sheltering
%
2024-25 More Motel Vouchers
%
2024-25 Increase of Unique Individuals
Read more about our 2024-2025 impact
HAAT Force South Metro, founded in 2010, provides severe weather motel shelter for families and people with disabilities, medical issues or animals. Our guests include pregnant people ,non-gender conforming / transgender adults, and older adults who are unhoused. This program operates from October through April.
Our goal for the 2024-2025 Severe Weather Season was to support individuals formerly served by Severe Weather Shelter Network (SWSN), our partner organization who suddenly closed their doors in August, and to continue to support clients who qualify for HAAT Force. We saw triple the need for sheltering due to the closure of SWSN and the continuing increase of people experiencing homeless in the Denver Metro area.
In our 2024-2025 season, we issued 67% more motel vouchers and saw a 26% increase of unique individuals served compared to the 2023-2024 season. We provided 561 motel vouchers and served 212 unique individuals for 38 total nights of sheltering. We partnered with many community agencies that provided meals, snacks, financial support, and resource navigation to help our clients obtain additional assistance.
Click here for our end-of-season newsletter for 2024-2025 and a full story of our work.
2025-2026 Impact
Voucher Events
Nights of Shelter
Total Number of Clients Registered
Adults
Children
Dogs
Total Food Provided
Hot Meals
Frozen Meals
Breakfast Burritos
Snack Bags
Testimonials
“I came here fleeing family violence and have been living in my car with my family while trying to navigate a new place. I was unable to find help elsewhere due to lack of funds or eligibility, and as winter approached, I was terrified of facing the snow for the first time.
Read More
The day I was referred to HAAT Force for a hotel voucher, my life changed. I was greeted with smiles, a warm place to wait, food, and coffee. I was given jackets, clothes, shoes, and blankets, and was made to feel like I matter. I left feeling empowered and received help with vouchers and referrals for housing and health. At HAAT Force, you are family; you don’t feel alone.
I always check my emails from HAAT Force, and when I saw a housing opportunity with a waiting list opening, I applied immediately. While I have been working to find a job and overcome the challenges of interviewing while living in a car, I never gave up hope. I recently received an email stating I was selected from the waiting list. I am now working with SMHO to move into an apartment—a home and a place for privacy. As I approach my birthday on July 5th, I couldn’t ask for a more wonderful gift.
I am so grateful to HAAT Force and the staff; I would not have made it without them. I look forward to paying it forward by volunteering next season. I want people to know they matter and that our circumstances do not define us. Thank you for helping me change my life for the better.“
“Receiving services from HAAT Force has been a blessing…Being homeless has many challenges, but being disabled while homeless has even more challenges. It is a daily struggle to do the normal functions like going to the bathroom, showering, etc. Additionally, it is a daily struggle to make sure that my health issues are taken care of. From filling my pill box to getting enough sleep, living in a tiny car with two other people is rough. I am so very grateful for HAAT Force because when we get a motel voucher I know that at least for one night, I will have a bed to sleep in, a bathroom close, and a nutritious meal.”
“Volunteering with HAAT Force gave me a first-hand experience with people experiencing homeless in our area. The most important thing I learned is that any of us could be living on the street if a few things don’t work like we had thought. Also I met so many kind, gracious people who were looking after their families and children as best they could, and who were so thankful for a hands up. The people we helped with vouchers taught us much about the world and our community.”
Donate to Make a Difference
Learn about the Homeless Contribution Income Tax Credit
What will my donation provide?
$25 per month will provide 5 nights of shelter for an individual.
$50 per month helps provide food, shelter and transportation for four families.
$100 per month provides for our Severe Weather Shelter Assistants with lived experience.
A one time $4000 donation will provide 40 rooms to shelter our clients for one night.
$50
$100
$250
$500
Other
Make a Donation
Get Shelter
HAAT Force Sheltering
HAAT Force will provide motel vouchers during severe weather from October through April of this winter season. We can only shelter registered clients. See our information about registration events in our updates section of our website. If you cannot go in person to any of these events, request to be registered here.
Who We Shelter
*We provide severe weather motel vouchers to the following people who are unhoused:
*Families with children 18 years of age and under- the child/children must be physically present during registration or you can provide information about the school that the child attends
*People with physical disabilities or medical conditions that pose substantial risk of severe hardship in a congregate shelter setting, as evidenced by the use of a wheelchair, cane or walker
*People with pets (our hotels will not take cats) or service animals
*Pregnant people
*Age 65 or older
*Individuals who are non-gender conforming or transgender
*Single adults who are lacking shelter
Severe Weather Criteria
- 32 degrees and lower with wet conditions or 20 degrees and lower with dry conditions for 3 hours overnight. We voucher Monday – Friday based on weather.
- If the weekend qualifies for shelter, we will voucher on a Friday. It is important to check our hotline and website daily for updates.
Email us to be added to our Resource Newsletters! Email info@haatforce.org.
Who We Are
Our Staff
Sienna McGrath
Executive Director
smcgrath@haatforce.org
Julie Hall
Program Director
jhall@haatforce.org
Tiffany Harper
Severe Weather Shelter Assistant
tharper@haatforce.org
Amber Martin
Severe Weather Shelter Assistant
amartin@haatforce.org
Our Board
Chris Hornbaker
President
Austin Fearn
Vice President
Kelly Shiffer
Board Member
Our Partners & Sponsors
Become a Sponsor
Email Sienna McGrath at sienna@haatforce.org for sponsorship opportunities.
Volunteer
How to Get Involved
- Serve at our voucher events or resource days
- Pick up a donation of food or hygiene items
- Help plan and support fundraising events
- Organize a donation drive – see our Amazon Wishlist
- Help with other office and supply storage projects
- Advocate and reach out to potential supporters
- Provide professional services pro-bono
- Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn
- Cook a meal for our voucher events
Sign up to volunteer
HAAT Force— Homelessness Awareness and Action Task Force South Metro
~HAAT Force is a registered 501c3~
Address: 4300 S Lincoln St, Englewood, Co 80113
Telephone: 720-483-7864
Contact: info@haatforce.org