In Southwest Colorado, where help can feel far away and options are limited, VOA Colorado’s Southwest Safehouse and Durango Community Shelter provide more than just emergency shelter—they offer the chance to start again.
Every night of the year, these two programs stand as beacons of safety and support. The Southwest Safehouse offers more than 5,000 nights of shelter annually to survivors of domestic violence and violent crime, many of whom arrive with little more than the clothes on their backs. Just down the road, the Durango Community Shelter, the region’s only 24/7/365 shelter, provides over 9,000 nights of refuge each year for individuals and families navigating homelessness.
Together, they’ve served more than 700 individuals in a single year, including 110 children and 18 veterans, offering not only shelter but meals, dignity, and hope.
“These shelters provide more than just a roof over someone’s head—they offer safety, dignity, and the chance to rebuild,” said Angel Hurtado, chief programs officer for VOA Colorado.
That mission comes to life every spring during the Shelter from the Storm, a fundraising event where compassionate community members help raise money to support these essential programs. In March of 2025, the event raised $79,000. But the work doesn’t stop there—it happens every day, quietly and powerfully, through meals served, beds made, and lives changed.
“For survivors of domestic violence, a safe place to turn can mean the difference between life and death,” said Veronica Martin, senior director of the programs. “What we provide is more than shelter—it’s a path forward.”
In Durango, shelter means survival. Stability. Second chances. And it’s made possible by a community that refuses to let anyone face the storm alone.