Our work

Emergency Warming center | 2026

When Durango’s winter nights reach extreme cold temperatures, a coalition of compassionate community partners ensures no one is left in the cold. Founded by concerned citizens in 2024, the Emergency Warming Center Council (EWCC)—partnered with local community advocates, Neighbors in Need Alliance, Manna, The Durango Soup Kitchen, and the American Red Cross to successfully transform cold nights into safe havens.   This coalition is grateful to the Durango City Council and city manager and his staff, without such efforts the Emergency Warming Center would not have been possible.

A Community United
In 2025-2026, with shared efforts of 72 dedicated volunteers and partners, the EWC provided more than just a roof; it provided dignity. While NINA ensured funding, Manna provided warm meals, the Red Cross brought cots and essential supplies, and the City of Durango ensured safe transportation to and from Sacred Heart Parish Hall. This collaboration has grown and served over 180 individuals across two seasons (58 unique individuals) in the first year, 125 (60 unique individuals) in the current), proving that Durango cares deeply for its most vulnerable residents. 

Safe, Warm, and Welcoming
Operating when temperatures drop below 15°F during 8 nights, the EWC expanded its capacity to accommodate 20 guests, offering a secure, overnight sanctuary from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. This vital resource serves as a crucial, non-judgmental, and accessible shelter, transforming cold nights into a peaceful, warm refuge. 

The City of Durango Transportation Department provided bus service to the Emergency Warming Center from the transit center in the evening and returned guests to the transit center or Manna in the morning.  Per a report from the Transportation Center, 71 individuals utilized this service.  This service was vital in ensuring people did not linger in the neighborhood and/or travel towards Park School.  In a conversation with the Superintendent Chesser and Director of Operation Coleman, there were minimal if any issues in relation to the EWC when the EWC operated.

The City of Durango Police Department provided two important types of services.   First and foremost, officers patrolled the neighborhood and when possible, entered the EWC during hours of operation.    This was done to ensure guests, volunteers, neighborhood and school system that the safety was paramount.   The Durango PD made at least 24 visits.   Second, when a guest was disruptive and needed to be removed from the warming center, the police came quickly and handled those situations for the coordinators.   The Durango PD came on 4 different occasions to handle behavioral issues with guests.  Again, this was necessary to demonstrate to guests and volunteers that safety was our priority.

With over 60 volunteers completing the orientation and background check, 45 of those 60 provided services to the EWC during the eight nights of operation.   An evaluation sent to volunteers indicated overall satisfaction with the experience, the competency of the coordination, and the overall effectiveness of the EWC.  Suggestions for improvement included a higher threshold for opening the EWC (e.g., 20 degrees), better oversight of guests regarding behavior and cleanliness, and ideas for improving the volunteer signup process.

Five guests who utilized the EWC were interviewed to determine areas of improvement.   Guests were grateful for the EWC, the opportunity to sleep, and the warmness and welcoming of the volunteers and coordinators.  They also urged that the threshold be raised to 20 degrees or more and to be open longer than 7 am.  They appreciated the donated clothes and the food from Manna.  They also would like more training for the EWC staff to deal with behavior issues of other guests.  

The Impact of Compassion
Even during milder weather in 2026, the EWC was a critical safety net, preventing injury and death from exposure. The expansion to Sacred Heart Parish Hall provided a larger, more comfortable space for rest, showing that when a community works together, they can truly make a difference.  Father Heriberto Torres at Sacred Heart has given his blessing to utilize Sacred Heart next winter and we will work with the Diocese of Pueblo and City of Durango to hopefully make this a reality for people who do not have a safe place to sleep during extreme cold. people    Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.   Thanks for your support.

Respectfully submitted by:   Mike Todt and Donna Rhealt on behalf of the Emergency Warming Center Council (NINA:  Donna Rhealt, Caroline Kinser, Linda Barnes), Manna (Chris Andrews), American Red Cross of Western Colorado (Sean Killoy), Community Advocates (Mike Todt, Stephanie Hall)

Housewarming Love, Since 2024

Imagine moving into a new apartment and having nothing there! This is often the case of those receiving a housing voucher. While being grateful for a roof over their head they have to deal with sleeping on the floor and nothing in the kitchen, this is where Housewarming Love comes in.

With individual donations and a few fill-in purchases, house warming love can supply helpful things like paper goods, kitchen supplies, bathroom necessities, bed linens and even some furniture.

Those moving into Permanent Supportive Housing often come from homelessness on the streets living in motel rooms.

Housewarming Love can let them know that they are not invisible or forgotten and that the Durango community cares.

Laundry Love Project, Since 2024

Laundry Love washes the clothes and bedding of low/no income families and person(s). Here in Durango, the Neighbors in Need Interfaith Alliance has partnered with NINA and Manna to staff and support this program. Interested parties can register for this service at the Resource Center at Manna.

Creation of NINIA, Since 2023

Neighbors in Need Interfaith Alliance (NINIA) is composed of individuals and faith-based organizations that collaborate and work together to reach out to those less fortunate in our community. NINIA works to create a community where everyone can live with dignity and have access to a safe place to live.

Advocacy

March 2023

NINA sponsored a Candidate Forum on Housing and Homelessness for all candidates for the Durango City Council.

SEPTEMBER 2022

NINA and Project Moxie advocated for unhoused at Purple Cliffs to the City Council through a letter with over 500 signatures to provide designated camping areas and car camping when Purple Cliffs closed.

NOVEMBER 2021

NINA, in collaboration with Project Moxie, hosted a community webinar on "Supporting our Unhoused Neighbors with a Managed Camp".

MARCH 2021

NINA sponsored a Candidate Forum for all candidates for Durango City Council on Homelessness and Affordable Housing.

MARCH 2020

NINA hosted Nicole Martinez to speak to community and advocates regarding best practice model "Camp Hope" in Los Cruces, NM.

La Plata 2022 unhoused count & survey

In May of 2022, NINA partnered with Project Moxie to conduct a tally count of unhoused community members living in the region, as well as a survey that collected demographic information and invited participants to respond to open-ended questions about their lived experience.

Proposed Managed Community

This safe, clean, designated site for unhoused residents will help ensure that our neighbors in need have a safe place to sleep, while connecting individuals experiencing homelessness to services and a path to being housed. The camp is a viable alternative to the camping currently prevalent in our neighborhoods, and the end result is:

A cleaner, safer, community that works better for everyone.

Purple Cliffs Shelter & warmth

Purple Cliffs was Durango's only legally sanctioned camp, closed 9/30/22. Some of us lived there, and some of us partnered to help with practical needs as they arose.

Security Lockers

Considering the information NINA received after interviewing a significant number of our unhoused neighbors in the spring of 2019, it became clear to us that lockers would be a great help for those who are unhoused. The requested was for a safe place to keep belongings, important papers, and other items of value.‍

Using a model from Lisbon, Portugal, we decided to implement a pilot project of 6 lockers. The lockers were installed at Durango's Transit Center, where 24-hour security cameras and lighting is provided. 

The program was suspended in 2023 and the lockers were removed.