Location
Simpson is building a modern, dignified shelter and affordable housing facility at 2740 1st Ave., which will open in 2025. Shelter operations have temporarily moved to the former Zion Lutheran Church at 128 W 33rd St. during construction. Visit our Build-Up Campaign page to learn more.
Shelter Guests
Over 40 years ago, Simpson began as an emergency overnight shelter in the basement of Simpson United Methodist Church. Today, we provide an extended-stay shelter and critical resources for 66 guests (men, women, and non-binary people) 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.
Guests are diverse in background, employment status, and physical abilities. Guests also have a variety of experiences with domestic violence, mental illness, or chemical dependency. We welcome each guest with dignity and respect, recognize each person’s personal strengths and barriers, and offer a safe space where guests can explore stable housing options and resources.
What Happens at Simpson’s Shelter?
As a smaller capacity facility, Simpson’s extended-stay shelter offers unique opportunities for staff and guests to create trusting relationships. We are honored to walk alongside each person to navigate challenging barriers and find safe and stable housing. Through our person-centered work, we build meaningful relationships with each shelter guest and create a unique sense of community.
The shelter staff meet with guests to resolve housing barriers and connect guests to resources that support ongoing stability, including housing assistance, veterans’ services, and health-related services, along with access to three daily meals, showers, laundry, toiletries, mail, and a savings program. Advocates listen to and meet guests where they are, supporting guests in achieving their individualized goals of housing stability and improved well-being.
Volunteer groups serve healthy, filling meals for lunch and dinner. Shelter guests have the chance to visit with staff, volunteers, and other guests, or just unwind by playing board games or watching TV. While shelter guests do not currently have the home they deserve, Simpson staff try to create a sense of home, safety, and welcome.
Success Stories
At Simpson, we do the critical work of helping shelter guests get stabilized back into the community through safe and sustainable housing. We walk with shelter guests as each person strives to attain individual goals and housing stability.
Read guest success stories:
Rose’s Journey: Breaking the Cycle of Generational Poverty
Our Shelter Volunteers
We rely on the generous support of hundreds of volunteers and donors to help us with basic operation of the shelter. Volunteers prepare meals in the shelter kitchen and serve lunch and dinner daily. Generous donors donate supplies such as toiletries, cereal, and coffee, as well as basic clothing items like socks, underwear, and t-shirts. Learn how to volunteer at the shelter or how to donate supplies.
Read about volunteers who support our shelter:
Local Restaurant, Our Kitchen, Offers Generous Hospitality to Simpson Guests
Young Volunteer Supports Simpson Through Cereal Drive