Falling snow and temperatures have Utah homeless shelters bracing for a busy week.

The Road Home expected to open its doors to more than 1,000 people Friday night between its downtown Salt Lake City shelter, 210 S. Rio Grande St., and its winter emergency shelter at 520 W. 7300 South, Midvale.

Staff and volunteers at the Rescue Mission of Salt Lake and the Ogden Rescue Mission also were preparing for larger-than-usual numbers. All of the shelters will be packed, they said, but no one will be turned away.

"This time of year, we bed people down on bedrolls on the floor," said Gary Doud, executive director of the Ogden Rescue Mission. "We don't want anyone left out in the cold."

The Road Home usually provides space for about 700 men, women and their children per night, said Celeste Eggert, director of development and community relations. Currently, there are about 50 families at the Midvale shelter.

"We still have space," Eggert said. "We won't turn anyone away."

A sign that homelessness among families and women is clearly on the rise, Volunteers of America is adding emergency shelter to its effort to help people struggling with substance abuse problems.

A 10-bed shelter dedicated to mothers ages 18 to 22 opened Monday at the VOA drug rehab center for women with children, but single women are eligible for temporary services, said Mark Manazer, head of clinical services for VOA, Utah.

Given the bad weather in both the economy and the season, many more people are vulnerable.

"Homeless young people are in great danger this time of the year because of the cold temperatures. Having a small group of young people sheltered together offers a safe, nonthreatening environment," he said.

The Ogden Rescue Mission at 2781 Wall Ave. provides 90 beds for men, women and families. On Thursday night, 11 people slept in temporary beds on the floor, Doud said.

The Rescue Mission of Salt Lake has 50 beds for single men, but all are full, said Don Hill, a shelter volunteer. However, if people have no place to go, staff and volunteers will find room for them at the shelter, 463 S. 400 West.

"We'll put people on the floor if we have to in this kind of weather," Hill said.

Shelters also are making accommodations to keep people inside more during the daytime hours. The Road Home usually closes its doors from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but people have been able to stay indoors as late as 11 a.m. and return to the shelter as early as 3 p.m. because of the cold, snowy weather, Eggert said.

"When the weather is bad, we want to get the people in off the streets," she said.

Though there is no homeless shelter in Utah County, Community Action Services provides vouchers for area hotels to families who need a place to stay.

Between one and five families use the service per night, though the group is prepared to find shelter for as many as are in need, said Myla Dutton, executive director.

Families needing assistance from Community Action Services can contact Provo Police at 801-852-6215.

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E-mail: jpage@desnews.com

Contributing: James Thalman