Where should I put the shelter so the cats will find and use it?

I'm trying to care for and TNR a small colony that lives behind the restaurant where my neighbor works. There are three adults and two kittens, about 4-5 months old. I bought a great little insulated house for them that I plan to bring up tomorrow (I need help because it's heavy so I haven't been able to do it yet) but I don't know where to put it where the cats will find and use it. They are fed by the restaurant staff by a dumpster at the back of the parking lot but seem to hang out mostly in a very dense wooded area behind the restaurant.

Putting the house at the back of the parking lot would be the easiest but probably not a good idea since there is so much foot traffic there. So I thought about putting it in the woods but how do I know if they will find it and use it? It's not a huge wooded area but it's not that small either.

How do I make sure they find and use the house? Any suggestions? Is it best to put it near where they eat even though there is frequent traffic to the dumpster? How do other people handle this? My previous colony stayed in mine and my neighbor's garage and that was much easier.

I also plan to add a couple of Rubber Maid shelters too once I get them.

Here is an areal view of the place if it helps: https://www.google.com/maps/place/3...2!3m1!1s0x880fb236db651cdd:0xb90a121838ded075

I vote for one to the woods. Also try to arrange it so your colony sees what and where you are doing. And somewhat hidden from humans. Not all humans like the feeding of cats. The first location of my cat shelter was too visible, it gone thrown away in the dumpster. I retrieved it and hid it behind some thorny bushes up a steep hill. This was my first time using a cat shelter and the cats found it right away. If your cat's come down a certain path to get to the dumpster, as mine do, put it near there. Ps line with straw not why.

Placement can be tricky.  If you can place the shelters when the cats are out and about and see you, they may be curious enough to go see.  I have put catnip in mine as well to entice them.  Do not put food in them.  This will attract other wildlife and you do not want that!  As Ritz mentioned only use straw not hay so that it will not go moldy.  When I place new feral cat houses, I use a couple of them and scatter them about.  I usually end of taking them away later as the cat will settle on one.  I am trying my best right now to get my latest feral to accept shelter.  He comes for food, but does not stay for shelter.  It is to get to single digits in the next few days and I am so worried about him.  I figure I have done my best and it has to be his choice!

Thank you for caring for this group!  Have you done TNR on them yet?

I think I figured out where to put the house. I've only known about these kitties for a few weeks and since the restaurant staff feeds them it's hard to get a routine with them so I don't know their habits or where they hang out and they don't know me. I've tried to get a feeding routine going with them - the restaurant staff feeds them chicken and I like them to eat cat food - but it's been hard because the place is also full of racoons and skunks. When the skunks come the cats and racoons take off so I've ended up feeding a lot of skunks who could care less about me standing there yelling at them. The skunks aren't going away since they also have a steady supply of left overs by the dumpster so putting a feeding station or shelters near the dumpster is probably a bad idea. Fortunately I found a little spot a few feet into the woods at the other end of the parking lot that would be good and today when I came three of the cats were sitting there so now I know they go there.

So far I've TNR'd the two kittens and was supposed to try to trap the rest this coming week but the organization I'm working with regarding these cats cancelled any further trapping for the rest of the winter because it's gotten too cold. I don't really understand the problem with trapping in the cold as long as you check the traps often and keep the cats inside while recovering but I know many organization stop trapping in the winter so maybe there is a reason I haven't thought of. Anyone know?
 

I think it's okay to trap during the winter, as long as the weather is nice (albeit cold) and there isn't any snow on the ground. You'd obviously have to check the traps constantly. Also, cover the trap with a heavy, dark colored blanket, including the part that is open (until the trap is sprung). The excess blanket will cover the formerly opened trap. (I hope my explanation makes sense.)
And may have to change the bait; it will freeze fairly quickly.
My biggest problem is I live 30 minutes from where I trap, so the bait may freeze in the interim. I heat the bait before leaving my house and put it in an insulated thermos so at least the bait is warm when I place the bait it in the trap.
Also, there are disks you can microwave and then set in the trap that keep the trap fairly warm. I've used these before and they work to a point (but not for ten hours). Though they may also scare the cat away. (Maybe put some cat nip under the cover?)