The Denver Rescue Mission is steadfastly committed to
ministering to the homeless, the hungry, the needy, and
the outcast who live among us. Today the Mission shelters more homeless
people than ever before. Many of those
who seek refuge within its walls reflect the new face of homelessness—families
(the majority of whom are single mothers with children).
The Mission’s biggest challenge is seeking innovative
ways to meet the needs of the homeless population that
Denver cannot accommodate:
- On any night, there are more than 10,000 homeless people
on the streets of Denver—yet only about 1,730
beds are available in area shelters. Every descent into brutal cold or
inclement weather stresses the
Metro area’s eleven homeless shelters, which are already overcrowded.
- The Denver area’s high rental market is forcing many working poor into
homelessness—creating
unprecedented demand for both emergency shelter and transitional housing services.
- The Mission’s New Life rehabilitation program—which has helped
hundreds of men and women break
the cycles of addiction, poverty, and homelessness—has a waiting list
of people eager to change their lives
through its services.
 As an advocate for the poor and homeless, the Denver Rescue Mission has become
a key community leader,
addressing issues of poverty, homelessness, and rehabilitation. Under the leadership
of President/CEO Brad Meuli
and the Board of Directors, the Mission has forged an unprecedented partnership
with the City of Denver to
develop solutions that will provide both short-term shelter and long-term assistance
for those who are homeless.
Mission staff work closely with the Denver Department of Human Services to
operate temporary emergency shelters
and are active participants in the Mayor’s Commission to End Homelessness.
Research conducted by the Metropolitan Denver Homeless Initiative, Inc.
reveals that:
- There are approximately 10,000 homeless people in the
Denver area at any time. Of that number, approximately
32% are children; over 60% are families; aproximately 42% are working part time, full time, or
day labor; 15% are veterans; and 33% are newly homeless.
- The face of homelessness has changed dramatically over the past decade.
No longer just a problem of
single men with substance abuse problems, homelessness now primarily
affects families; 32% of homeless people are under 18 years old.
- Denver’s high rental market forces many working poor into homelessness.
For many working families, the
constant threat of eviction looms over their heads.
- Many of the homeless hold low-wage jobs that leave them unable to pay
their rent or mortgage. Lack of
affordable housing and health care, an absence of family or friends to
turn to for support, and issues such
as domestic violence and substance abuse often leave individuals and
families without a place to call home.
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