Homelessness among families with children in Colorado grew by 134% in 2024. Let that sink in.
The U.S. Housing and Urban Development report reveals that Colorado was one of four states where family homelessness more than doubled.
This is heartbreaking, and yet, families all across Colorado are struggling to stay afloat during the current affordable housing crisis.
When Kalina and Danny faced an eviction, they feared for their children’s future. But through the Bridge program at the Mission, they found not only shelter, but hope, support and the tools to rebuild their lives.
It feels hopeless for so many. For families like Kalina and Danny’s who are doing their best to support their four children, it’s a real challenge to work high-enough paying jobs and pay for all the necessary expenses.
“We had an eviction note and we had to get out right away from where we were living. We used to live in a hotel or motel or sometimes in our car if we didn’t have enough income coming in,” Kalina remembered.
Kalina shared that it has always been a struggle to save their money, especially because they just want the best life for their kids.
“Sometimes it makes me think, ‘Why is it that families can afford [life] and ours cannot?’” she said. “As a mom, sometimes I cry, just cry. It always makes me feel like I’m not doing good, I’m not the best mom. But then here, all that heaviness, all the stress, I can feel it helps a lot. This place has helped a lot.”
Their family joined the Mission’s Bridge program at The Crossing in October 2024, just in time for the winter. It was the saving grace they needed to provide their family with a safe place to be as they worked hard to save money and pay off debts.
In addition to case management, counseling and taking different classes, the Youth Center has been a huge benefit to not only their kids’ futures, but their family’s future as well.
Kalina: “I’m so thankful for the staff and everybody that has been a part of showing us love.”
Do you feel like you had that love and support from others before?
Kalina: “Not that kind of love and support, no.”
“I’ve been looking at my kids, and I’m seeing a lot of changes in school. When it’s almost 4:30 p.m. they just want to go [to the Youth Center] because they’re in a good environment,” Kalina said. “I don’t trust just anybody with my kids because I struggled when I was a kid, but seeing them want to go, I know that something good is happening over there and I don’t want to hold them back.”
Danley (14), Daniel (12), Amarissa (9), and Danbi (7), always look forward to their time spent at The Crossing’s Youth Center, not only for the fun, but to learn useful skills for their futures as well.
Danley said, “The teen room really helps because of how they’re organized with the time of studying and working, with some breaks. And especially the workshops that we recently were doing about money, like what’s investing, what’s the debit card and credit card, that kind of stuff. It was fun, and it was very interesting for me to learn. It helped me a lot with saving.”
Daniel added, “I like the tutoring. They’re really helpful, and my grades are getting better than last year.
I’m that kid who’s always asking my mom when it’s almost 4:30 p.m. We usually just run to it, and we have fun. Even though it’s tutoring, it just gets us smarter.”
Not only that, but each of their kids have their own Bible for the first time ever.
“I pray that my kids grow up and serve God with all their heart and be love to the community,” Kalina said. “I want them to finish college and have a good job, so they cannot struggle like we do. I want them to become humble kids and help like how the people here are helping them.”
Family is the most important thing, and Kalina is grateful that God led them to the Mission. “I’m grateful for what God has been doing, like answering all the struggles and helping us,” she said, “giving us the best people and teams here with Denver Rescue Mission, leading us to here and the way they’ve been helping my family.”
For Kalina, Danny and their children, the Mission has been more than just a shelter—it has been a new beginning.
As the crisis of family homelessness has grown, the need for community support and places like The Crossing has become essential. No family should have to face homelessness alone, and together, we can help put an end to homelessness, one family at a time.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Thank you for helping moms like Kalina know that they aren’t alone.
“I am thankful for my mom because of the way she takes care of us. Even though we struggle, she carries us and feeds us. I’m also thankful for her working and her buying me clothes.”
Daniel
“The thing I like about her is every time one of us is sick she stays right next to us and takes care of us.”
Amarissa
Give Families Hope
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Jesus loves kids. When He was on earth, He blessed children, He pointed to them as examples of what our faith should look like, and He issued stern warnings toward anyone who would harm a child.
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