Mile High United Way and Denver Rescue Mission are creating change in Metro Denver.
Serving the most vulnerable in our community is what the Mission has been doing for more than a century, and our services help individuals and families transition back to society as productive, self-sufficient citizens.
Through Emergency Services, we provide meals, 24/7 shelter, lockers, restrooms, showers, and laundry facilities. Our STAR Transitional Program provides transitional housing to individuals and families so that they can take steps toward securing housing.
With generous funding from Mile High United Way, these programs and services can thrive during today’s unpredictable times and are essential during a time of expansion for the Mission.
Senior Director of Policy for Mile High United Way, Roweena Naidoo, said the goal of the grant is to ensure that families can meet their basic needs, including access to safe housing and nutritious food. “We invested in Denver Rescue Mission’s proposal to serve families experiencing homelessness in a safe and welcoming manner, while also expanding emergency food and shelter services to people experiencing homelessness,” Roweena said.
As a result of COVID-19, the Mission hired an additional 120 employees as we transitioned to offering 24/7 sheltering. This change has not only improved guests’ engagement with case management, but it has also created a sense of familiarity with their surroundings, resulting in better sleep and a sense of security from knowing where they will spend the night.
The change to 24/7 sheltering has also led to faster stabilization, allowing guests to focus on exiting the shelter system rather than struggling for basic survival.
With the opening of the new 48th Avenue Center facility that we operate in partnership with the City of Denver, the Mission has expanded its reach substantially, and we are now able to change the lives of an additional 450 people.
“Mile High United Way is incredibly proud to partner with Denver Rescue Mission in this capacity to serve our community,” said Christine Benero, President and CEO of Mile High United Way. “In alignment with our strategic vision, we are proud to serve the individuals, children and families in our seven-county footprint to ensure their needs are met, and we can’t do it alone. This partnership allows us to come together as a community united and leverage our resources during an especially trying year.”
We are so blessed to have the support of Mile High United Way in serving the most vulnerable. Together, we can build a stronger community to take care of individuals and families in need.
Written by Isabella Moore-Munoz, Marketing and Communications Intern
