Our team of case managers has one main goal: to help those experiencing homelessness find stable housing. On the wall of the case management office at 48th Avenue Center it says: Welcome To Your Next Step.
He came to the Mission with a past of crime, severed relationships and current health issues. Shortly upon arriving at 48th Avenue Center— a 24/7 shelter operated in partnership with the City of Denver— Larry decided to get connected to a case manager, which offered the structure he needed to take the first step of many on his journey out of homelessness.
With 513 men staying at the shelter, the team of case managers has one main goal: to help those experiencing homelessness, like Larry, find stable housing. “It’s the structure in my day-to-day life that helps move and propel things and helps me set a schedule for myself,” he said.
Once Larry was connected to his case manager, Julia, she asked questions to determine his immediate and long-term needs and his current barriers to housing. Some questions included:
- Are you connected with a primary care provider?
- Do you need mental health or substance use support?
- Do you have any income? If so, what kind?
“We’re addressing a lot of different things,” Julia said. “Even things like, ‘Are you building community outside of the shelter?’ We’re trying to build up a support network that is still going to exist when they leave shelter.”
Once identifying what those needs and barriers are, a case manager can then direct a guest, like Larry, to the right resources.
“I got the bus pass. I did ‘Dress to Impress;’ that’s where I got this beautiful shirt,” Larry said. “She gave me the hookup for medical transport to transport me to appointments for free. It has kept me functional. I’m rested and meeting all my appointments.”
“From the moment I first walked through the doors I was greeted with warmth and professionalism. I have felt supported and encouraged every step of the way.”
-Larry
Several organizations even come directly to the shelter, such as WellPower and Veteran Affairs, making it easier for guests to access resources.
“When Larry came to case management he had already applied for housing and needed to gain some understanding about the best organizations for additional resources,” Julia shared. “I’ve been working with his case manager at Colorado Coalition for the Homeless to make sure we’re setting Larry up for success when he moves out.”
A Letter from Larry
“I was a man with a troubled past. Growing up a poor Black kid, I faced many challenges and struggles. After graduating from high school, I enlisted in the Navy, hoping to find a sense of purpose and direction in my life and to get away from the violence that was happening in my neighborhood.
After eight years of service and the loss of my children from two failed relationships and one divorce, I turned to crime that would ultimately land me in serious trouble.
As I sat behind bars and reflected on my life, I knew that I had made mistakes, but I also knew that Jesus Christ had the power to turn my life around. With a newfound sense of determination, I vowed to serve God, in the name of Jesus Christ, to make the most of my time in prison and emerge a changed man.
When I was finally released, I dedicated myself to doing God’s will, rebuilding my life and making amends for my past mistakes. With the support of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, family and the amazing staff at Denver Rescue Mission, St. Francis Center and Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, I was able to start fresh and leave my criminal past behind me. I may have been a man with a troubled past, but I was and am determined to create a brighter future for myself.
I would like all of the Mission staff and its board to please continue doing what you are doing because it is truly ‘Changing and Saving Lives.’ How do I know? Because it is my life you all have helped me change and save.”
Your support helps us nurture growth and offers hope and transformation to people like Larry every single day.
Many guests get connected to the Mission’s Pathway Home program when they leave shelter, which provides families and individuals with assistance with their first month’s rent and deposit toward long-term housing as well as mentors from the community.
“We need to offer all these various connections to make sure that they’re supported when they are in housing,” Kelsea, next step manager of housing stability, said. “It involves so many different organizations, but that part is so important.”
The Mission can also assist guests with household items and furniture when they first move into housing. Many guests are referred to the Ministry Outreach Center to get donated furniture for free, and the Mission’s Housewarming Box program helps provide household essentials with donations from the community.
The Mission also has a team of staff who research and meet with providers to vet resources in order to offer our guests the best possible support.
“We don’t just Google something and say, ‘Hey, try this out,’” Kelsea said. “These guys have been let down a lot. We want to be a source of stability within instability, and we do that by offering honesty and integrity in everything that we do with them.”
Pathway Out of Homelessness
Moments of Impact
John
“One guy had a tough background, but we were able to get him housed. I think all the gentlemen here show resiliency, but we pray for a time where they don’t have to be resilient anymore.”
Chloe
“A client talked about being on the sidewalk with a cardboard sign and how he felt so cast out by society. He said, ‘I don’t feel like I have any close people in my life who take the time to listen, and I feel like I can get listened to here.’”
Kelsea
“One guest was experiencing massive health issues, had gone through a divorce and lost a custody battle for his kids. He was able to be housed and seeing him go from sadness and despair to tears of happiness was just the greatest thing.”
Julia
“There was one client who dealt with strokes that impacted his cognitive abilities and I worked with him until he got housed. Seeing the transition and progress he made was impactful for me.”
For Larry, he is grateful for Julia and the whole case management team for supporting him from the day he walked in, to when he will soon move into his own apartment.
“From the moment I first walked through the doors I was greeted with warmth and professionalism,” he said. “I have felt supported and encouraged every step of the way.”
Case managers offer hope that, with one step at a time, guests can live a life beyond homelessness.
“People like Larry remind me that you can impact people in ways that you’ll never understand,” Julia said. “Just greeting guys in the morning, smiling, addressing them by name, and offering them dignity is a huge way to impact people.”
You Make the Next Step Possible
Your support changes lives each and every day. Give today to make those next steps towards a better life possible for a neighbor in need!
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- Welcome To Your Next Step
- The Mission in My Words: Rachel Mouyos
- Letter From Our CEO
