Dear Friends,

People often ask me about Denver’s Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness, (officially known as Denver’s Road Home). Most of the questions are along the lines of, “What do you like about it?  Is it working?”

     What I really like about Denver’s Road Home is the way the community has worked together to address the issues of homelessness. City government, neighborhood groups, businesses, human service providers, police, and even formerly homeless people have joined to make sure no one in our community goes without food or dies from exposure to the elements. This collaborative effort is something we should all be proud of, as our city has become a model for other cities writing similar plans. Do we still have a lot of work to do? Yes, but we are all pulling together.   

     One of the most exciting Road Home programs involves the work of the faith based community. Known as the Family and Senior Homeless Initiative (FSHI), this Denver Rescue Mission program provides a homeless working family with the first month’s rent and security deposit toward a place to live. Then FSHI pairs a mentoring team from a local congregation with the family, and in the resulting relationships, the team helps the family create a budget and get back on their feet. One of FSHI’s “ten year” goals is to help 1,000 families move into housing.  Because of the faith based community’s commitment to help, this program has already been able to assist almost 800 families after only five years!

     Elitch Gardens recently awarded the Heart of Denver Community Service Award for outstanding community effort to FSHI (more information on this page). Special thanks go to Don Reeverts of the Denver Leadership Foundation, who helped form a Clergy Council to assist us in articulating the vision to the faith based community and in mobilizing the congregations. 

     For the Denver Rescue Mission, FSHI has provided a rare opportunity; we have become a bridge between city government and the faith based community. Is this approach working?  Absolutely! I would say FSHI is one example of how if we do not care who gets the credit, and we determine to work together, our community and its people all benefit. Thank you for your part—your continued prayers and support—in this critical effort.  

God bless,

Brad Meuli