HAVEN OF HOPE

THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT NEED FOR SERVICES GEARED TOWARDS HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT COLORADO. DATA FROM METRO DENVER HOMELESS INITIATIVE'S 2019 POINT IN TIME SURVEY REPORTED OVER 5,700 INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN THE DENVER METRO AREA. 43% OF METRO DENVER RESIDENTS REPORTED HAVING FAMILY OR FRIENDS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS. DUE TO THE PREVALENCE OF HOMELESSNESS, HAVEN OF HOPE CONTINUES THE CHARGE TO PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED BASIC EMERGENCY AID, AS WELL AS SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO A HIGHLY VULNERABLE POPULATION.HAVEN OF HOPE HAS LEARNED THAT INITIALLY MEETING TANGIBLE NEEDS IS AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY FOR BUILDING TRUST AND PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WHICH ULTIMATELY LEADS TO CLIENTS PARTICIPATING IN WORK TRAINING, FINDING GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT, AND EVENTUALLY PERMANENT HOUSING. WHILE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS DO SERVE DENVER'S HOMELESS POPULATION, FEW HAVE THE CAPACITY TO SERVE OVER 800 MEALS A DAY, WHILE ALSO COMPREHENSIVELY ADDRESSING BASIC NEEDS AND EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT. HAVEN OF HOPE IS THE ONLY PLACE WHERE CLIENTS CAN TAKE A PRIVATE SHOWER AND ONE OF THE FEW PLACES WHERE LAUNDRY SERVICES ARE OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE. HAVEN OF HOPE WORKS CLOSELY WITH OTHER DENVER AGENCIES TO AVOID UNNECESSARY DUPLICATION OF SERVICES. ONE OF THE SIGNATURE SERVICES HAVEN OF HOPE OFFERS IS RESTAURANT-STYLE MEALS. RATHER THAN WAITING IN LINE FOR THEIR FOOD, GUESTS ARE SEATED AND SERVED A MEAL BY VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF, RESTORING A SENSE OF DIGNITY. HAVEN OF HOPE PROVIDES HOT BREAKFAST, A HOT FOUR COURSE LUNCH, AND A SACK LUNCH FOR CLIENTS WHO WORK IN THE COMMUNITY. HAVEN OF HOPE ASSISTS CLIENTS IN STAYING CONNECTED TO THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING PHONE SERVICE, INTERNET ACCESS, AND MAILBOXES FOR RECEIVING WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE AND SECURING IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS. HAVEN OF HOPE ALSO PROVIDES ANCILLARY SERVICES, SUCH AS AN EYE CLINIC, DENTAL SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, WOUND CARE, AND COMPLEMENTARY INTEGRATIVE HEALTH OFFERINGS SUCH AS YOGA, ACUPUNCTURE AND MASSAGE THERAPY. DUE TO EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS, UNSANITARY CONDITIONS, MALNUTRITION, STRESS AND ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCES, HOMELESS PERSONS ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO SUFFER FROM A MYRIAD OF HEALTH PROBLEMS. THOSE IN NEED OF TREATMENT OFTEN FAIL TO RECEIVE ADEQUATE CARE DUE TO LACK OF ACCESS TO HEALTH INSURANCE AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY AND LOCATION OF TREATMENT FACILITIES. PSYCHOLOGICAL BARRIERS, SUCH AS EMBARRASSMENT AND SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS ABOUT APPEARANCE AND HYGIENE WHEN LIVING ON THE STREETS, ALSO PREVENT MANY HOMELESS PEOPLE FROM SEEKING TREATMENT WHEN ILL. THE ADDITION OF THESE SERVICES BOLSTERS HAVEN OF HOPE'S EFFORTS TO PROVIDE A CONTINUUM OF CARE AND SUPPORT TO EMPOWER MARGINALIZED INDIVIDUALS TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND THRIVE. ADDITIONALLY, THE AGENCY CREATES ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNIITES FOR THE HOMELESS BY OFFERING WORK WITHIN HAVEN OF HOPE. CURRENTLY 10 PARTIICIPANTS WORK AS FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES WITH BENEFITS IN THE CUSTODIAL, LAUNDRY, AND GUEST SERVICES DEPARTMENTS. AS THEY WORK, CLIENTS LEARN AND PRACTICE SKILLS THAT CAN HELP LEAD THEM TO HIGHER-PAYING JOBS. CLIENTS ARE EMPOWERED BY THE INVESTMENT THE STAFF IS MAKING IN THEM, AS WELL AS BY THE INVESTMENT THEY ARE MAKING IN THEMSELVES.