One Life at a Time: Denver Rescue Mission’s Expanding Vision to End Homelessness
A closer look at the people, programs, and passion reshaping Denver’s response to homelessness
Photos courtesy of Scott Streble/Denver Rescue Mission: Participants in the New Life Program during a class at the Denver Rescue Mission and Mission Staff Interacting with a guest or doing day-to-day work
For more than 130 years, the Denver Rescue Mission has served as a beacon of hope for individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Colorado. What began as a simple shelter has evolved into a dynamic, multifaceted nonprofit working to meet the complex needs of people at every stage of their journey—whether they’re newly unhoused, battling addiction, recovering from trauma, or working but unable to afford rent.
At the heart of the mission’s work is a clear vision: Through the power of Christ, working to bring an end to homelessness in metro Denver and Northern Colorado, one life at a time. According to president and CEO Dennis Van Kampen, who took the helm just over a year ago, the power of that vision lies in its specificity. “Homelessness is not one-size-fits-all,” he explains. “People end up unhoused for different reasons, so the solutions have to be just as varied.”
The Denver Rescue Mission now operates nine locations, offering far more than just beds and hot meals. From addiction recovery programs and job skills training to mental health services and transitional housing for families, the mission is tackling homelessness from every angle. In partnership with the city of Denver, its complex care team works to house those most at risk—individuals with chronic physical or mental health conditions who have fallen through the cracks.
Last year alone, the organization served more than 1.2 million meals and helped over 574 households transition into stable housing. “That includes single adults, but also families with kids,” Van Kampen says. “And that’s where we’re seeing the most growth in need: families. These are parents working multiple jobs who just can’t keep up with the cost of housing.”
In response, the mission is launching an ambitious new prevention pilot program in both Denver and Fort Collins, focusing on families who are on the brink of homelessness but not yet without shelter. By partnering with local schools and churches, the goal is to provide support before families lose their homes. Van Kampen notes a staggering statistic: “Forty-six percent of the adults we serve first experienced homelessness as children. That cycle starts early, and it’s hard to break.”
The organization is also exploring new frontiers, from potentially becoming a housing provider to launching social enterprises that offer job training while generating revenue. “Some of our guests can get a job, but they’ve never learned the soft skills needed to keep a job,” he says. “We can bridge that gap and help employers access a workforce they might otherwise overlook.”
“Still, misconceptions persist,” Van Kampen says. “Many people assume homelessness is always tied to addiction or mental illness, but that’s simply not true. The vast majority of the people we serve are sober and mentally well. No one chooses this life; nobody wants to be homeless. People often say, ‘Just pull yourself up by your bootstraps,’ but what if you don’t have
boots? Or what if the straps don’t fit? Sometimes, people just need help getting the boots in the first place.”
One of Van Kampen’s favorite stories speaks to that hope. Recently, the Denver Rescue Mission helped an elderly, legally blind man off the streets and into stable housing. “In a few months, he had benefits, a safe place to live and was reconnecting with family,” he says. “People say miracles don’t happen—but that was a miracle. And we see them every day.”
Faith plays a deep role in the mission’s work, but the organization’s approach resonates with people of all beliefs. “Jesus said, if someone is hungry, feed them. If they’re a stranger, take them in. He didn’t say only if they meet certain criteria. Just help,” Van Kampen says. “And that’s what we do. It’s who we’ve always been, and who we’ll always be.”
