Catholic Charities is a national organization dedicated to serving the most vulnerable in our communities through research, advocacy, and ministry. Their efforts in Denver, Colorado have helped identify and address the disparity between men and women who experience homelessness. Currently, shelters in the Denver area only have about 50 temporary beds for women compared to over 2,000 beds for men. Utilizing these types of services in the past have proved dangerous for homeless women as they are often followed out of the shelters and suffer great risk of assault.

Recognizing that these women often live in hiding, Catholic Charities is proposing to create a women's-only shelter that can offer both safety and opportunity for independent living. This undertaking aims to raise $50,000 in order to renovate a newly acquired warehouse into a warm and nurturing home for some of the most vulnerable women in Denver. Uniquely designed for the needs of this population, the new facility will provide a 100-bed space for overnight emergencies, welcoming women who may not be sober, and providing them with a hot dinner and breakfast. In addition, this facility will also offer a 50-bed space for a 30-day program aimed to help transition interested women from homelessness to a more structured, independent environment.

At the core of this mission, is the desire to restore the dignity and worth of these women who are often traumatized and devastated to a degree unimaginable to most of us. I feel strongly about this issue and support the careful considerations made by Catholic Charities to take the first step in providing a safe, but also sustainable program for combating chronic homelessness among women in Denver.

This project calls upon a team of compassionate citizens, believers and nonbelievers alike, to help fund this local initiative. Even though this shelter may not be helping the women on your streets, I am reaching out in hopes that you may see the greater promise that lies in this project and its potential impact on shelters around the country. Please consider a donation of any amount towards this cause and know that your contribution will help homeless women in Denver find peace from fear, addictions, and violence.