Samaritan House Shelter, Denver

Who we are and what we do:

Catholic Charities provides hope to families and individuals experiencing homelessness by providing safety, shelter, clothing, food and more to help them rebuild their lives and restore their dignity. Our approach of mercy and compassion encourages trusted relationships to form, and wounds caused by trauma to heal.

Samaritan House provides short and long-term shelter to men, women, and children facing homelessness. Residents who qualify for our 120-day Levels Program are matched with a case manager who helps them commit to and navigate a goal-oriented plan to secure stable income and affordable housing.

*All Samaritan House gifts $100+ are eligible for a 25% tax credit through the Colorado Homeless Contribution Tax Credit.

*Gifts made to the Samaritan House Family Floor are eligible for up to a 50% tax credit through the Child Care Contribution Credit. 

THE IMPACT OF YOUR GIFT:

When Army veteran Eugene moved back to Denver from Memphis in December 2023, he told himself that he would be without a home for three weeks, tops. While his time in the Veterans Program at Samaritan House, the Catholic Charities iconic shelter in downtown Denver, extended beyond his three-week goal, he used the time there wisely. He practiced the “virtue of patience” and crossed off several important goals he set for himself.

At the first meeting with his Samaritan House social case worker Dee Curlin, Eugene received a stack of papers that he needed to fill out. By the end of the day, Eugene had applied to over a dozen housing units in the Denver metro area.

But there was so much more to do. Another important part of the process was to retrieve his birth certificate and other vital documents. For many who experience homelessness, these documents can be extremely difficult to keep safe given the transient nature of their belongings. But with the help of Dee and other caseworkers, the team soon found copies of everything they needed. In fact, they stood at the copy machine at Samaritan House together, making eight copies of each important document, just in case. These documents proved instrumental in gaining his benefits, especially as a Army veteran, and to his main goal of getting a house.

He quickly realized that the waiting game for many of the applications would extend his time at Samaritan House and he was determined to make the most of the opportunities.

His regular meetings with Dee were transformative. They ranged from seeking benefits to the evolution of one of Eugene’s biggest dreams: starting his own construction renovation business. Having owned a business herself before coming to Catholic Charities, Dee helped him secure a business license and, together, they mustered up the building blocks. In the caseworker’s office, TNT Corporations, a business specializing in construction renovations, was born. 

“I really see Dee as someone I aspire to be. She is a guardian angel to me in so many ways and has always been my number one fan here,” Eugene shared. “All my life I have wanted to just enjoy life, and she is helping me get there.”

The last time Eugene lived in Colorado, he worked for a construction company, building shelving for many of the apartment buildings on the Denver skyline. When he arrived at Samaritan House this past winter, he knew he would find a way back to that line of work. It was his passion to create.

Six months later, Eugene received a much-anticipated call from the VA. One of the forms he had filled out during his early days at Samaritan House would help him with rental assistance. He toured a duplex that he loved in Aurora and, the following week, he signed a lease for it and got the keys. It was an emotional moment for Eugene. The last time he signed a lease was 30 years ago. 

To prepare for move-in day, Eugene made a trip to the Samaritan House warehouse to “shop” for his new house. He selected cooking utensils, decorations, tools, clothes and his favorite “new to him” item of all: the George Foreman grill. All these items were donated by generous Coloradans at the Samaritan House warehouse and found new life with Eugene.

Statistics according to our 23/24 fiscal year:

• 225,000 nights of shelter provided
• 585,000 meals provided to all Denver shelters
• 72% of participants discharged with income  

THE NEED:
Samaritan House requires significant capital improvements to continue its mission of serving those in the greatest need. Goals include expanding:
• resources by adding a dedicated training room for both staff and clients
• by adding a job service training center and more case management offices
• the ability to better serve homeless women with dignity by upgrading additional bathroom facilities

*Samaritan House Shelter is a ministry of Catholic Charities of Denver*