Catholic Charities of Denver CEO Larry Smith unveiled plans for a new women’s shelter during an event Oct. 17 with Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila and Denver Mayor Michael Hancock.
The leaders announced the groundbreaking of the new Samaritan House Women’s Shelter in northeast Denver. Through a partnership between the City and County of Denver and Catholic Charities, the shelter will offer 150-beds and comprehensive services to help serve the growing number of homeless women in the community.
Mayor Hancock said he’s proud of their partnership.
“This new Samaritan House Women’s Shelter is now part of that multi-faceted approach that we are taking to serve and care for the most vulnerable among us, especially women experiencing homelessness,” Mayor Hancock said. “So I’m very proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Catholic Charities and the Archdiocese and to see this new service become a reality.”
Catholic Charities purchased the building at 6240 E. Smith Road with the help of the city, which approved $1 million to assist in purchasing the $5 million project. The 32,000-square-foot building will include emergency and extended shelter.
Smith said it’s a privilege to serve women in need.
“We are dedicating this facility to serve them,” Smith said during the event. “As we say at Catholic Charities, we serve everyone—not because they’re Catholic—but because we’re Catholic. That’s what we are called to do.”
For more information, visit ccdenver.org.
Featured image: From left, Denver City Councilman Christopher Herndon, Archbishop of Denver Samuel J. Aquila, Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock, and Catholic Charities CEO Larry Smith pose for a photograph at the announcement of the Samaritan House Shelter for Women on Oct. 17. The homeless shelter for women will open in mid-2017. (Photo by Anya Semenoff/Catholic Charities)
