(1/17/2025) – As subzero temperatures hit, VOA Colorado stepped up to provide women with shelter, demonstrating its care for those in need.

(1/17/2025) – During the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, VOA Colorado expanded its shelter services for women, reaffirming its commitment to supporting vulnerable communities.

The cycle of homelessness is complex. This is especially true for our veterans. In addition to an already overwhelming and challenging set for circumstances such as a lack of affordable housing, poverty, job or income loss, mental illness, substance abuse, and health problems, many vets live with debilitating PTSD, often don’t have a good family or support network, and must deal with a complicated and nearly impossible system when it comes to receiving benefits and resources. VOA Colorado’s Veterans Service Center (VSC) located at 1247 Santa Fe Drive in Denver, stands as a testament to compassion and innovation in supporting…

As we observe Domestic Violence Awareness Month this October, we are reminded of the silent pain endured by too many in our community. Behind closed doors, countless individuals—our neighbors, friends, and family members—are living in fear. Across the nation, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men will experience severe intimate partner violence. In Colorado, over 27% of women and 14% of men face the unimaginable reality of domestic violence at some point in their lives. These numbers are not just statistics—they represent real people, with real stories of suffering and survival. At Volunteers of America Colorado, we believe…

Toni Hunter, associate director of VOA Colorado’s Mission, describes the facility in two simple words: “holistic and transformational.”  Located at 2877 Lawrence Street in Denver’s RiNo District, the Mission is a daytime center for people in the community experiencing homelessness. The program provides clients with food, basic hygiene products, clothing, job training, employment assistance, spiritual guidance, referrals, and a comforting place for relaxation and refreshment.  Recently the Mission began providing dog food for clients’ pets, as well. According to Hunter this is a vitally important addition as many people needing help might not seek or receive assistance if they had…

In 2023, more than 25,000 homeless women veterans in the U.S. were served by the Veterans Health Administration’s homeless programs. Additionally, homelessness among women veterans increased last year by nearly 24 percent according to data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. In that same period, the number of unsheltered women veterans—those living on the streets, in a car or in another unsafe situation—jumped nearly 48%, from 1,464 to 2,165. VOA Colorado is combating this alarming trend through several of our programs and services, including the Sinton Sanctuary. The 24/7 facility is specifically for senior women and women veterans…

“These kids give me a reason to get up every morning. They remind me I’m still needed.”— Foster Grandparent Program Participant In classrooms across Colorado, quiet moments of connection are sparking lasting change. In one elementary school, a once-struggling reader sits side by side with his Foster Grandparent, carefully sounding out each word. By the end of the year, his reading score jumps from 26% to 76%. But the numbers only tell part of the story. What’s harder to measure is the confidence in his voice and the pride in his smile. That’s the magic of VOA Colorado’s Foster Grandparents…

For those in our community who are experiencing homelessness, life is especially difficult. Helplessness is a daily struggle. Feelings of loneliness, desperation, and fear are often overwhelming,  The Irving Street Women’s Residence, located at 601 South Irving Street in Denver, is one of VOA of Colorado’s programs that aims to provide a respite from that cycle of despair. According to Courtney Fischer, the facility’s senior residential manager, Irving Street is Colorado’s only remaining Safe Haven program, a designation that allows it to serve chronically homeless women (which is defined as being homeless for one continuous year or four times in three years) who…

“When you look up in the sky at night, it’s dark. But there are also stars that shine light. Be a star; be a light in someone’s life.” These simple but profound words come from one of VOA of Colorado’s brightest volunteers! Kevin MacCary is retired military, a former board member, and a super active volunteer.  Kevin’s involvement with VOA Colorado dates back over 15 years. From the very beginning, he says that he could not believe how organized the organization was. “The leadership, the staff…they all do so much, and the amazing thing is that they do it all…

(1/1/2025) – Volunteering is something that shouldn’t just happen during the holiday season when you feel like being selfless with your time. In reality, the holiday season is the time when most organizations have to turn away volunteers due to an influx of people. Outside of these times, volunteers are needed too, so if you want to make an effort to volunteer, check out some of these local organizations!