What is Mission Arvada?

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People experiencing homelessness in Arvada are invited to the Mission for encouragement, food, and personal help. Visitors to the day shelter can sign up to take showers, eat a hot meal, visit the food bank, obtain clothing and hygiene items, obtain severe weather gear and participate in activities or service opportunities being offered. 

 “Orientation” is required in order to enter the day shelter and benefit from all that Mission Arvada has to offer.  Clients can take the required orientation Monday through Friday at 11:00am.   

 Mission Arvada is distinct from other homeless organizations in the Denver metro area in that we use an individualized continuum of care to help clients get the assistance they need.  

As relationships are developed, the current volunteer staff of Mission Arvada helps work with the needs of each individual experiencing homelessness toward a path of sustainability. Staff members help individuals do the following:

• obtain government identification
• provide transportation
• connect clients with housing vouchers
• get clients signed up for qualifying benefits such as Medicaid and food stamps
• connect individuals with developmental disabilities, medical/dental issues, substance abuse issues, and mental health issues with appropriate needed assistance
• provide support and advocacy for court and probation obligations
• supervise individuals needing to complete community service hours
• assist in job coaching, applications, and resume writing.
• work with a contact at the Veterans Affairs Office (VA) to connect veterans with applicable benefits

Mission Arvada has been helping clients who are currently homeless find more stable housing. (We've assisted 175 people over the last three years and have several people in the process of getting apartments right now.)

One hurdle that some folks face is finding money for the hefty housing deposits required to get into places (in this area, they start at $1000, and can sometimes be almost twice that), so we're putting together an apartment deposit fund to assist with that. If you'd like to contribute to it, you can do so by clicking on the button below.

Mission Arvada is a Colorado Gives Day non-profit organization, and giving can be done through Colorado Gives year round.

Mission Arvada is led by Director, Karen Cowling and a team of lead volunteers. Additional assistance is provided by volunteers in other specific programs at the Mission.

All donations and funding that help support the Mission come from volunteers and donations by members of the Rising Church, other Arvada churches,  individuals in the Arvada community, and grants.

However, through donations, the kindness of others, and the time and resources of the main staff members, Mission Arvada has been able to establish itself as one of the leading homeless outreach service organizations in Jefferson County. At this writing our volunteers come from 20 area churches, as well as from the community

Diversity is an important function of Mission Arvada. Our goal is to accept all individuals who commit to and follow the rules and guidelines outlined in our “orientation.”

The majority of individuals who come to Mission Arvada are surviving on either zero income or through public assistance income. Many individuals that seek assistance from Mission Arvada suffer from external disadvantages including mental illness, physical or developmental disabilities, significant trauma history, substance abuse, former incarceration, being court-involved, or experience with domestic violence.