In the past 25 years, The Delores Project has grown from a winter-only overnight shelter for women to a nonprofit that not only provides shelter, supportive housing units, and apartments for those struggling with homelessness but also offers a wide range of wrap-around services.
The organization has expanded its ability to care for the community, focusing on women, transgender, and nonbinary individuals, while its core values remain constant: cultivating a welcoming space that meets individuals where they are at.
The Delores Project got its name from Delores Big Boy, a Lakota woman who lived in Denver and experienced homelessness. When she was housed, Delores often welcomed several people into her home, despite being in violation of her housing voucher, which frequently led her back to the streets.
Ultimately, Delores passed away before her 44th birthday, and in the winter of 2000, The Delores Project opened its doors to honor her legacy.
“We honor her memory by embodying those values of hospitality and generosity in how we care for the guests and residents,” said Lucas Land, director of development with The Delores Project.
“Everybody that comes through our doors has experienced some kind of trauma, so we are focused on creating a community that’s healing for people,” with an emphasis on the shelter’s commitment to establishing a sense of belonging for their clients.
When the shelter initially opened, Land noted that one way the organization cultivated a home-like touch was by placing quilts made by volunteers on each bed.
Since moving into Arroyo Village located in Denver’s Villa Park in 2019, The Delores Project has further expanded how they cultivate community. This growth was made possible through the nonprofit’s collaboration with Rocky Mountain Communities and funded through the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit program.
The project currently provides a 24-7, “low-barrier” shelter that serves about 50 people a year. Although it is one of the smallest shelters in Denver, the “low-barrier” status prohibits the use of drugs and alcohol on-site but does not have a sober requirement, making it more accessible.
Above the West Colfax neighborhood shelter, the building houses 35 supportive housing units for people experiencing chronic homelessness, specifically targeting those who face barriers to housing, from physical disabilities to mental health and substance abuse.
The rest of the building comprises 95 one to three-bedroom workforce housing apartments.
Land indicated that Arroyo Village was designed by local Denver firm Shopworks Architect to be trauma-informed, which means the spaces are crafted to be calming and comfortable with plenty of natural elements and light. During the design process, Shopworks asked guests what they would like to see.
Staff prioritized the need for more beds and units, as clients expressed interest in more community spaces.
As a result, the building is home to a media room, a library, and a game room, as well as outdoor access.
“Our staff, especially those working in direct service with our guests and residents, are trained in trauma-informed care, which means they’re taking into account what people have been through,” Land explained.
“Everyone in our shelter has a case manager assigned to them who they work with to develop their goals. Some people come without documents, so their first goal might be to get an ID before eventually working towards housing, which of course, is the goal for everyone.”
Case managers follow their clients for 12 to 24 months after they are housed to assist with any issues that may arise, ranging from budgeting to communicating with landlords, ensuring transitions to long-term housing solutions proceed as smoothly as possible.
The nonprofit also recently integrated behavioral health services into its offerings, providing one-on-one therapy and group sessions.
To connect guests with resources that The Delores Project may not directly provide, such as workforce training, job placement, and health insurance, the nonprofit partners with numerous organizations to make those connections possible.
“For all of these reasons, our success rate is high for folks not only exiting to housing but staying housed after a year,” Land maintained.
The project’s 2024 annual report stated that 42% of guests who exited the shelter went to stable or permanent housing. Meanwhile, on the supportive housing side, 94% of households maintained their housing, and last year, 22% of supportive housing residents also moved on to unsupportive housing.
As the nonprofit’s 25th anniversary approaches, The Delores Project will host a celebratory anniversary event at Mile High Stadium on Friday, May 23. This event will serve as a fundraiser, featuring live music and a cocktail hour, with programming that reflects the full scope of the nonprofit’s work over the years.
Regarding the nonprofit’s next chapter, Land expressed a desire for another building. Currently, The Delores Project is one of the only inclusive shelters in the metro area serving transgender and non-binary individuals, equipped with culturally competent staff.
While other projects exist, such as the Elati Village, a tiny-home village run by the Gathering Place, the need for inclusive care for those experiencing homelessness remains tremendous, Land noted. “We would love to be able to expand and serve more people,” he said.
For those looking to get involved, The Delores Project hosts open house lunches every other month on the third Thursday. They also accept donations and maintain a robust volunteer program, the largest being their meal program, where volunteers provide guests with three meals and two snacks per day.
For more information about The Delores Project, please visit their website at thedeloresproject.org.
image source from：https://coloradocommunitymedia.com/2025/04/15/the-delores-project-celebrates-25-years-of-housing-solutions-in-denver/
