New Pocket Guides Connect People to Homeless Resources and Better Ways to Give

Two new pocket-sized tools are aiding city employees and Denver residents in their efforts to help those experiencing homelessness. The Give a Better Way campaign, which aims to raise awareness about how to support community efforts to help the homeless, is broadening its work with new tools for park rangers, police officers and community members to connect residents to the resources they need.

The new Shelter and Services Resource Guide may be small enough to fit in a pocket, but it features a wide variety of information on shelters, medical and mental health care, benefits assistance, domestic violence support and other services in an easy-to-access format. The guide provides officers, park rangers and outreach workers on the street with a quick and easy tool to connect homeless residents with the closest available services.

Additionally, the campaign’s new Guide to Giving helps residents learn how to best support people who are experiencing homelessness through donations of their time, money, food or goods. Donations support more than 20 community partners who provide shelter, job training, meals, housing and other resources to help get people who are experiencing homelessness get back on their feet.

“By placing information at everyone’s fingertips, we’re making it easier for anyone to connect and contribute to the community supporting our homeless residents,” Mayor Michael B. Hancock said.
 
Denver residents have many ways to donate and make a difference in the lives of people in need.

• Text to give: to donate, text HOMELESSHELP to 41444 to give $5 to Give a Better Way. Charges will appear on your wireless bill, or be deducted from your prepaid balance. All purchases must be authorized by account holder. Must be 18 years of age or have parental permission to participate. Message and data rates may apply.
• Parking meters: donors can give spare change or electronic funds to Denver’s Road Home parking meters throughout downtown Denver. Businesses, non-profit organizations and even families sponsor meters for $1,000 per year. Denver’s Road Home and Mile High United Way use the funds to connect homeless individuals to services, provide low-income housing and fund other homeless outreach initiatives.
• More options: visit Denvergov.org/HomelessHelp for a list of service providers and means of donating time and money toward helping those experiencing homelessness.

---