Chaplains on the Margins

Meeting Denver’s unhoused where they are

by Magdalena Rojo

“Jesus Saves”—this is how many recognize the Denver Rescue Mission’s Lawrence Street facility downtown. A towering, glowing red neon cross calls out to those in need. Inside, people find more than just ‘round the clock shelter. It offers a drug- and alcohol-free environment, hot meals, restrooms; for some, there is a different kind of sanctuary.

At nine on a cold Tuesday morning, the building is surrounded by several unhoused men and women. It is before Thanksgiving 2023, and behind the building the staff is loading a minivan with turkeys to prepare for the unsheltered community. Only a handful of men come into the room where chaplain Michael Brown’s chapel meeting is held. In a large room with white walls, there are rows of black chairs and a screen showing a movie with Christian themes. Off to the side is a table with hot coffee. “Some people come because I have hot coffee available during the session,” jokes Brown, opening the chapel with a welcoming: “Make sure you drink all the coffee.” Some men come to warm up during the cold days, others to sleep after a hard night on the streets. A few come to discuss the Bible and pray. An African-American man introduces himself as Charles Jackson. He is a frequent in the sessions. “I come here for medicine. Here, where we live, there are all kinds of people in the same (difficult) situation. It is frustrating and it is toxic,” says Jackson. “I come here to get away from all the negativity. You have to overcome it through prayer.”

“A counsellor gives you the book-knowledge. Chaplains take the religious side of it. They are talking about your faith. They both are helpful but in different ways.”
Tim Rau, participant in the New Life Program

Outside of the chapel and Bible readings, chaplain Brown follows an “open door policy”. His office has big windows and is right by the cafeteria where the unhoused enter throughout the day to eat and drink. “I always introduce myself to the people after the morning prayer and anybody can enter my office. I feel like the office is becoming another sanctuary,” says Brown who is one of the seven chaplains providing spiritual care in Denver Rescue Mission.

This non-denominational Christian organization has been helping the unhoused and poor population in Colorado for more than 130 years. It runs programs for people at different stages of homelessness. There are emergency shelters where people come to eat and sleep; outreach programs; rehabilitation programs; and transitional programs for individuals and families who have found themselves in the streets even though they have jobs. Spiritual care by chaplains is an integral part of the organization’s efforts, and the unhoused population finds spiritual support across its facilities and programs. “We believe human beings are spiritual beings too,” says Rene Palacios, who is Vice President of Programs at the Mission.

“Sometimes, the mental health issues make people ask questions that might be difficult to respond to. We are not here to change people. We are here to be a pastoral presence and to try to answer those specific questions.”
Michael Brown, chaplain at Denver Rescue Mission

However, the unhoused population often feels lost on their spiritual path due to their current conditions. Lack of affordable housing, economic instability, discrimination, mental issues, and substance use are the most common reasons why people end up unhoused. Tim Rau, who was attending The New Life Program at Denver Rescue Mission in 2023, said the pandemic, expensive housing, and alcohol contributed to his specific situation. The New Life Program offers an opportunity for men to reincorporate into their regular lives within a 12-month long cycle by providing training opportunities, job search assistance, and counselling. During this time, men also meet regularly with chaplains. When Rau met chaplain Mark Roberts, he said he felt “spiritually bankrupt because he was in a survival mode.” “I meet people where they are (spiritually) and guide them from there,” says Roberts. Rau noted that Roberts “does not force the religion down [your] throat. He feels how you are. He asks questions. I was brought up Catholic, there is a strong foundation there. He is giving you advice and tells you what the Bible says about your certain problem.”

“One of the challenges is that you see somebody one day and then never see them again. You do not have a long-term relationships. You are touching them for a day, for a moment. And you might not see them again. That is a challenge for us as chaplains.”
Mark Roberts, chaplain at Denver Rescue Mission

The environment of the unhoused population is one of lost hope and where healing takes time and requires patience. Accompaniment by chaplains is individual and in groups; chaplains search for ways to be accessible, such as during walks or movie nights. Available to people of all religions and beliefs, Denver Rescue Mission is constantly working on also being accessible for the unhoused who speak languages other than English. In one month, all the chaplains of Denver Rescue Mission can have more than 300 individual meetings. They work in tight cooperation with counsellors and case managers who help assess each person’s case in the organization’s long-term programs. “I feel more comfortable with chaplain Shaun (than with a counsellor) because we both are spiritual. I have a very strong connection with God, and she understands that part of me,” said Teresa Carrington, who was a participant of the transitional Bridge Program in 2023. At the time, she had a job. Yet, she had gotten divorced and when her following relationship did not work out, she found herself living in her ex-fiancé’s apartment and with no savings. “I was very lost,” she said. Teresa was relieved to find spiritual support in Denver Rescue Mission. “It was just nice to talk to chaplain Shaun…woman to woman,” she says about Riley Shaun, who helped Teresa process the grief of the passing of her mother.

Magdalena Rojo was previously a Fellow in the Lab’s Journalism Fellowship, supported by Templeton Religion Trust.

Photos supporting this story, shot by Noel Rojo, can be viewed below: