In 2006, the Broncos Wives gave a portion of the monies raised from their annual Broncos Wives Drive to Mayor Hickenlooper’s 10-year initative to end homelessness in Denver – Denver’s Road Home. The Broncos Wives wanted to learn more about Denver’s Road Home and how they could help, this lead them to Project Homeless Connect which was held at INVESCO Field at Mile High last Friday, October 19, 2007.
Project Homeless Connect is a partnership event betweeen Denver’s Road Home and Mile High United Way. The event at INVESCO Field was Denver’s fifth Project Homeless Connect since the program’s inception in 2005. Project Homeless Connect is a one-day event connecting homeless individuals and families to needed services — including health care, employment, legal assistance, permanent housing food, clothing, Social Security and food-stamp benefits and other community-wide resources — in one location to alleviate the burden of searching for services on their own.
More than 800 students, alumni, faculty and staff from Regis University along with Young Professionals of Denver (YPOD) worked one-on-one with homeless individuals, helping them prioritize their needs and escorting them to services that fit their needs. The Broncos Wives volunteered in the child care area, and local employers were on site with job interviews.
“Project Homeless Connect is a remarkable event that connects people with the services they need to get off the streets and into lives of stability and self sufficiency,” said Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. “The team at INVESCO Field at Mile High made us feel especially welcome by hosting us on the Club Level. We are grateful to them, the Broncos Wives and Regis University for their partnership and commitment to serving the homeless — and many other populations — in our community.”
Jamie VanLeeuwen, Project Manager for Denver’s Road Home reported “as our last guest walked out of the stadium last Friday, we served 820 men, women and children who are homeless. Of those, 565 received medical services, 284 received flu shots, 265 received housing referrals and services, 409 received employment services, 81 left with resumes, 543 received access to benefits, 240 accessed legal services, and 70 children attended the child care area…a very extraordinary day for Project Homeless Connect!”
The Broncos Wives and INVESCO Field at Mile High would like to thank Denver’s Road Home, Mile High United Way, Regis University Young Professionals of Denver, Epicurean Catering, Coca Cola, Shamrock Foods, Xerox, Corporate Express, and Halsell Brokerage & Distributing for being CHAMPIONS IN THE COMMUNITY and making Project Homeless Connect 5 a wonderful event!