Heartbeat Denver Marks Three Strong Years!

At year’s end, it’s a common practice to measure success of an enterprise by leaning into statistics and data, budgets accounted for, and potential donors’ specific needs and questions.

For Heartbeat Denver, the #1 factor in the success of our Working Men’s Program is this: the brave, strong and courageous measure of our men. Each client who stays with the program comes to his own resolve to maintain sobriety, to seek and follow through with paid employment or volunteer work, and to commit to the mutual respect needed to contribute to daily life in a clean and safe community – with nearly 100 guys! THIS is the foremost and most accurate measure of Heartbeat Denver’s success in 2025.

Data and statistics do help tell our story: HBD Working Men’s Shelter marks three years of steady growth on Feb. 1, 2026 – what a journey! A primary focus at HBD is to aid in finding appropriate housing for our men; these figures reflect ongoing progress:

• 600+ men were served by the program in 2023; 72 found housing (12%).
• 654 men were served in 2024; 155 found housing (23.7%).
• 501 men were served in 2025, 141 found housing (28.1%).

Throughout 2025, a main goal was reducing the turnover of men leaving in their first 30 days. We reduced the turnover by half!

This means HBD served fewer men overall and their average length of stay increased. The upside – our men are becoming better prepared for their move into independent housing.

2025 Program & Infrastructure Improvements

Ryan Dowd’s Homeless Training videos were purchased in February, offering concrete de-escalation strategies and confidence-building capabilities for staff supervisors.

With a generous grant from the Kenneth King Foundation, in March HBD obtained a state-of-the-art ventless convection oven ($14K).

During April, Chef Bridges Baxter started serving hot breakfasts each day (in addition to dinner). HBD’s daily rate charge for our men increased to $17 to help cover this change.

Thanks to the generous skill and commitment of Pro Innovation Plumbing, in May our showers were upgraded ($12K).

Just in time for summer, June saw purchase of a new chest freezer ($1,200).

In July, we upgraded our security system ($24K).

On a joyful staff note, in August – Chief Operating Officer Bernard Bender proposed to the love of his life, Jenesis Ward – and she said, “Yes!”

HBD’s Bunk Fund got a substantial boost in November, with funding from Leprino Foods; SM Energy; and Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA), plus individual donors – greatly improving needed sleep for our men.

In December, Director of Finance & Maintenance Joe Osborne was certified as a Qualified Urine Specimen Collector through Colo. Dept. of Transportation – helping assure in-house accountability for staff and residents.

HBD goals for 2026 include: Health insurance and independent housing for staff, and enhancing staff training, particularly in building relationships and exploring transitional housing options for our men.

These faithful congregations (Wellshire Presbyterian Church, Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church, Genesis Presbyterian, Grace Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian Church of Broomfield, Central Presbyterian Church, Brighton First Presbyterian Church, St. James Presbyterian Church, and 1st Presbyterian of Englewood) all provide meals, donations and support for feeding and housing our men. On a recent Monday, a cheerful crew from Brighton arrived with several pans of scrumptious homemade burritos, green chile and all the fixings; the men feasted with great thankfulness! A longtime volunteer confirmed that Brighton First Presbyterian has provided dinner for the shelter, three times a year – for over 20 years – just one example of the steadfast and ongoing help the churches provide.

We Don’t Waste is a primary source of food for our daily hot meals. This twice-a-week allotment of food is collected and transported by Central Presbyterian Men’s Club: they pick up and deliver a carload of food each Monday and Friday.

The Lord’s Daily Bread delivers an assortment of protein options each week.

Risen Christ Catholic Parish provides regular food donations from their congregation, and they pick up and drop off donations from Safeway.

It’s difficult to estimate the value of these donations! It takes time, effort, and whole-heartedness to coordinate and deliver all this food, plus gas, wear-and-tear on cars and equipment … it adds up. An estimate of the value of food we receive: $80K per year. That’s a LOT, but it is worth so much more to us and all the men we serve, to know there are so many kind and generous folks in our community who care about others – HBD men they probably don’t “know,” but they do know help is needed. Thank you, one and all! 

If you are interested in helping provide sustenance in any of these ways, contact HBD Chef Bridges Baxter for details: baxterbridges84@gmail.com or 720-678-6739.