Joe spent years believing there was no way out of homelessness. Because of the Mission and people like you, he discovered a door to a brighter future.
At 14 years old, Joe left home, running away from his abusive parents. But in the years that followed, he began relying on drugs and alcohol to cope, and a series of poor decisions eventually led him to prison for 28 years.
When he got out of prison he was moving around, staying on the streets, in shelters or with friends. “[Sleeping on the streets] made me leery, especially once that sun goes down,” Joe recalled.
“You just try to find hope. It’s not nice, it’s not pretty, it’s not a life anybody deserves or desires.”
He remembers one winter night in particular: “It was 45 below zero. It was freezing and I prayed, ‘If you’re real, help me.’ And He did. The only way I survived those three days was because a guy who owned a moving company saw me. He opened one of the backs of the trucks, and said, ‘Hop in the back and put those blankets over you.’”
Not only was he saved from the bitter temperatures, but his faith was also forever changed. “That really opened my eyes to how fragile life can be, and how much your choices affect what you do,” he said.
“That’s what made me a big believer, because that guy was a Christian and he asked me, ‘Are you saved?’ That dramatically changed my life.”
At 65 years old, Joe thought there was nothing left for him in life—no job, no home, no hope, no purpose. He figured he’d spend his remaining days staying in shelters or on the streets, with no possibility of finding a way out. And yet, that wasn’t the end of his story.
Despite the pain and mistakes from his past, Joe learned that life could change for him. Fort Collins Rescue Mission’s staff and donors—people like you—showed him the possibility of second chances.
“If you’re on the streets, the only thing you’re concentrating on is survival,” Joe said. “So, to get into a place like this gives you the time and the opportunity to get a job, get housing and all that stuff. It means a lot.”
Joe came to the Mission, and with help from his case manager, Scott Coman, he was able to:
- Get dentures, hearing aids and glasses
- Obtain his birth certificate and driver’s license
- Open checking and savings accounts
- Improve his credit score
- Receive Old Age Pension, which almost quadrupled his income
- Enroll in Christian leadership classes
(to support a future goal of getting his master’s in ministry)
“Guys my age think their options are limited, and they’re not. Scott gives you tasks to do, and it’s not overwhelming,” Joe shared. “He opened the door for me to get this job. This is a new chapter in my life, and that’s a direct result of being in this place.”
Joe moved to South Dakota in May 2025 to live and work on a dude ranch, an opportunity he never would’ve imagined for himself just months before—and the Mission helped him do that.
“The Mission is the difference between night and day,” he said. “When you come here, it’s like daylight. You can actually see possibilities. And with the staff helping you, you see even more possibilities. That’s where it makes a difference, and whether you’re willing to take those steps and pursue them.”
Two of the biggest things Joe is grateful for that the Mission provided him with are safety and security.
“This is the first time that I actually felt at peace, and I could go to sleep at night and not have to worry. You can tell by their actions that they care,” he shared.
With a reserved bed at the Mission and help from the staff, Joe was able to start seeing other pathways for his life—and it changed everything.
“They start opening doors for you that you had blocked out,” he said. “I have four felonies, 28 years in prison, a broken neck, and no marketable skills. It took the staff here, to say, ‘Just give it one more try. Don’t give up. That was before you knew Jesus. Let Him open that door.'”
Be There for Neighbors in Need
“I’m grateful to see all the people who come and donate—who actually care to keep these doors open, to feed you, to house you, to bring you clothes. Without places like this, hope would be almost nonexistent.” -Joe
Give today to make an impact that matters!
Download Full Newsletter
- The Track to Stability
- The Mission in My Words: Judy & Earl Smith
- Letter From Our CEO
