Fort Collins Rescue Mission has been serving people experiencing homelessness and poverty in our community since 2012. Deeply rooted in our history is a love of Christ and a desire to share that love with others through critical services and life-changing programs.

Through the tireless efforts of our staff, volunteers, donors, and supporters, we’ve been able to celebrate the following milestones:

Mission Milestones

In November 2012, Denver Rescue Mission acquired a ministry called Open Door Mission in downtown Fort Collins. The Mission hoped to continue a more than 20-year legacy of serving people experiencing homelessness along the Front Range and renamed the ministry Fort Collins Rescue Mission.

During its first year, the building at 316 Jefferson Street was renovated by adding bathrooms, updating the HVAC system, adding more beds, refurbishing the kitchen, and purchasing storage sheds and vehicles. In November 2012, the Mission opened its doors providing meals shelter for men and women in need and has since developed into a beacon of hope for our homeless and struggling neighbors.

In January 2013, Fort Collins Rescue Mission began the Steps to Success program, offering men and women experiencing homelessness an opportunity to return to self-sufficiency after three to nine months in the program. Though the Steps to Success program was eventually discontinued, the Mission continues to serve as an entry point for the New Life Program at Harvest Farm, just a few miles north of Fort Collins in Wellington, CO.

In 2018-2019, Harvest Farm and Fort Collins Rescue Mission underwent a leadership reorganization with the goal of working more efficiently together to build on each other’s strengths. Staffing resources and some programs, including intakes, are now shared between these two locations, which are both outreaches of Denver Rescue Mission.

In 2020, services at Fort Collins Rescue Mission were shifted to the Blue Spruce Temporary Shelter in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Blue Spruce Temporary Shelter was run by Fort Collins Rescue Mission staff providing up to 150 men each night with food and shelter while maintaining social distancing due to the pandemic. During this time, the Mission ran clinics to inoculate guests against COVID-19.

In 2021, Fort Collins Rescue Mission reopened its downtown shelter providing 24/7 services to help men experiencing homelessness with meals, shelter and access to services to provide pathways out of homelessness.

Over time, the local community has become more involved in reaching out to our homeless and struggling neighbors. The number of volunteers has steadily increased, more churches are involved in providing gospel-centered services and interns are coming from several universities to gain experience in a humanitarian, non-profit field.

We are so thankful for the support and encouragement our community in Fort Collins provides. None of this great work to help change lives would be possible without your partnership.

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