Denver Catholic

6 JUNE 25-JULY 8, 2016 | DENVER CATHOLIC T here's the 26-year-old college graduate who moved to Denver from St. Louis at his father's invitation. Unfortunately, his dad's landlord told him he couldn't stay more than two weeks. With nowhere else to go, Orlandis Barge was homeless. He found shelter at Catholic Chari- ties' Samaritan House and was back on his feet in two months. "I've never experienced home- lessness before," Barge said. "It was humbling." His is one face, one story among the 2,250 individuals the Denver shelter serves annually, providing a hot meal, shelter and resources to help the home- less become self-su© cient. This is the 30th year Samaritan House carries out that act of mercy. "Serving Jesus Christ by serving others is at the heart of our many min- istries," Larry Smith, CEO of Catholic Charities noted in a column. "At Samar- itan House in downtown Denver, we put more than 350 people to bed each night, amounting to more than 125,000 nights of shelter a year. "[We] provide," he continued, "not just a place for those experiencing homelessness to sleep, but a way to get back on their feet, to regain their dignity, self-reliance and self-respect; to become contributors to society. And hopefully, to give back to others." Samaritan House's impressive num- bers show it's achieving its goals: last year, 226 of its residents found employ- ment, 91 percent of its single residents left with an income source and 67 per- cent of its families left with housing as did 64 percent of its single residents. Numbers, however, don't tell the full story of how the help o¦ ered at Samar- itan House changes people's lives and gives them hope for the future. "Now I try to help those who are homeless," Barge said, referring to his part-time job at one of the other four shelters run by Catholic Charities. He also works as an engineer at a global communications fi rm. "I'd like to get into hydraulic engi- neering, which I studied at the Univer- sity of Missouri-St. Louis," Barge said. "Someday I'd like to fi nd the girl of my dreams and start a family." Capuchin Father Michael Suchnicki, chaplain of Samaritan House for 20 years, said Barge's desire for the Amer- ican dream is true of most homeless. "They are thankful they're here, but they want their own place," he said. When Samaritan House opened on Nov. 22, 1986, it made history as the fi rst building in the nation designed to be a homeless shelter. It quickly became a model for what a "home" for the home- less could be. The roots of the shelter, however, started three years earlier when a bitter winter and oil bust in Denver forced hundreds into homelessness. Moved by their plight, Denver's champion of the homeless, Monsignor C.B. Woodrich, a¦ ectionately called "Father Woody," opened the doors of Holy Ghost Church downtown to provide refuge on cold nights. Archbishop James Casey responded to the need for homeless housing by Around the Archdiocese No matter your home purchasing or refinancing needs, we have a home loan suited for you. Call: 303.424.5037 Click: www.nufcu.com or Come by one of our convenient locations. DISCLOSURE: *To qualify, you must finance a Home Loan between 6/1/2016 – 7/31/16. Member must mention promotion code Home16 for the $100 incentive. This will be automatically deposited into your NUFCU Savings account. Incentive is subject to a 60-day period pending verification and will be reported as dividend income; any federal, state and local taxes are the sole responsibility of the member. Offer valid for home purchases and refinance from another lender. Other offers or discounts DO NOT apply. All loans are subject to approved credit and loan-to-value requirements. Property inspection and other verifications may be required. Not all properties are eligible. Membership required. NMLS #644618 Your savings federally insured to at least $250,000 and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government National Credit Union Administration, a U.S. Government Agency NCUA Need a HOME LOAN? As an additional Thank You, pocket an extra $100 if you purchase a home, or we refinance your home loan from another lender.* (mention Home16) Historic Samaritan House invites public to anniversary events Visit samhousedenver.org 30 years of hope Samaritan House celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. PHOTOS PROVIDED SAMARITAN HOUSE BY ROXANNE KING editor_king@icloud.com @RoxanneIKing Lord Teach Me To Pray July 22 – 23 Friday 5 pm – Saturday 4 pm Franciscan Retreat Center 7740 Dear Hill Grove Colorado Springs, CO 80919 www.lordteachmetopray.com Mrs. Carol Weiler at: carolweiler@cox.net or (504) 439-5933 Father Marty Gleeson, OP at: mgleesonop@gmail.com or (504) 717-8770 Learn how to deepen your prayer life and help others deepen theirs! IGNATIAN PRAYER SERIES: TRAINING - RETREAT

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