Denver Urban Matters

A nonprofit organization

Denver Urban Matters promotes community engagement, education and advocacy by helping people meet basic needs and increase self-sufficiency, while working to overcome the root causes of poverty.

Testimonials

Every day families receive help with their basic needs of food, rent or utility assistance, or infant items which provide STABILITY.
Employment Services gives job seekers access to case management, phones, voicemail, hygiene items, clothing referrals and computer access to help them move from dependency to SELF-SUFFICIENCY.
A focus on education and advocacy seeks community transformation and SUSTAINABILITY. In Urban Education, youth and adults explore service and society in an urban setting and return to their communities as advocates for compassion, fairness and justice.

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"Without assistance from DenUM, I would be back out on the street with my son and back to square one again." -Joanna

"When people come in here to get food, they are starving. There's always something that you can eat right away. There is always food that my kids would eat. Sometimes when I come home with food from pantries, the kids don't want to eat it. I beg them to eat it because that's all we have. Not only is our situation bad, but now everyone is unhappy at the dinner table. That doesn't happen when I get food here." -Audrey

"I was so happy to find out that there were so many resources available to me here, especially the clothing referrals to Dress for Success. My interview suit helped me to feel confident during my first interview, and the professional wardrobe that was provided to me after I was hired helped me go into my job feeling prepared. I am so happy to be working once more and feeling like I am a part of society again and that I am moving forward. Thank you for the support. I knew with your encouragement and resources I could be successful in my job search, and I am now sharing that with the other women in my halfway house." -Susan

Mission

Denver Urban Ministries is an advocate, educator and trusted provider of basic human and employment services to vulnerable people in greater Denver.

Background Statement

Denver Urban Ministries (DenUM) was organized by United Methodist clergy and laity in 1981 to provide emergency and stabilization services for impoverished residents of the Denver metro area and received 501(c)(3) status in 1984. For twelve years, the agency operated primarily as a food pantry and clothing bank, then began to add other services as unmet needs were identified. In 1993, DenUM began offering Job Services, and a new emphasis on helping low-income people to become economically self-reliant was born. After many years of operating from several locations, DenUM purchased its own building and relocated to the East Colfax corridor in 1998.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

Denver Urban Matters

other names

DenUM, Denver Urban Ministries

Year Established

1981

Tax id (EIN)

84-0935955

Category

Human Services

Address

1717 E Colfax Avenue
Denver, CO 80218

Service areas

Denver County, CO, US

Other

303-355-4896

Other

303-350-5060