Julia Greeley Home Inc.

Background Statement

The Julia Greeley Home first opened its doors in August 2013 in a small, two-bedroom Victorian house in the Denver metro area. Two years later, we moved to a larger, six-bed home nearby—continuing our mission to serve women experiencing homelessness who are often unseen and underserved.

The vision for Julia’s began with Fr. Regis Scanlon, OFMCap., a Capuchin priest devoted to helping the poor. Through his ministry, he encountered a particular kind of “invisible homeless person”: the woman who is alone. Again and again, he heard the heartbreaking words, “But Father, I have nowhere to go!” While many shelters offered support for men, families, or women with children, very few served women on their own. Fr. Regis saw this deep need and responded with compassion and action.

Our patron, Servant of God Julia Greeley, known as Denver’s “Angel of Charity,” inspires every part of our mission. Born into slavery, she lived a life marked by hardship yet was renowned for her boundless compassion—often walking the city streets at night to deliver food, clothing, and comfort to those in need. Her hidden acts of mercy toward Denver’s poor and forgotten embody the spirit we strive to carry forward each day.

Today, the “woman alone” still faces difficult choices—finding a temporary bed for the night, enduring constant instability, and facing dangers on the street. Many have been thrust into homelessness by trauma: domestic abuse, financial loss, emotional collapse, or family estrangement. Already vulnerable, these women face new risks in the struggle to survive.

At the Julia Greeley Home, we offer something different: time, stability, and hope. Each guest is given the opportunity to identify her own path to independence. With faithful support, she works toward her goals—whether that means securing employment, finding safe and stable housing, or reuniting with family.

Personal responsibility is central to our program. Each guest contributes a modest monthly fee, helping to maintain the home and fostering a sense of accountability and dignity. We accept no public funding; our work continues through the generosity of grants and private donors.

Since our founding, more than 100 women have found refuge and renewal within our walls - women who arrived burdened by hardship and left equipped for stability and purpose.

At the Julia Greeley Home, our mission is to welcome the woman who is alone and presently homeless into our family-style home, where she receives the spiritual support to realize her God-given dignity and the practical tools to rebuild her life. In the spirit of Julia Greeley, we walk beside each guest with compassion, faith, and the conviction that love - given quietly - can transform lives.