Denver Rescue Mission Cuts 71 Jobs
The mission will lay off 71 employees on December 31, 2026, after the city ended its contract to run the 48th Avenue Center.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Jobs — General
Denver Rescue Mission filed a layoff notice with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment on October 30, 2026, affecting 71 employees. The cuts follow the city's termination of the mission's contract to operate the 48th Avenue Center, which the mission did not apply to continue.
Why it matters
The shelter provides a place for men to sleep, three daily meals, bathrooms, and other services, so the change affects who runs those services in Denver. The mission says the decision reflects its strategic shift from warehouse shelter models to trauma-informed, dignified care.
Denver Rescue Mission filed a layoff notice affecting 71 employees, including custodians, chefs, community coordinators, intake specialists, and case managers. The city has not yet selected a replacement operator, as bidding for 2027 shelter-management contracts remains open.
The players
Denver Rescue Mission
A Denver-based nonprofit that operates several shelters and outreach programs across Colorado, including the Lawrence Street Shelter and a 100-acre farm in Wellington.
Denver Department of Housing Stability
The city agency overseeing shelter-service contracts, which plans to discuss 2027 shelter-provider contracts at a committee meeting on Tuesday.
The details
The layoffs will hit custodians, chefs, community coordinators, intake specialists, and case managers at the 48th Avenue Center, located at 4600 E. 48th Ave. The city says there will be no interruption to services.
Timeline
October 30, 2026: Mission files layoff notice with Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.
December 31, 2026: Layoffs of 71 employees take effect.
2027: New shelter-management contracts begin following city bidding.
Roadmap
The city's decision to open new shelter-management bids for 2027 signals a move to periodically reassess which nonprofits run publicly funded shelters. The mission's exit from the 48th Avenue Center shows how contract rebidding can reshape staffing at local homeless services providers.
Shelter residents at the 48th Avenue Center should see no interruption in services, according to the city. The 71 affected workers face job losses on December 31, 2026, unless they are rehired by the incoming shelter manager.
The takeaway
Contract rebidding can change who staffs essential services even when the service itself continues. Workers and residents affected by such transitions should watch city committee agendas for updates on new providers.
What happens next
The Denver Department of Housing Stability plans to discuss 2027 shelter-service provider contracts at a committee meeting on Tuesday.
Further reading
Explore more on Jobs — General in Denver for context on local employment changes.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Denver Post.
