The Salvation Army will lay off 135 employees in Denver at the end of the year, according to a notice filed Wednesday, two months after the organization announced it would no longer run three city homeless shelters in former hotels.
The nonprofit first filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, or , for 93 layoffs with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment on Wednesday and updated that number to 135 layoffs as of Friday.
The employees impacted include directors, case managers, program assistants and employment coaches, according to a letter sent to the state.
Salvation Army officials in August announced the organization would stop managing three facilities — the Aspen, Stone Creek and Tamarack Family shelters — after its contracts with the city of Denver ended in December.
The decision was based on ensuring financial stability, officials said, but came amid ongoing criticism from Denver City Council members and homeless advocates over management and criminal activity at the shelters.
In a statement, spokesperson Jennifer Forker said the Salvation Army is committed to a smooth transition process for staff, individuals and families who rely on hotel shelters.
“Our staff are at the heart of our mission and have been offered comprehensive support, including job placement assistance, counseling, and severance for those eligible,” Forker stated.
The Salvation Army is working with the new service providers, along with Denver Department of Housing Stability and city officials, to minimize disruptions for staff and clients, Forker added.
City housing staff on Oct. 9 announced three new operators — Urban Alchemy, Bayaud Works and St. Francis Center — selected to
Denver officials are working closely with the Salvation Army to match employees with open jobs at the new service providers or other shelters in Denver’s homelessness response system, Department of Housing Stability spokesperson Derek Woodbury said in a statement.
“HOST deeply appreciates the compassion, professionalism and care that these shelter workers have provided,” Woodbury said.
