The day she got out of prison, Lee Ann Winters visited her parole officer?as required. The officer didn’t even raise his eyes to look at her as he indifferently worked on her paperwork in his wrinkled shirt spattered with stains from the Chinese food he had eaten for lunch. Had he looked, he would have seen more than just a graying woman in her fifties who looked much older after years of harsh living on the streets. As far as he was concerned, all he needed to know about her was on the paper before him—Lee Ann Winters was just like any other addict who couldn’t hold a job, keep her kids or stay away from her drug of choice?meth. He felt he didn’t even have to look at her face to predict her future. How wrong he was.

• Read More About Lee Ann and the Hope House

Volunteers of America and the City of Denver have partnered to provide short term housing assistance to homeless individuals and families. Out of necessity, most homeless persons are forced to devote most of their time just to figure out where they will be able to stay on any given night. Lacking any place to make a phone call, leave their personal possessions, or take a shower, they are unable to even think about finding more permanent housing and applying for jobs and/or government benefits.

• More information about the Brandon Center and Family Motel