Mutual Aid List
The first step to improving your mental health is making sure your basic needs are met. Psychologist Abraham Maslow famously put together a hierarchy of human needs, with basic physiological needs like food, water, clothing, and shelter as being necessary to move on to things like mental health. In that spirit, we compiled a list of important mutual aid resources to help get your basic needs met so you can move on to getting yourself in a better mental state.
Meals in Denver
- Free Grocery Options
- https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/11_ho4BjUxbwJrNVmZuVlCruE-l-35CiXlnSY4B6-gWo/edit?usp=sharing
- Hunger Free Colorado
- hungerfreecolorado.org/find-food/
- 855-855-4626
- Denver Food Not Bombs – Meals on Sundays at 4 p.m. at 2180 Stout Street.
- @DenverFoodNotBombs
- Venmo: @DenverFNB
- Cats Not Cops: Meals on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sundays, 4-5 p.m.
- Holy Trinity COGIC – 303 22nd Street, Denver, CO 80205.
- CatsNotCops.com
- Venmo: @CatsNotCopsDenver
- FQMondays: Free BBQ on Mondays at Colfax and Franklin at 6:30pm.
- Venmo @ swingbystreetsupply
- Denver Community Fridges: open 24/7
- denvercommunityfridges.com/locations/
- Mutual Aid Monday: Meals on Mondays from 4-7p.m. at 14th and Bannock.
- mutualaidmonday.org
- @MutualAidMonday
- Venmo: @AidMonday
- Rocky Mountain Mutual Aid: delivers groceries in Denver Metro Area
- https://linktr.ee/rmmutualaid
- @RMMutual Aid
- Spirit of the Sun: Native Elders Food Share each Friday and Sunday among other programs
- Struggle of Love: Free mental health services, youth mentorship, and food pantries
- struggleoflovefoundation.org/
Meals Outside Denver
- Boulder Food Not Bombs: Meals on Saturdays
- @BoulderFoodNotBombs
- SAFE Boulder – meals or pantry shopping every day
- safeboulder.org/aid/
- @SafeBoulder
- Lunch Punks: Meals in Aurora on Thursday at 4pm MLK Library
- Lakewood Left: Meals on Fridays at 5505 W. Colfax Ave at 6pm
- @LakewoodLeft
- Clothe the People Fort Collins – Meals and supplies on Wednesdays and Sundays at Mennonite Fellowship, 300 E. Oak Street.
- Colorado Springs Mutual Aid Union: Meals on Saturdays from 1-3 p.m. at the Tejon Park and Ride.
- @COSMutualAidUnion
Housing/Shelter
- United Way 211 Help Center – 211 is a service that connects individuals to critical resources including food, shelter, rental assistance, childcare, and more.
- Angelica Village – an intentional housing community that helps refugees and others experiencing houselessness.
- Housekeys Action Network Denver (HAND)
- Colorado Housing Connects: 303-202-6340
- denvergov.org/findshelter – Info on overnight shelters, day centers, severe weather shelters and more. Free Circulator Bus route available Mon-Fri to different shelters.
- The Action Center: family resource center
- theactioncenter.org/
Government Programs
Denver has an extensive network of relief programs for people experiencing financial troubles. Search your government website for the following programs
- Free Eviction or Foreclosure Legal Services
- Utility/Rent Assistance
- Affordable Home Ownership Options
- Property Removal and Temporary Storage
- Financial Planning
- Childcare Assistance
Did You Know?
- Your EBT/SNAP card gets you into city-run arts organizations for a reduced rate! This works at the Art Museum, Denver Nature and Science Museum, Botanic Gardens, Denver Zoo, and more!
- Check out MyFriendBen.org to see what assistance, tax credits, and benefits you qualify for in Colorado!
- Some therapists have sliding scale fees or save room in their schedule for a few low-income clients who can only pay a discounted amount.
- Looking for queer businesses to support or apply to? Check out the Everywhere is Queer map! https://www.everywhereisqueer.com/map
Immigration Resources
- Servicios de la Raza (Denver/Pueblo)
- Centro de las Trabajadores: Economic development, worker care program, legal defense clinic, integration programs
- https://centrodelostrabajadores.org/
- https://centrodelostrabajadores.org/resource-directory-wellness-wheel
- Colorado Immigrant’s Rights Coalition
- Organizacion Papagayo: rent assistance
Makerspaces/Lending Libraries
- ideaLAB: These makerspaces are available across the Denver Public Library system. Equipment varies by location. No library card required to use the space! (But you should get a library card to show support for the library systems so they continue being funded.)
- denverlibrary.org/idealab
- Denver Tool Library: For $150 a year, you can rent up to 10 tools at a time for a week! No fees after the initial cost. They offer classes on many subjects, plus open shop times where you can pay a fee to go work on your project and get help from their woodworking experts!
- denvertoollibrary.org/
- If you qualify for Federal or State Assistance, you are likely to qualify for 50% off of the Denver Tool Library services.
- Check out the Power Tool Petting Zoo! There is a class specifically for “Ladies and Gentlethems” to ensure maximum comfortability in an environment that can be intimidating for queer folk.
- Boulder Public Library Makerspaces: free community workshops dedicated to hands-on learning and the cultivation of purposeful experiences through making. Completely free studio hours available with staff to assist you with equipment.
- TinkerMill in Longmont: Classes, events, certifications, and work studios. Studio work available for a monthly fee.
Library Resources
- https://www.denverlibrary.org/content/community-resources
- Libraries are amazing! Check out the Library of Things that is also available to you with your card. That includes Chromebooks that you can check out for up to three months, bicycle repair kits, and sewing machines!
- https://cityofaurora.perfectmind.com/24143/Clients/BookMe4BookingPages/BookingCoursesPage?calendarId=069490c6-242f-459c-90f6-3503fc56c3c9&widgetId=3dd8d79c-fbf1-4747-926d-e355034e1e13&embed=False
Queer/Trans Resources
- Distribute Aid (distributeaid.org)
- HRT Harm Reduction Kit (one year supply of HRT)
- The Center on Colfax
- https://lgbtqcolorado.org
- CO Name Change Project
- Advocates for Trans Equality – ID Documents Center
- https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/erins-informed-consent-hrt-map-how
- Identity Hormones
- Diversus Health: Addiction, crisis, counseling services
- diversushealth.org/
- Inside Out Youth Colorado Springs – We build access, equity, and power with LGBTQIA2+ youth, ages 13-24.
- Colorado Health Network – Harm Reduction Services – providing free STI tests, PrEP, clean needles, fentanyl strips, Narcan, behavioral health treatment, and much more.
- https://coloradohealthnetwork.org/prevention-health-education/access-point/
Affordable Legal Help
- Colorado Affordable Legal: Free hotline for Tenant’s Right
- https://coloradoaffordablelegal.com/, 303-996-0010
- Colorado Freedom Fund – an abolitionist bail bond fund
- coloradofreedomfund.org/donate
Accessibility Resources
- CO Cross-Disability Coalition
- ccdconline.org/
Affordable Mental Health Care
- OpenPath Collective: a one-time fee of $65 gives you access to therapists who offer sessions ranging from $30-70 without insurance.
- HeyDenver!: HIV testing, harm reduction supplies
- heydenver.org/mental-health-resources
- Mental Health Low Cost Resources
- mhfaco.org/images/uploads/files/Low_Cost_Resources.pdf
Crisis Hotlines
- Colorado Crisis Hotline: 1-844-493-8255
- LGBT National Hotline: 888-843-4564
- Runaway Crisis 1-800-RUNAWAY
- National Domestic Violence: 1-800-799-7233
- Suicide Prevention 1-800-273-TALK
- National Sexual Assault 1-800-656-HOPE
- Black Trans Advocacy Coalition: 855-624-7715
- National Eating Disorder Association 1-866-662-1235
Photo courtesy of monkeybusiness
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