United Way of Mesa County Service Hub Focuses on Collaborative Care for Our Homeless Neighbors
United Way of Mesa County (UWMC) works with community partners to facilitate a centralized location for individuals experiencing homelessness to receive services. In the summer of 2025 UWMC began mobile outreach for individuals experiencing homelessness in encampments and parks. These weekly mobile outreach efforts brought water and essential supplies to individuals, but the larger goal of the outreach efforts was to connect individuals to the appropriate community resources. The outreach team was often joined by key community partners to be introduced to clients and began building trust to access resources. Key partners including Peer 180, Mutual Aid Partners, Hilltop Community Resources and the City of Grand Junction’s Neighbor to Neighbor program frequently had staff join outreach efforts to explain their services firsthand.
Following meeting the outreach team or by calling the United to Solve Homelessness hotline (970-773-7230), clients can make an appointment for various services at the Service Hub or are referred directly to the appropriate resources. The Service Hub is located inside Hilltop Community Resources where participants meet by appointment to discuss what services (Hilltop programs or others) are the best fit for their situation. Some services take place in a secondary location shared with Sunshine Community, a new nonprofit that provides housing and programming for a limited number of participants. UWMC does not provide services directly, rather helps coordinate a space where providers can host their services. Most services are by appointment only so providers can focus on a high quality of care, the exception to this is larger monthly clinics
Services at the hub range from case management and group mental health therapy to specialty services. The monthly bike clinic was a service created by collaboration from multiple agencies including UWMC, Sunshine Community, Grand Valley Streets Alliance, Mutual Aid Partners and the City of Grand Junction Mobility Division. Bicycles are a key mode of transportation for people experiencing homelessness so the need for maintenance assistance is high. Each month dedicated bike technician volunteers offer their expertise to repair bikes as well as fix up donated bikes to give away to community members.
Specialty healthcare clinics aim to prevent illness and infection. Some of these services include Acudetox, mobile vaccine clinics from the Colorado Department of Public Health, a foot soak clinic provided by CMU Nursing Students and a dental clinic provided by Colorado Northwestern Community College dental hygiene students.
People aren’t the only ones receiving services at the hub — pet clinics are frequent as well. Local nonprofit Barkley’s Hope hosts a weekly clinic providing low-cost dog and cat vaccinations at the hub. For a wider variety of vaccines and more intensive pet cases clients are encouraged to attend the bi-monthly Street Dog Coalition Clinic.
While homelessness in Mesa County remains large and complex, the UWMC Service Hub is part of the solution by working with providers to meet clients where they are. Engaging in services is a key component on the path to housing stability and the Service Hub is a first step for many. To learn more about UWMC’s Mobile Outreach and a full list of programs at the Service Hub visit unitedwaymesacounty.org.