Montrose Grace Place

On June 10, 2010, Montrose Grace Place (MGP) opened its doors in what was then Grace Lutheran Church in the heart of Montrose. With a handful of volunteers and support from the local community, MGP sought to provide youth experiencing homelessness of all sexualities and genders with food, resources, and fellowship. Serving family-style meals with youth and volunteers sitting side by side, our founders wanted the space they created to feel different from other outreach programs. They wanted the youth they served to see MGP as a welcoming and LGBTQ+ affirming place that embraced who they were in every sense. When they were greeted at the door, they were being welcomed as family to a table they could call their own. Fourteen years and many, many meals later, our name may have changed, but our mission hasn't -- only expanded. Now operating out of Kindred Montrose, Grace Place welcomes more youth and serve more meals each week than ever before. Our ever-growing community of volunteers, partners, donors, and supporters have allowed Grace Place to expand our capacity to care for our family. From providing financial support and clothes to life-changing resources and fun activities, we will always strive to give more to those that need it most. MGP was incorporated as a separate non-profit 501(c)3 organization in 2009. Grace Place is not affiliated with any religion and does not offer religious or spiritual services.

Meals and Mentorship At our Youth Nights, youth enjoy a family-style dinner together--cooked and served by volunteer Kitchen Teams--with Direct Mentors, sharing stories about their day, telling jokes, or sometimes just enjoy a quiet moment. Our dinners are always fun, full of conversation, and the heart of what we do. We believe that sitting down and eating with our youth as equals helps provide a sense of safety and support they don't always find elsewhere, especially with adults. ​ This is why it is important our Direct Mentors represent our community’s diversity and embody our mission to commit to creating long-lasting, healthy relationships with our youth. Through consistent connections, they foster a positive environment and encourage ​self advocacy and success-oriented thinking. All volunteers that interact with our youth contribute to showing them what supportive adult relationships look like, and are mindfully aware of the intersections of issues they face through volunteer training and group accountability. A Space for Expression When we say all youth are welcome, we mean all. We affirm the unique experiences and identities of our youth by making Youth Night as inclusive as possible. We provide activities that inspire creativity, encourage growth and learning, or provide the opportunity for self expression. Game nights, bingo, resume writing, poetry slams, sex education trivia--we like to keep it varied and fun, and we're always looking for new activities! Youth can also "shop" in Tracey's Closet, our boutique of clothes, hygiene items, hair care products, and more, graciously provided by Francesca's. Tracey's Closet is designed as an identity affirming space, providing youth not only with the dignity they deserve, but the opportunity to express their unique selves through fashion and style. Case Management Whether a young person comes to Youth Night just needing bus fare or long-term housing assistance, we're all about helping them grow and find success. Through the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and partnerships with other organizations, we help youth get access to and navigate a network of services and resources. ​We provide case management services for:​ ID Assistance, Housing Navigation, HIV/STI testing, Legal Aid, Social Security Insurance (SSI) & Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Applications.