The Delores Project Names Emily Wheeland as New CEO

The Delores Project, a 501(c)3 Denver-based nonprofit organization that provides safe, comfortable shelter, and personalized services for unaccompanied women and transgender individuals experiencing homelessness, has announced the appointment of Emily Wheeland as its new Chief Executive Officer.

She will replace Stephanie Miller, who announced her relocation to California in September of 2022.

Wheeland is a trauma-informed advocate for the unhoused with more than two decades of professional experience advancing solutions in Colorado and Oregon that meet the immediate and long-term needs of people experiencing homelessness. She joined the Delores Project in 2015 and has since served in five different roles including, most recently, Interim CEO. She has a bachelor’s degree in Women’s and Ethnic Studies from Oregon State University and a master’s degree in Social Justice and Ethics from Iliff School of Theology.

“We’re thrilled that Emily will officially continue guiding our organization,” Delores Project Board of Directors President Nevine Nagji says. “Emily’s deep understanding of people’s need for connection, passion for those experiencing homelessness, and her sense of service make her uniquely suited to this role. She has experience with some of Denver’s most vulnerable populations, and this, along with her ability to collaborate with the city’s other unhoused service providers, gives her the ability to be successful in this role as we all work to navigate the local homelessness crisis.”

Opening January 1, 2000 in a little pink house on the Platte River with 30 beds and six air mattresses, the Delores Project now serves nearly 400 individuals experiencing barriers to housing and provides 20,000 nights of shelter through its extended-stay, housing-focused shelter program. More recently, under Miller’s leadership, the Delores Project adapted its shelter from overnight only to 24-hours, successfully adopting a “housing first” model that prioritizes permanent housing and maintaining staff well-being.

“I feel hugely fortunate and honored to be entrusted with the privilege of helping move Delores into places of increased innovation and inclusion in the coming years and for setting a national example of what truly trauma-informed and inclusive shelter and housing look like,” Wheeland says. “Delores is not just a shelter or an apartment building; we are a community who looks out for one another, gives one another grace, and holds one another accountable for being our best selves. We believe all people deserve housing and a community of support and are proud to provide this for so many of our Denver friends and neighbors.”

In January 2022, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reported there were nearly 7,000 homeless people in the Denver metro area on a single night, a 14-year record. However, Wheelend and other local homelessness experts say it’s a gross underestimate, as the number of new people experiencing homelessness continues to grow.

“The way our world thinks about those without housing has to change if we are going to resolve homelessness, and I aspire for the Delores of the future to be more involved in ongoing community education around homelessness causes and solutions,” Wheeland continues. “My hope for Delores is that we can help change the narrative around homelessness from a place of judgment, to one of curiosity and compassion. Community heals trauma and housing solves homelessness. As we continue actualizing our vision and these beliefs, we hope more people and partners will join us in our work of creating a more equitable, inclusive, and housed Denver.”

For more information, please visit thedeloresproject.org.