Legacy Grace Community Development Corporation

A nonprofit organization

Legacy Grace is passionate about solving the affordable housing crisis in Denver. We are working to raise $1,033,000 to establish a permanent Tiny Home village in Jefferson County. This follows the successful Denver model, providing people a sustainable path from homelessness to self-sufficiency.

Testimonials

Lenny, Steph, and their teen son were homeless in Denver for seven years after losing their home due to medical bills and other setbacks. "I used to hold signs, hustle work whatever I had to do to survive. We would live in our car if needed. Unlike the usual perception, we never did drugs. We never did alcohol to excess. We just wanted a place and some food. That's all we needed.
We stayed in vacant houses, motels on Colfax, even the back of a Uhaul one
winter. That was a tough one, cold as hell almost every night. It was hard to move
in the mornings, the cold would make you stiff as a board. Then people would get
angry and ask us to move it. It was never-ending drama on days.
We made sure we would stick together as a family no matter what. We kept our
son in the same school despite the daily struggles and stress of trying to make it
each day, wondering where we would sleep and how to keep ourselves from
going insane in the process. He had a difficult place to grow up in, but he is doing
so well. He even made the honor roll last semester in high school. He has really
hung in there, but it's no way for a kid to grow up.
Sometimes we had to split up just to be indoors. Many times others wouldn't
accept all three of us at one time. Those were the hardest times of all. Having to be
apart to try to survive. Sometimes people would let us stay. Other times they
would keep us almost like hostages or ask us for inappropriate things for their
kindness. It can be a crazy and scary world out there. Believe it! When people
know you're desperate, sometimes they take advantage of you. Finally we found
someone we could trust,
We now have our own apartment, thanks to the support of Legacy Grace Community Development Corporation. Without them, we'd still be in the streets fighting it out everyday. They provided us with connections to work, food on a weekly basis, and most of all someone to walk with us and just be there. Stable people are key when things are
upside down and you're in the rapids just trying to stay in the boat. Rick Roberts and his team were that for us. They really helped us, not with handouts or programming, but with friendship and wisdom. They helped us do it ourselves, and we are contributing to the economy, paying taxes, and being frugal. They made us feel like we mattered and engaged us in a process to help us get there. We even have our own vehicle now. I'm thrilled to have a kitchen with an oven! I can't wait to have you all over for dinner. Of course there will be dessert, did I mention that I love to bake! Thanks to everyone who supports the work of LGCDC, you made our miracle possible. It's amazing and I can't believe it on some days. Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Mission

To enhance and create affordable housing, economic opportunities and restoring of lives in and around Jefferson County, Colorado.

Background Statement

Legacy Grace Community Development Corporation (Legacy Grace) was founded in July of 2016 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) in response to the need for affordable housing in and around Jefferson County. There are 5,575 people in the Metro Denver area living in temporary shelters, cars, or outside and 3,000 students representing 1,000 families in Jefferson County School District that are without a stable home. Motels in Denver are charging upwards of $1,800 month and there has been a 42.8% increase in apartment costs over the last five years. The Denver Metro area ranks 11% higher than the national average housing cost.

Legacy Grace believes that providing stable housing and having your basic human needs met can break the cycle of homelessness and stress, therefore increasing one's ability to maintain employment so growth can happen. We have a comprehensive program that provides affordable housing paired with financial literacy, job training, mentoring, and life skills improvement. This holistic approach leads to home ownership further reducing the culture of poverty in Denver.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

Legacy Grace Community Development Corporation

other names

LGCDC

Year Established

2016

Tax id (EIN)

30-0931393

Category

Human Services

Organization Size

Small Organization

Address

6112 Lewis Court # 101
Arvada, CO 80004

Service areas

Jefferson County, CO, US

Phone

303-815-4914

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