Over the last 44 years, we have assisted 10,000 families address the underlying issues that resulted in their crisis of homelessness through providing safe housing in private apartment units along with supportive case management services. We work to end homelessness, one family at a time.
"I have worked with several non-profit and public agencies and have found Family HomeStead to be one of the best. They have a high success rate of getting homeless families back on their feet, employed, and in their own homes. Their success, I believe, is due to the effective process they have developed for families to regain their self-sufficiency and the dedication and professionalism of the limited staff they have. I continually marvel at what they are accomplishing..." William Adcock, Ph D., Environmental Advisor (Ret), Shell Oil Company, Lift-A-Hammer Workday Volunteer Supervisor
"This commitment to seeking the strengths of individual families, even those in the most difficult of circumstances, and building on those strengths, is, in my opinion, one of the keys to Family HomeStead's success." Janet B. Manning, Community Volunteer, "Founding Mother" of HomeSteaders Auxiliary.
"If all organizations in Denver could accomplish as much as this organization does with the resources they have, and if more organizations were to apply their common sense approach to fighting the root causes of homelessness, there would be a lot less homeless families in Denver." John R. Keller, Manager, Mid Continent Asset Group, Whiting Petroleum Corporation,Retired Lift-A-Hammer Supervisor
One client mom summarized the importance of her Family HomeStead experience this way: "When you're in a shelter, all your thoughts are focused on finding another place to live." After she moved into Family HomeStead housing she said, "It meant everything to me. In the shelter we were isolated in a room. Here we have our own space and privacy. Danielle (her daughter) is much happier. When I got here I had the energy to continue my education."
Another client had this to say: "I became homeless...due to a layoff. My daughter and myself have been in motels, shelters and various homes of friends. Since we moved into our apartment at Family HomeStead my daughter actually says, 'I want to go home.'"
Mark, a father of three, summed up his experience with Family HomeStead with these words: "We just needed some time to get back on our feet. Family HomeStead was a helping hand that gave us some breathing room." "Family is everything to us," wife Ruth added. "Family HomeStead allowed us to stay together and provided some consistency to our lives."
Consistent with the Core Values and Vision of Family HomeStead, we will house homeless families and assist families in our program to end their homelessness in the Metro Denver area at a cost per unit not to exceed the fair market rent established by HUD.
Accordingly, Family HomeStead will provide 26,400 days of family housing and 75% of families who complete our program will: 1) move to next-step housing; 2) have income adequate to support next-step housing; 3) effectively address the underlying causes that led to their homelessness as identified in their case plan.
Core Values
1. The integrity, dignity, and independence of our client families are best preserved by placing them in discrete, autonomous housing units.
2. Social services and housing are of equal value and importance to homeless families.
3. The most important determinant of outcome is what the family brings to its situation (implies client-centered service delivery).
4. Our focus is on assisting families to achieve realistic outcomes, not on individual or societal transformation.
5. Active participation by the client is necessary and required.
6. Carefully respecting and protecting the integrity, agency, confidentiality and privacy of our clients enhances their trust in the case management relationship and allows them to maintain their dignity.
Vision
To assist homeless families to overcome the specific crisis of homelessness and to re-stabilize at a level of functioning that is optimal for them.
Family HomeStead was founded as the Denver Emergency Housing Coalition in 1978 in response to the destruction of short-term, low-cost housing for homeless families resulting from extensive urban renewal. We changed our name to Family HomeStead in 1993. Our mission is to house homeless families in the Metro Denver Area and to end homelessness for the individual families we serve.
Beginning with 10 apartments leased from the Denver Housing Authority, Family HomeStead was the first organization in Metro Denver to offer independent housing to homeless families. Gradually we increased our housing stock and now have approximately 80 private apartment units of emergency and transitional housing. Family HomeStead has always been an innovator in meeting the needs of homeless families. We were the first agency in Denver to develop a transitional housing program, the first to implement a continuum of housing and social services, and the first to utilize Section 8 housing for homeless families. We remain the only agency in Denver that provides emergency and transitional housing in private apartment units. We do not request or accept Federal or state funding for program operations; instead our programs are designed by local citizens to meet locally identified needs using local resources.
Organization name
Family HomeStead
other names
Denver Emergency Housing Coalition
1978
Tax id (EIN)
84-0769860
Category
Housing & Shelter
Organization Size
Medium Organization
Address
2520 E. 37th AveMailing
P.O. Box 40186Denver County, CO, US