"I was in an apartment fire in Denver, Colorado. My apartment was across the hall from the place it started at and now I have no clothes, no money, no food and no place to go. Please help."
House fires are a local daily disaster, forcing families into financial strain, emotional trauma and homelessness. Your donation will provide much needed support, keeping these families stable, housed, and part of the Denver Metro Community.
So far in 2022, Our Front Porch has served almost 1,000 people, distributed 673 packages of new underwear, and housed 3 households at our emergency housing.
"Thank you again for your continued support and guidance, it's nice to not feel alone and powerless."
"That package of Hanes was like heaven that day!"
"You guys are amazing, it's so nice to have a landlord who understands the need for safe and affordable housing."
Our Front Porch helps families who are in danger of homelessness and poverty due to a home fire. We provide long-term disaster recovery in the form of emergency housing, disaster case management, trauma recovery services, and housing navigation. Our rental property is where clients can live affordably and safely while we help them find their next permanent home. We utilize a holistic approach to address the cascading effects one experiences following a disaster.
Our Front Porch started as a collaboration between a social worker and an architect who saw a huge gap in long-term disaster recovery, especially with respect to home fires. The recovery from a house fire is no different than that of a large scale disaster, like a wildfire or a flood, but home fire survivors don't have access to the same state and local resources. Every day there are 1,000 home fires in the U.S., 9 in Colorado, and 2 in the Denver Metro Area. Home fires affect more people than all other disasters, and Denver has no shortage of home fire survivors.
OFP started providing disaster case management, housing navigation, and trauma recovery services to clients in 2015, obtained 501(c)3 status in 2019, and purchased a duplex and began operating the Emergency Housing program in 2020. The American Red Cross Mile High Chapter has always been a great partner of Our Front Porch, providing short-term crisis response work to home fire survivors and then referring families to OFP for long-term recovery support. We also provide free underwear and bras, as it is one thing everyone needs but doesn't want to ask for after losing everything in a fire.
No other organization addresses the three impacts of disaster recovery (case management, trauma services, and housing) and stays with the client through completion. We also understand that all three have to be addressed simultaneously to have a real impact. We have adapted and added to our programs over time to reflect the needs of our clients, including insurance claim navigation and rebuilding guidance for homeowners. Home fire recovery support may not make the daily news, but with no other organization serving this population, it is a much needed service and one that OFP is proud to fill.
Organization name
Our Front Porch
other names
OFP
2018
Tax id (EIN)
83-1866231
Category
Public Safety, Disaster Preparedness & Relief
Address
6740 E Colfax AvenueMailing
6740 E Colfax AveDenver County, CO, US