The Matthews House - Help Youth & Families Today!

A nonprofit organization

$52,259 raised by 118 donors

20% complete

$260,000 Goal

Who We Are

At The Matthews House, we believe every young person and family deserves stability, safety, and the chance to thrive. Since 2005, we’ve walked alongside Northern Colorado youth and families, building trusting relationships and connecting them with the tools, resources, and support they need to break cycles of poverty, housing instability, and adversity.

Our holistic, relationship-based approach combines evidence-based practices with individualized support, ensuring that every client’s unique journey is honored and empowered.

The Need in Northern Colorado

  • 1 in 10 Families live at or below the poverty line. Poverty isn’t a lack of ambition—it’s a lack of access. Without stable housing, supportive relationships, or reliable resources, families often struggle to meet even their most basic needs. We’re here to close those gaps and build stronger foundations.

  • 400+ Youth Ages 15–21 experience homelessness each year. Most housing programs are designed for adults, leaving young people without the resources or safety nets they need. These youth face unique challenges and deserve solutions built just for them.

The Landing: Northern Colorado’s Youth Shelter

In 2024, we launched The Landing—a shelter and drop-in center designed exclusively for youth and young adults. Today, it stands as one of only two youth shelters in the entire state of Colorado, and the only one serving communities north of Denver.

In just six months, The Landing has already provided hundreds of nights of safety, meals, and hope for young people with nowhere else to turn. With additional day drop-in centers in both Loveland and Fort Collins, we’re meeting youth where they are—offering stability, connection, and the promise of a brighter future.

Why It Matters

Your support empowers:

  • Families to grow stronger together through case management, parent education, and community resources.

  • Youth to find safety, belonging, and a path forward when life feels impossible.

  • Communities to thrive when every member is rooted in hope and supported with dignity.

Stories of Impact

“The Community Life Centers and The Matthews House are amazing places staffed with kind and gentle people. The coaches are very professional, yet they get to know you on a personal basis to better assist you in your specific situation. The resources that this program offers are plentiful and very helpful... I am thankful to have a place to go for anything I need, and thankful for the wonderful staff members that go the extra mile to ensure I reach my goals.” – Nikki

“I had a newborn and no permanent place to live. I was terrified. The Matthews House gave me more help than I could have ever hoped for. They helped me not only find a permanent residence, but also helped with furniture as well. They provided help and friendship. I’m glad to have met them.” – Jewel

✨ Together, we’re building stability, safety, and hope for youth and families in Northern Colorado.

Mission

Empowering youth and families through connection, self-efficacy, and independence.

Background Statement

Live the Victory, Inc. [DBA: The Matthews House] was established in 2005 as a nonprofit organization committed to creating opportunities for under-served young adults. Founder and Executive Director, Jerri Schmitz, and Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Sara Mitchell, identified a gap in services for transitioning and emancipating youth aged 16–21, particularly those leaving foster care or the juvenile justice system. The Matthews House Transition Program was created to fill this gap—offering life skills training, one-on-one case management, and mentoring not available anywhere else in Larimer County.

Since then, The Matthews House has grown to become a cornerstone of support for youth and families across Northern Colorado:

2007 – Partnered with Larimer County Department of Human Services to administer the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program grant, significantly expanding our reach.

2007–2015 – Added formal Experiential Education programs (art, music, improv), launched Family Programs to support households involved in child welfare, and opened two Community Life Centers (2012 and 2015) to make services accessible to the broader community.

2020 – Partnered with Poudre School District to open Learning Hubs at Poudre High School and Fort Collins High School.

2021 – Expanded Experiential Education with a music program, providing more than 50 lessons to date.

2025 – Opened The Landing, Northern Colorado’s only youth shelter and drop-in center. The Landing provides safe overnight housing and day programming for youth ages 15–21 experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Following the closure of two other Colorado youth shelters in 2024, The Landing now stands as one of only two youth shelters in the entire state, and the only one serving communities north of Denver.

Today, The Matthews House offers comprehensive Youth and Family Programs, Community Life Centers, Experiential Education, and now youth shelter services—all designed to build stability, strengthen resilience, and create pathways toward independence.

The Matthews House is the only project of Live the Victory, Inc.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

The Matthews House - Help Youth & Families Today!

other names

The Matthews House, TMH, Education and Life Training Center, The Landing

Year Established

2005

Tax id (EIN)

20-2894339

Category

Human Services, Youth Development, Housing & Shelter

Organization Size

Large Organization

Colorado State Tax Credits

Colorado Child Care Credit

Address

415 Mason Ct, #1
Fort Collins, CO 80524

Other

400 S Link Lane
Fort Collins, CO 80524

Other

531 S College Ave
Fort Collins, CO 80524

Other

The Landing 1500 Monroe Ave
Loveland, CO 80538

Service areas

Larimer County, CO, US

Phone

970-472-4293

Other

970-472-0609

Other

970-449-5191

Social Media