Molly House At Jane's Place

Support Molly House & CHA Housing Navigation Services

Located at Jane’s Place near downtown Salida, Molly House is a dedicated 4-unit apartment building owned and operated by the Chaffee Housing Authority (CHA). Grounded in the vision of Jane Whitmer and Bob Grether, Molly House serves as vital bridge housing, giving individuals and families a safe place to stay while working toward long-term, permanent housing in Chaffee County.

What Your Donation Supports

Our 2026 goal is $10,000 to fund the essential operations and services required to help Molly House residents achieve lasting stability, including:

1. Temporary Housing: Funds to support the monthly residency program fee ($625) of families and seniors at Molly House while they work to transition to permanent affordable housing.

2. Supportive Services: Funds to reimburse community partner organizations that provide wrap-around care and support services to Molly House residents.

3. Housing Stability Program Services: Dedicated funding for CHA's Housing Stability Program to assist residents across the county secure long-term, stable housing.

CHA’s Housing Stability Program  

CHA is known for building and providing housing. We also build households. Molly House is one element of the CHA Housing Stability Program that integrates trauma-informed care into every level of service offering community members structured, compassionate pathways out of a housing crisis most frequently driven by displacement, a health crisis, loss of a job, or domestic violence. CHA’s housing stability team provides ongoing, hands-on guidance which helps individuals navigate the physical, financial, and psychological challenges of their housing circumstances and achieve long-term stability. 

The Stable Families Project

The Stable Families Project is a collaborative effort between the Chaffee County Department of Human Services (DHS) and CHA serving homeless families with children. It provides case management, housing navigation, emergency housing, and rental subsidies for families experiencing homelessness due to financial crisis, domestic violence, or personal hardship. Program participants receive up to 24 months of case management support from DHS social workers. Molly House enhances this program by offering furnished apartment units—a significantly more dignified and cost-effective solution than short-term hotel stays—giving families a stable foundation to prepare for long-term housing. Since 2024, the project has successfully exited 33 families to stable housing and independent living. 

Bridge Housing for Seniors  

Fixed-income seniors in Chaffee County frequently face displacement due to rising rents, medical costs, uninhabitable housing, or displacement. Waitlists for subsidized senior apartments can range from months to years. Molly House addresses this gap by offering Chaffee County's first dedicated bridge housing unit for unhoused or housing-insecure seniors, supporting them as they transition into long-term senior housing options. Two seniors have resided at Molly House since opening its doors in March 2026 and 10 low-income seniors who received housing navigation moved into subsidized housing.

CHA Housing Navigation Services

CHA's Housing Navigators and Case Managers work closely with Molly House residents and community members to identify tailored housing plans. Community members are guided through complex application processes, connected to community resources and public benefits to reduce cost of living expenses, referred to specialized support services, and receive personalized support over weeks to months. CHA’s housing stability team addresses an average of 120 inquiries per month.