Colorado Coalition for the Homeless programs.
Help for the homeless and individuals facing eviction is available from the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. The organization can assist with their housing needs and they also administer several other services for individuals, as noted below. Many of their programs are available in cooperation with their continuum of care partners, such as Denver Street Outreach Collaboration, Urban Peak and others.
Housing, rent, and homeless resources from the Coalition
Various forms of rental assistance are offered. However most of this is very limited or is available through referrals. The Coalition provides Section 8 vouchers, transitional apartments and permanent housing placement. This assistance is limited and can help currently homeless families and individuals. Other programs include counseling, housing referrals, landlord/tenant advocacy, housing search assistance, on-site inspections as well as life skills training. Any type of direct financial aid for paying rent is very limited, and is often offered through referrals to government grant programs.
Outreach is available. The objective is to help solve the immediate needs of those facing eviction or that are living on the streets. The Coalition for the Homeless will address safety, provide crisis intervention, and ultimately to connect people to low income housing or apartments. Other outreach services include free food, medical and mental health care, government benefits, gently used clothing, and of course referrals.
It is widely known that a homeless individuals or a families transition to permanent housing and to mainstream services may take months, if not years, to achieve. So this is an ongoing process. The duration of each outreach session will vary and is based on the person’s unique needs. Many of these social services are coordinated with charities and government agencies such as the City and County of Denver and other municipalities.
Staff and case managers from the coalition help homeless individuals access services (both government and non-profit) that they need to end their homelessness. Get referrals to a wide range of other coalition programs and resources in the community. Examples include bus tokens for work, housing, short-term case management, referrals to other charities or agencies, payeeships, government benefit applications and general advocacy. The address is 2111 Champa Street, Denver, CO 80205.
Housing First is a type of emergency rehousing service. The Coalition works to get people out of the shelter system or off the streets. The different aspects of this include crisis intervention and intake. After this occurs, there is rapid access to transitional housing. The last step is follow-up case management and therapeutic support services.
The program was also designed to prevent the recurrence of homelessness and address the needs of seniors, disabled, and single parents, among others. All throughout this process clients will get access to other services necessary to maintain that new housing over the long term.
Career and Employment Counseling will help individuals gain, or increase their current income. The Colorado Coalition helps homeless individuals meet their vocational goals. Getting a job is important to both pay the rent going forward and to help people regain their places as contributing members of their communities.
Case managers work with community action agencies, government job centers and employers across Colorado to ensure success. Services are highly individualized to the client’s needs and skills set. This is done in order to define meaningful goals for the person, help them develop effective strategies and action plans. They will learn how to utilize available resources and gain the personalized tools and skills needed to maintain a job.
PATH, or Project to Assist in the Transition from Homelessness, is a housing program designed to help people who experience serious mental illnesses and are also are homeless. Working with partners such as CHARG Resource Center, the Mental Health Center of Denver, and Urban Peak, the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless offers assistance such as screening and diagnoses; outreach; habilitation and rehabilitation; community mental health; case management; and placement into housing.
Transitional housing is for lower income families or the recently evicted. It is a fully integrated housing approach for recently homeless families that are on the path to self-sufficiency. It just doesn’t offer low income housing, but it provides for life skills training, credit repair, financial literacy and employment. When ready to move into a new home, referrals may be available to government grant programs for paying a security deposit or other housing costs.
As part of this, the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless will ensure there are supportive housing services for formerly homeless individuals and affordable apartments or housing units made available. There are also modified units for people living with disabilities from the Denver office.
Get help in applying for government benefits from the Coalition for the Homeless and their Benefits Acquisition and Retention Team (BART). For people facing eviction or homelessness, accessing public benefits and or no interest loans for which they are eligible is often difficult and complicated.
BART and staff that take part in it work to expedite the process of benefits acquisition. As a result, some state of Colorado or government aid is awarded within one week of application. This can include disability, section 8 (if there is not a waiting list), food stamps, and many others. Once a benefit-eligible disabled or homeless person receives the entitlements they are entitled too, they can often obtain housing and other services.
Medical care arranged by Colorado Coalition for the Homeless
In all too many cases, the cost of medical bills, Co-pays, and prescription medications often will stop homeless individuals from seeking the health care they need. So to address this need, the Coalition works with clinics and doctors to offer integrated healthcare services for homeless adults and children.
The Clinic is staffed by physician assistants, volunteer doctors, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, medical assistants and a number of case managers. Services offered from clinics include infection treatments, immunizations and flu shots, wound care, diabetes and hypertension care, comprehensive mental health services, pre-natal and well-baby care, prescription medications, and free dental care. Much of this is paid for by financial contributions and donations from local foundations, clubs, businesses, hospitals and the local medical community.
- Pediatric medical care is also available. This is assistance provided from the Stout Street Clinic. It offers shots, well-child exams, checkups and immunizations, among other care.
- Another service is eye care. The clinic provides basic exams and referrals along with free eye-glass repairs and adjustments. In some cases, free lenses may be passed out.
- The Coalition for the Homeless Pharmacy will have limited amounts of free prescriptions and over-the-counter medications. There may be, on some days, as many as 500 prescriptions filled and passed out to the needy and less fortunate. The University of Colorado School of Pharmacy is a key partner.
- Dental care is offered for the homeless as well. The Clinic’s dentists, hygienists, dental students and other assistants from the University Of Colorado School Of Dentistry offer this service. There is free routine dental care, cleanings, extractions and emergency treatment as well.
A Mobile Clinic is also operated in the region. A nurse practitioner or doctor makes stops at homeless shelters, transitional housing sites, churches (if needed) and drop-in centers across Denver and at Colfax Avenue motels. The clinic is offered by the Coalition on Homelessness and other charities as well as homeless service providers.
The mobile van may offer medical exams; medications; diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses; pre- and post-natal care; general health maintenance; TB and STD exams; mental health evaluations and gynecological services.
The main offices of the coalition are at 2111 Champa Street, Denver, Colorado 80205 as well as the Stout Street Clinic, 2100 Broadway, Denver, Colorado 80205. Or call them at (303) 293-2217.
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