2020 Community Development Projects

This blog post is a continuation of Community Development Week. 

The City’s Community Development Division manages three types of funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to address the issues of housing, homelessness, economic development opportunities and quality of life in our community:

• Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) 
• HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) 
• Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) 

Priority Needs and Goals

Community Development conducts a community needs assessment to identify goals and priority needs for funding. These are found in the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan (link). Projects chosen to receive funding must align with the five priorities:
There are five (5) priority needs, with associated goals to address each need:

• Improved Public Infrastructure & Facilities
  • Expand Public Infrastructure
  • Improve Public Infrastructure Capacity
  • Improve Access to Public Facilities
• Increased supply of Affordable Housing
  • Provide Owner Occupied Housing Rehab
  • Increase Homeownership Opportunities
  • Increase Affordable Rental Housing Options
• Public Services & Quality of Life Improvements
  • Provide Supportive Services for Special Needs
  • Provide Vital Services for LMI Households
• Neighborhood Economic Development Opportunities
  • Direct Assistance to For-Profit Businesses
• Homeless Housing & Supportive Services
  • Provide Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Assistance
  • Provide Assistance for Street Outreach and Homeless Shelters

Projects

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG): Housing Programs

Brothers Redevelopment

Housing rehabilitation services will be provided for very low- income residents with special needs to improve residential safety and accessibility. 

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG): Public Services 

Catholic Charities of Central Colorado / Client Services / Family Connections

Client Services / Family Connections case management and client support activities will be focused on housing counseling and navigation, as well as other stability enhancing supports.    

Community Partnership For Child Development / Early Head Start Classrooms

Early Head Start classrooms will serve low-income children birth to age three.    

Funding will support two Early Head Start classrooms that serve low-income children birth to age three. These classrooms are located in the Helen Hunt Nonprofit Campus, where Catholic Charities offers housing, employment, and case management services for homeless families or families at-risk of homelessness. While parents receive assistance, their young children are enrolled in CPCD's classrooms. The Family Connections Center serves homeless and at risk families. 

Family Promise / New Promise Family Shelter

New Promise Family Shelter, will provide low barrier, family shelter in Colorado Springs for families with children facing homelessness.

Family Promise will operate the New Promise Family Shelter, a low barrier, family shelter in Colorado Springs for families with children facing homelessness. A family may be one or two parents, or a parent and/or grandparent, with one or more children. These vulnerable families need services specifically tailored to the complexities of families with children. In addition to providing shelter for all families, Family Promise provides wrap-around, support services aimed to help families reach a place of long-term stability and self-sufficiency. Services provided include individualized case management services, coordinated entry for a wide range of community resources, fellowship, and peer mentors. Most importantly, the New Promise Family Shelter is the place where parents can do the work needed to return to self-sufficiency by meeting regularly with their Family Services Manager. 

Independence Center / Housing Program

Independence Center Housing Coordinators will assist clients with housing vouchers to find and maintain housing. Clients are people with disabilities, including families and seniors, whose income is at or below 30% of area median income.

The IC's Housing Program is part of its Center for Independent Living division. The IC recognizes that barriers to obtaining affordable, accessible housing are widely and deeply felt and experienced among people with disabilities in our community and throughout the country. The program's Housing Coordinators are dedicated to assisting clients, with housing vouchers, to find and maintain housing. All clients are either homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless. All clients and households participating in the program make 30% or below the area median income. Of the 618 people served by the program in 2019, 219 were senior citizens (62 and older) and 154 were families.  Of those served in 2019, 577 are Colorado Springs residents. Without The IC's Housing program, most of these clients would be at risk of becoming homeless.    

Lutheran Family Services / KPC Respite Center    

Lutheran Family Services will provide emergency child care and transportation for parents in housing crises to proactively manage and stabilize their housing.

Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains' (LFSRM) Kevin Patrick Callum Respite Center offers emergency child care for parents in housing crises to proactively manage and stabilize their housing. LFSRM programming reflects the goal of preventing and ending homelessness by providing wrap-around supportive services for refugee families, older adults, foster children, disaster survivors, and other struggling populations who do not have the resources to help themselves. Parents and guardians can call a 24-hour crisis phone line and children can be accepted for placement any day of the year, at any time. Services range from hourly care within the same day to up to three days of care at one time. Children are provided with food, clothing, and all other necessities so parents do not need to worry about bringing anything with them when dropping off children at KPC. CDBG funding will contribute to the salary and benefits of one (1) Respite Caregiver at KPC and support transportation to get families to and from the center, a barrier that has impacted the neediest families from accessing services.

Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center / Housing Stability Services    

Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center will provide housing stability services facilitated by the Veterans and Family Resource Center for vulnerable veterans and their families.

Funding will support housing stability services facilitated by the Veterans and Family Resource Center, which provides comprehensive supportive services to the Pikes Peak region's most vulnerable veterans and their families. Through intensive case management, resource navigation, housing assistance and counseling, eviction prevention, budget counseling and wraparound support, the Veterans and Family Resource Center is promoting healing and stability, allowing veterans at greatest risk of homelessness to reach sustainability.

Salvation Army / Low-Barrier Shelter

Low-barrier emergency shelter consisting of 120 shelter beds will be provided.   

Springs Rescue Mission / Low-Barrier Shelter    

A security team will be provided for low-barrier emergency shelter with 180 beds.

Springs Rescue Mission will maintain 180 beds nightly for Low-Barrier Emergency Shelter. With a unique commitment not to turn anyone away, SRM can temporarily expand that capacity (using floor mats) to accommodate additional people during inclement weather. As a low-barrier facility, proper security staffing is critical to smooth and safe operation. SRM will allocate financial support to undergird its security team. SRM offers emergency shelter in the context of a larger, clinically informed strategy where all the critical support elements (shelter, food, clothing, case management, comprehensive support services) are available in one place, ready to empower guests toward a more stable and sustainable life.

Sunshine Home Share Colorado / Affordable Senior Housing    

Sunshine Home Share will connect adult homeowners age 55 and older with eligible home seekers who provide rental income and assistance with home care and maintenance to support their ability to age in place.

The Place / Emergency Shelter    

The Place will operate a year round emergency youth shelter that prepares youth experiencing homelessness to leave the dangers of the street life, reunite with family, or take steps toward self-sufficiency.

The Emergency Youth Shelter is open year-round, seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Shelter programming includes overnight shelter beds, three meals per day, on-site medical care, trauma assessments, mental health and substance abuse assessments and treatment, trauma-informed case management, family reunification, life-skills classes, recreational/leisure activities, referrals, and follow-up support. Shelter programming is delivered using evidence-based practices such as Positive Youth Development (PYD) and Motivational Interviewing (Ml). PYO is a case management approach that promotes the idea that all youth can make positive contributions to their families, schools, and communicates if given support and guidance from caring adults. Ml is a technique used by direct care staff and case managers to help people resolve their ambivalence about making personal decisions in their lives.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG): Public Facilities & Infrastructure 

Acacia Park Apartments  

The Colorado Springs Housing Authority will contract maintenance for the Acacia Park Apartments for boiler replacement and tuck pointing repairs.

Mill Street Lighting    

Will install 24 streetlights and upgrade 77 streetlights to support implementation of the Mill St. Neighborhood Plan. 

Springs Rescue Mission / 5 West Welcome Center    

SRM will renovate existing space at its 5 W. Las Vegas Street facility to create a 3,500 square foot Welcome Center with one acre of site development for additional services including: dog kennel/run, 228 guest storage lockers, and guest courtyard.

CDBG-CV Public Services (CARES Act Coronavirus Response Funds)

Atlas Preparatory School / CORE Program    

A new Family Programs Coordinator will provide resources, connections to outside organizations, access to our on-site food pantry, and on-campus workshops through the CORE Program. 

Atlas provides Safety Net Resources and Assistance coordinated through our Community Team. Atlas Community Team works with families to access health and human service agency resources, host family education events, and work through crisis situations. Atlas seeks funding to hire a designated staff member, a Family Programs Coordinator, who will work to provide a number of resources, connections to outside organizations, access to our on-site food pantry, and on-campus workshops through the CORE Program. This position will help meet the increased needs of current Atlas families as well as the needs of new families enrolling students at Atlas Elementary School.

Care & Share / Mobile Food Banks

Bags of nutritious food will be distributed to El Paso County neighbors impacted by COVID-19 through a new Mobile Market.

At Care and Share Food Bank, we are committed to ensuring every neighbor across Southern Colorado has safe, reliable access to the nutritious food they need to thrive. That commitment remains strong now, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are distributing bags of nutritious emergency food to El Paso County neighbors impacted by COVID-19 through our new Mobile Market. Funding from CDGB will support the cost of purchasing food for this program.

Catholic Charities of Central Colorado / Family Connections

Direct rent/mortgage assistance will be provided to minimize a slide into homelessness for households making 60% or below area median income (AMI) who have experienced a loss or reduction of Income due to the coronavirus.

All activities in this project directly serve households making 60% or below area median income (AMI) who have experienced a loss or reduction of Income due to the coronavirus. Although this funding will support a fairly narrow scope - direct rent/mortgage assistance and administration to minimize a slide into homelessness due to the coronavirus pandemic -our service delivery is systems-based and reflective of the many providers and services outside our program scope but vital to individuals and families navigating multiple systems to get needs met. Clients reaching out for housing support will be given the opportunity to partake in all Catholic Charities programming as needed, as well as our coordinated partnerships throughout the community. Case management and direct financial support assistance are focused on keeping/finding safe and stable housing, as well as other stability enhancing supports. With the onset of coronavirus in addition to these already vulnerable populations, we now are assisting those who otherwise would never have needed to reach out for help but find themselves in a critical position. Due to job loss, decreased work hours, or need to stay home with children due to school closure or lack of childcare, these proud families and individuals now find themselves in a financial crisis which puts them at risk of homelessness. Our work with this funding will focus on providing temporary financial support as well as case management to alleviate the immediate financial crisis faced by all of these clients, ensuring they avoid homelessness and successfully maintain stability through the crisis so that they are no longer at risk.  

Colorado Health Network / Emergency Housing Assistance

Rental subsidy payments and subsistence payments (including mortgage and utility payments) will be provided to prevent homelessness for people living with HIV (PLWH) who have lost wages during COVID-19, and whose health and housing are impacted by the pandemic.

Financial Assistance for Southern Colorado Health Network's (SCHN) Emergency Financial Assistance (EFA) program aims to prevent homelessness for people living with HIV (PLWH) who have lost wages during COVID-19 by providing critical funding to increase their housing stability. These Community Development Block Grant funds will provide financial assistance for clients' rental subsidy payments and subsistence payments (including mortgage and utility payments). This is an expansion of SCHN's existing EFA program. 

Throughout Colorado Springs, PLWH risk losing their housing as a result of the coronavirus impact on clients' employment and loss of income. In addition, factors such as increased medical costs, limited incomes, and reduced ability to keep working due to related illnesses impacts PLWH's housing. Addressing clients' housing instability and subsequently their engagement in care can have profound effects on effective HIV prevention. EFA will prevent clients from losing their housing by providing direct financial assistance. 

Additional funds to support EFA will allow SCHN to prepare for future COVID-19 impacts on clients housing and health.  

Community Partnership for Child Development / Mental Health Childcare

A Behavioral Health Program, incorporated into all of CPCD's early childhood education classrooms, will support children's short- and long-term mental health and well-being. 

CPCD offers early childhood education to disadvantaged children through three core programs: Head Start, Early Head Start, and the Colorado Preschool Program. CPCD's Behavioral Health Program, which is incorporated into all of CPCD's early childhood education classrooms, supports children's short- and long-term mental health and well-being. 

Many children will show the impact of trauma because their families struggled financially or were cramped in small apartments during stay-at-home orders. CPCD found that approximately 40% of families, over 650 families, faced a job loss and a subsequent financial crisis during the pandemic. Most of these families were already struggling to meet their basic needs and did not have a safety net.

In a typical school year, CPCD finds that 35% to 50% of children are not meeting social and emotional expectations at the beginning of the year. Because of trauma and adverse experiences related to the pandemic, the percentage will likely be higher in the coming year. Children displaying concerns from trauma and adversity are often aggressive, withdrawn, angry or sad, making it hard to learn in school. According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, children's reactions to trauma can interfere considerably with learning and behavior at school. Schools serve as a critical system of support for children who have experienced trauma. Administrators, teachers, and staff can help reduce the effects of trauma on children by recognizing trauma responses, accommodating and responding to traumatized students within the classroom, and referring children to outside professionals when necessary.    

Family Promise of Colorado Springs / Heart in Home

Homeless Prevention Shelter Diversion    
A homeless prevention and shelter diversion program will engage families experiencing housing instability prior to home loss. Services include direct financial assistance, mediation (usually between family and landlord, and a minimum of 3 months of step-down in-home case management to address the cause of housing instability.

Heart in Home is a homeless prevention and shelter diversion program. This program allows us to get upstream of family homelessness by engaging families experiencing housing instability prior to home loss. The need for rental assistance to prevent eviction and keep families safely housed has greatly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the number of unemployment claims each week continues to go up. The services we offer include: Direct financial assistance, Mediation Services as needed (usually between family and landlord). Families commit to a minimum of 3 months of step-down in-home case management to address the cause of housing instability and ensure long-term housing stability.

Family Promise has on average provided rental assistance at less than $1000 per family. Our Homeless Prevention program has a maximum amount allocated of $1500 per family but rarely have we provided the maximum amount. If we were to have a family with 7 or more family members whose current housing situation is sustainable, and the ongoing rent does not exceed more than 30% of their income but require assistance of more than the maximum of $1500, we would consider providing assistance.

Greccio Housing / Rental Housing Subsidies    

Qualified residents earning a modest income will receive up to three months of rental assistance and one year of intensive case management focused on bridging the life disruption. The program is extended to serve low-income families in Colorado Springs who are not cost burdened by their rent.

Low-income households have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with many working in retail, food and beverage service, leisure and hospitality; all sectors that have been greatly impacted by the pandemic. CDBG-CV funding allows Greccio Housing Unlimited, Inc to respond to the needs of our community through the pandemic by extending our Eviction Prevention Program to serve low-income families in Colorado Springs who are not cost burdened by their rent. This expansion of the program will serve to prevent the economic fallout of the COVID pandemic, ensuring families remain stably housed. This in turns allows for greater job security as well as continued resources for the safety of children and families. The intensive case management of the program also prepares participants for the continued uncertainty that is inherent to any global pandemic.

Residents earning a modest income that meet all of the program qualifications and are accepted into the Eviction Prevention Program are eligible to receive up to three months of attenuated financial assistance and one year of intensive case management focused on bridging the life disruption. Financial assistance is a stop gap that will allow the families to remain stably housed as they navigate through the life crisis, and can be used for the critical financial demands of rental payments.

Partners in Housing / Family Self-Sufficiency Program

Internet services will be installed in all properties and households equipped with computers or tablets so that they may work from home, attend school from home, access healthcare, and access benefits. Access to services such as money mentoring, life skills classes, WorkIt employment services, child care and school assistance, and the platform for requesting maintenance on their housing will be provided.

The Partners in Housing Family Self Sufficiency response to COVID allocates staff and supplies and materials to increasing the technology resources for all the families in the program.  To prepare for, prevent, and respond to both health and economic issues directly related to COVID, internet services will be installed in all properties and equip households with computers or tablets so that they may work from home, attend school from home, access healthcare, and access benefits.  Partners' families will also have access to the PIH services such as money mentoring, life skills classes, WorkIt employment services, child care and school assistance, and the platform for requesting maintenance on their housing.

Silver Key Senior Services / Nutrition Program

A  new system of distribution for the food pantry (express Lane curbside and home delivery) developed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 will be continued, serving seniors and their dependents.

The Food Pantry addresses the physical and mental health of all generations in relation to COVID-19 needs and targets the demographic most at risk in this pandemic: seniors.  Our Food Pantry serves over 150 grandparents who are heads of households, requiring even more of them than pre-COVID - especially when caring for school-age grandchildren in need of nutrition and social interaction.  

Silver Key Senior Assistance distributes government food programs through our Food Pantry to supplement a senior's diet and improve the health of the low-income elderly. Since mid-March with the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, our Food Pantry client numbers grew from 1,275 to 2,599, a massive growth which was unanticipated.  How we have responded has taken strategic leadership and a commitment to the seniors we serve.  As Care and Share's largest distribution point in southern Colorado, we are always at full capacity to serve seniors in need. The pandemic crisis immediately created challenges for the organization to safely staff and serve our clients. We have prepared for and responded to the crisis in a variety of creative and effective ways, which we will continue. We immediately shifted the ways we were distributing food from the Client Choice option (with shopping carts) to a pre-packaged Express Lane curbside delivery system, and a home delivery option for home bound seniors, utilizing our Transportation staff and volunteers in new ways. We have worked strategically non-stop, to employ every safety measure required of the CDC and El Paso County Health Department to insure we would continue operating the Food Pantry. Silver Key is grateful for the exceptional partnership we have with Care and Share, who has worked closely with us to keep our Pantry warehouse continually stocked. Our new system of distribution (Express Lane curbside and home delivery) is working so well, we will continue these services into the future.

Silver Key Senior Services / Food Pantry    

Nutritious food will be provided to seniors Monday-Friday, with nutrition staffing, food, packaging and other supplies, to plan, order, and prepare meals to meet the increased demand due to COVID.  

Silver Key is providing nutrition staffing, food, packaging and other supplies, to plan, order, and prepare meals to meet the increased demand due to COVID.  Silver Key's Nutrition (meals) program begins early each day, as food is prepped and cooked and meals are carefully prepared, packaged (and frozen, due to shifts in delivery needs because of COVID-19).  Meals are provided Monday-Friday - either delivered directly to residences or to the Connections Cafe sites for pick up, usually served between 11:00-1:00. Since the pre-COVID February meals count, meals production has INCREASED by 67%. At a cost per meal of $11.73, expenses have increased by more than $136,000, of which $100,000 is attributed to COVID-19 directly.  This is staggering, unanticipated growth. Increases in every budget area of Silver Key's Nutrition program have been impacted: personnel, direct program expenses including ingredients and new forms of communication across every department and with our clients.

TESSA / Domestic Violence Client Advocacy

Two full time, floating/mobile staff will provide advocacy services for clients including, but not limited to safety planning, information and referrals, assistance with the protection order process, court support, victim outreach, assisting walk in clients, providing office hours at off-site and satellite locations.

With increased number of victims we have started seeing during the pandemic and ongoing, our need for additional advocates has grown. The increased isolation put on our clients during this time has increased the number and severity of cases we have seen.  Without additional staff, we find ourselves unable to fully respond to the needs of each individual and family. Project funding supports two full time, floating/mobile advocate positions for TESSA. The two positions provide advocacy services for clients including, but not limited to safety planning, information and referrals, assistance with the protection order process, court support.  Advocates provide direct support to TESSA clients throughout TESSA programs and locations as needed, which may include, attending court hearings, conducting victim outreach, providing court support, assisting with walk in clients, providing office hours at off-site and satellite locations, and responding to call-outs. Advocates work cooperatively with other agencies and individuals (e.g. Colorado Springs Police Department and El Paso County Sheriff's Office Advocates, District Attorney's Advocates, Department of Human Services staff) involved with the client to ensure comprehensive service delivery for clients. In addition, advocates perform intake interviews and assessments of victims requesting safe housing and provide crisis line services including crisis intervention, advocacy support, safety planning, and resource referrals.  One of the two advocate positions would be used to focus more heavily on clients in the housing program of TESSA. The floating/mobile advocate position will be on a regular Monday-Friday, 8-5 work schedule. Evenings, weekends, on-call and overnight shifts may be required when needed.    

HOME Investment Partnership: Non-CHDO  Development Activities 

The Commons - Permanent Supportive Housing  

This  housing development will provide permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless families, individuals, and veterans.

This development located on the east side of Colorado Springs will provide permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless families, individuals, and veterans. The development will help meet Colorado Springs' strategic plan to end homelessness and will be part of a unique partnership formed between nonprofit developer, Homeward Pikes Peak, lead supportive service provider, Diocese of Colorado Springs, and co-general partner, Dominium Development, a for-profit entity that is providing pro-bono development services. Furnishings will be provided to the residents at no cost. All of the units will be supported by project-based vouchers provided by the Colorado Division of Housing.

Shooks Run Apartments 

The Shook's Run Apartments is a proposed affordable housing apartment community by the Colorado Springs Housing Authority for families. It will have a total of 40 units divided among 4 buildings.

The Shook's Run Apartments is a proposed affordable housing apartment community by the Colorado Springs Housing Authority for families located on a 2.05 acre parcel southeast of downtown Colorado Springs. The development consists of four (4) residential buildings with a total of 40 units with 37,488 SF of net rentable area, including a unit mix of 12 one-bedrooms, 20 two-bedrooms, and 8 three-bedroom units. There will be three primary unit types ranging in size from 709 to 1,125 square feet, with an average unit size of 937 SF. As proposed, the subject will have 10 units at 30% AMI , 16 units at 40% AMI, 11 units at 50% AMI and 3 units at 60% AMI.

Atrium at Austin Bluffs    

Atrium at Austin Bluffs is a LIHTC affordable housing infill project offering 54 units serving seniors. 
Atrium at Austin Bluffs is a proposed affordable housing infill project on 1.14 acres of undeveloped land, located in a primarily residential area in northeast Colorado Springs. Atrium at Austin Bluffs offers a mix of 42 one-bedroom units, and 12 two-bedroom units. As a LIHTC  project, the development will serve seniors with incomes at or below 60% AMI (39% of units), at or below 50% AMI (38.9% of units), at or below 40% AMI (11% of units), and at or below 30% AMI (11% of units).

Creek at Cottonwood  

The proposed development will contain 258 units in 11 three-story walk-up buildings comprised of one, two, and three bedroom units. It is proposed to operate under the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program within the 60% of Area Median Income (AMI) program. 

The proposed development will contain 258 units in 11 three-story walk-up buildings. The subject site is located in the northeastern portion of the City of Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado. The subject is proposed with 258 dwelling units comprised of one, two, and three bedroom units with an average unit size of 1,083 square feet. All of the units are proposed to operate under the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program within the 60% of Area Median Income (AMI) program. The buildings will be wood-framed, and a combination of brick and fiber cement siding with sloped shingled roofs. Unit amenities will include patio/balcony for every unit, laundry connections, refrigerator/freezer, stove/oven, dishwasher, and disposal, carpet and vinyl plank flooring, exterior storage, and walk-in closet. The project amenities include a fitness and business center, detached garage, laundry room, pool, on-site office, clubhouse, courtyard, playground, picnic and recreation area.

HOME Investment Partnership: Homebuyer Assistance Program

The Down Payment Assistance Program for low to moderate income families is administered in partnership with the Rocky Mountain Community Land Trust and Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity.

HOME Investment Partnership: Tenant Based Rental Assistance

Colorado Springs Housing Authority 
Funding supports a rent subsidy program that assists eligible low-income persons and their families in obtaining affordable, decent, and safe housing by paying a portion of their rent.

Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG): Homeless Housing and Services

ESG Homelessness Prevention

The  Heart in Home homeless prevention and shelter diversion program will provide direct financial assistance; mediation services as needed (usually between family and landlord); at least 3 months of step-down in-home case management to address the cause of housing instability and ensure long-term housing stability.

The Heart in Home is a homeless prevention and shelter diversion program. This program gets upstream of family homelessness by engaging families experiencing housing instability prior to home loss, believing that the best way to solve family homelessness is to prevent it. The services offered include: Direct financial assistance; Mediation services as needed (usually between family and landlord); At least 3 months of step-down in-home case management to address the cause of housing instability and ensure long-term housing stability.

ESG-CV Homelessness Prevention 

Partners in Housing Homelessness Prevention assists families who have a documented COVID-19 related need for homeless prevention or relocation assistance. Funds will be used to help families stay in their homes and minimize disruption from the financial fallout of COVID-19. 

Partners in Housing Homelessness Prevention assists families who have a documented COVID-19 related need for homeless prevention or relocation assistance. Funds will be used to help families stay in their homes and minimize disruption from the financial fallout of COVID-19. While case management will not be mandatory, staff will seek to have at least a 30 minute phone conversation with clients at least once a month to establish if referrals need to be made to address non HP, COVID related issues that arise. Assistance will also be offered for financial needs such as budgeting or credit counseling. Staff will help with negotiating arrears, payments and any necessary conflict resolution to ensure clients are stable and also that no more funds are expended than necessary.

ESG Shelter    

Springs  Rescue Mission will maintain 180 beds nightly for Low-Barrier Emergency Shelter.

Springs Rescue Mission will maintain 180 beds nightly for Low-Barrier Emergency Shelter. With a unique commitment not to turn anyone away, SRM can temporarily expand that capacity (using floor mats) to accommodate additional people during inclement weather. As a low-barrier facility, proper security staffing is critical to smooth and safe operation. SRM will allocate financial support to undergird its security team. SRM provides Emergency Shelter in the context of a larger, clinically informed strategy where all the critical support elements (shelter, food, clothing, case management, comprehensive support services) are available in one place, ready to empower guests toward a more stable and sustainable life.

The Place Emergency Youth Shelter will serve youth age 15-24 experiencing or at risk of homelessness in the Pikes Peak region, year-round, seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

The Place Emergency Youth Shelter serves youth age 15-24 experiencing or at risk of homelessness in the Pikes Peak region, which includes El Paso and Teller County. The Emergency Youth Shelter is open year-round, seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Shelter programming includes overnight shelter beds, three meals per day, on-site medical care, trauma assessments, mental health and substance abuse assessments and treatment, trauma-informed case management, family reunification, life-skills classes, recreational/leisure activities, referrals, and follow-up support.

ESG-CV Homeless Isolation Shelter (Temporary Shelter / Operations) 

The HIS is a City-directed shelter activity undertaken to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus by isolating carriers or symptomatic homeless individuals. Daily operations of the Homeless Isolation Shelter (HIS) are overseen by Springs Rescue Mission.

ESG-CV 2020 Homeless Isolation Shelter Transportation (Temporary Shelter / Essential Services)

Envida will provide transportation for clients to and from the Homeless Isolation Shelter, ensuring a driver is available from 7am to 10pm daily and providing materials necessary to transport clients in safety, such as sanitizer for buses, masks, gloves, etc. 

ESG-CV 2020 Homeless Isolation Shelter Meals (Temporary Shelter / Operations)

Catholic Charities of Central Colorado will provide the following services related to provision of breakfast and lunch meals for Homeless Isolation Shelter clientele: recruit and manage volunteers; secure food; coordinate, pack and schedule delivery; and perform administrative duties to support the above functions. 

ESG-CV 2020 Domestic Violence Victims Emergency Shelter

TESSA Emergency Shelter provides immediate safe shelter for victims of domestic violence in the Safehouse, and long-term assistance through housing and utility assistance. 

TESSA Emergency Shelter provides immediate safe shelter for victims of domestic violence in the Safehouse, and long-term assistance through housing and utility assistance. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, requests for emergency shelter have increased with more victims being in high lethality situations. Funding will be used to maintain the shelter facility, as well as provide supplies and services. 

ESG-CV 2020 Youth Emergency Shelter 

The Place's Emergency Youth Shelter serves youth age 15-24 experiencing or at risk of homelessness in the Pikes Peak region, which includes El Paso and Teller County. Funding supports added COVID-19 safety measures.

The COVID-19 pandemic has added challenges: The Place has had to safely, and creatively, continue to provide services to youth experiencing homelessness without compromising the health and safety of youth and staff. Every day there are adjustments and updates to continue safely providing these essential services.

ESG-CV 2020 Emergency Shelter 

Springs Rescue Mission Emergency Shelter continues to care for area homeless during the COVID-19 public health crisis and is committed to ensuring that the most vulnerable have access to safe, clean shelter, nutritious meals, hygiene care (showers, laundry, restrooms, hand washing stations), health services, compassionate care and connecting services in the context of COVID-19 informed program delivery.

Street Outreach

The Place connects youth to the comprehensive services provided at The Place through its Street Outreach program. Throughout the year, five days a week, a team of qualified, trained staff frequent the areas where homeless youth stay. This Outreach Team helps break down many barriers of trust while meeting the basic, immediate needs of youth with clothing, food, blankets, and resource referrals.

Youth wind up on the street due to a number of barriers including mental illness, substance abuse, developmental disability, or suffering from abuse at the hands of adults. Understandably, this can create considerable trust issues with adults and barriers to entry into The Place or other service providers in the community.

All direct client staff are trained in trauma informed care, PYD, and MI on a regular and ongoing basis. PYD promotes the idea that all youth can make positive contributions to their families, schools, and communities if given support and guidance from caring adults. MI is a technique used by staff to help youth resolve their ambivalence about making personal decisions in their lives. All staff and volunteers are trained in harm reduction techniques to understand the complexities of homelessness, housing, and aid. The street outreach team regularly draws on this training as it distributes harm reduction supplies when it connects with youth on the street. In addition to street outreach case managers, The Place recently embedded two licensed clinicians within the program. These clinicians provide mental health services for the purpose of improving life trajectories for homeless youth experiencing serious mental illness, serious emotional disturbance and/or co-occurring mental and intellectual barriers. Clinical services provided include, but are not limited to: building relationships, crisis intervention, individual and group therapy on site. This new model allows The Place to embed critical mental health support within each aspect of its programming and work. 

Rapid Re-Housing

The Place Rapid Re-housing provides rent and utilities assistance, and a moderate level of case management support to youth for up to a 24-months but typically 12 months or less. Rapid Re-housing assistance is provided to clients who are currently experiencing homelessness. 

Then, The Place enters the qualified clients into the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) which links them to case management and community resources. The client is then provided with case management, rent, and utility assistance based on the availability of resources and client needs.

Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) Administration    

Community Health Partnership (CHP) is the Lead Administrator for the Pikes Peak Region Continuum of Care, and provides HMIS administration services. HMIS will be used to help prevent, prepare for and respond to COVID-19 by tracing interactions from one client to another for contact tracing; identifying the most vulnerable clients for targeted services and/or proactive connection to resources, and; track primary and sub-granted funding for accountability to program objectives.

HMIS helps with preventing, preparing for, and responding to the coronavirus in a few different ways: First, HMIS can trace interactions from one client to another by showing who was in a project at the same time as a client with a confirmed/presumptive case, then displaying their most recent known location in HMIS. This will allow for quick contact with individuals with potential coronavirus exposure to ensure isolation can occur, preventing a widespread outbreak. Second, CHP has been able to create queries from HMIS to identify the most vulnerable clients for targeted services and/or proactive connection to resources. Third, agencies can track primary and sub-granted funding and associate those funds with services to ensure that awarded ESG COVID funds are utilized for eligible services and easily tracked.  In addition, information in HMIS can be utilized by individual agencies as well as the entire CoC system of services to make data informed decisions about the effectiveness of homeless housing and services provided by ESG CV funding.