From Homelessness To Self-Sufficiency
Colorado Homeless Families (CHF) is a non-profit transitional housing program. CHF serves families with children who are classified as "New Poor" (families who are homeless for the first time) or "Working Poor" (families who earn low wages and cannot keep up with the rising cost of living, including housing).
CHF houses families for 18 months to 2 years, during which time the adults must be attending school and/or working in a position that will allow their families to become self-sufficient by the end of the program. A variety of programs have been established to aid families in reaching this goal.
CHF serves approximately 47 - 72 families annually, with a daily residential population of approximately 240 - 360 individuals daily.
In the words of Rebekah, the daughter of one CHF mom, "I could barely believe it when a couple of weeks ago I got called into the principal's office because I had made it onto the Principal's Honor Roll! I was so excited, and I knew my mom and everyone at CHF would be so proud of me. Just a few years ago, I was too worried about my family to do well in school. My dad left when I was a baby, so it was just me, my mom, and my younger sister. My mom worked hard at McDonalds, but she only made $5 an hour, not enough money to pay the rent. I was afraid we would all have to sleep in the car or on the streets. I remember hearing my mom crying at night and not knowing what to do. If not for Colorado Homeless Families, I don't know what would have happened to us. Now I know that we have good food and a place to sleep every night, and the other families in the program have become like my own family. Best of all, because of the program support at CHF, my mom was able to go to school and became a Certified Medical Assistant, and now earns more than twice what she made at McDonalds. We even got Christmas presents from a nice family this year, and in the summertime CHF take us to the zoo and other fun places! My mom never believed she would do so well, but Colorado Homeless Families has helped us so much."
Making Headlines...
May, 2007, CHF received a grant from the Daniels Fund. Read more about the CHF Grant From Daniels Fund
In September 2004, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition contacted CHF with an offer to include the building of the last duplex by Home Aid Colorado, complete the recreational area and remodel the main floor of the Family Educational and Resource Center for Colorado Homeless Families as an episode on the show.
(Read here)
Metro Denver area (7 counties) and to help them become self-sufficient within 18 months to two years.