(COLORADO SPRINGS) — A converted, historic elementary school in Colorado Springs will now serve as transitional housing for families experiencing homelessness and will provide wrap-around services to help them reach stability and independence.
On Wednesday, Aug. 20, Catholic Charities of Central Colorado (CCCC) hosted a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Hunt Family Housing facility, which includes 24 units of housing for homeless families.
The new apartments are located at 601 South Institute Street in the Hillside Neighborhood, and families will begin moving into the units later this month.
According to the nonprofit, the conversion of the historic Helen Hunt Elementary school to the new housing units will have a significant impact in reducing family homelessness in our community.
“The project was designed to address the critical shortage of housing for homeless families in El Paso County by providing transitional housing paired with comprehensive support services,” according to a press release. “The focus is on helping families achieve stability, healing, and self-reliance through a trauma-informed, family-centered approach.”
According to CCCC, core features of the program include:
Wraparound Support Services: Families are assigned a case manager and behavioral health specialist to guide them through their transition, focusing on stability and resiliency.
Comprehensive Care: Services include case management, behavioral health therapy, early childhood and parent education, and enrichment activities/social development programs.
Trauma-Informed Environment: All aspects of the program, from furnishings to daily operations, are designed to reduce re-traumatization and promote family well-being.
Resident Empowerment: Families participate in program agreements that emphasize respect for the living environment and belongings, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility.
“When we had the opportunity to purchase the Hunt Campus in 2022, the dream of developing housing to help homeless families became a reality,” said Andy Barton, CEO of Catholic Charities of Central Colorado. “Each year, we should be able to help about 60 individuals, and about 120 every three years.”
According to CCCC, fundraising efforts will continue to offset annual apartment operating costs, and if the community wants to help, they can either sponsor an apartment by clicking the link above or donate to the nonprofit’s wishlist at CCharitiesCC.org/Wishlist.
