You can walk down any street in downtown Colorado Springs or Denver and see that homelessness is a prevailing issue in our state. According to the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, as of 2020, an estimated 9,846 individuals are experiencing homelessness every day in Colorado. Of the 9,846-experiencing homelessness, 1,044 are veterans. Homelessness is a problem that plagues our entire world, but the solution to ending homelessness must start at a local level. October 10th marked the 12th Annual World Homeless Day, founded to bring awareness to the needs of individuals who are experiencing homelessness around the globe (World Homeless Day). Here at Home Front Military Network, we are passionate about preventing homelessness in our military and veteran community every month of the year by providing emergency financial assistance to give our heroes a leg-up. In 2021 alone, Home Front Military Network provided $241,000 in financial assistance grants and kept 160 veteran families from becoming homeless or without basic needs. In addition to HFMN’s direct assistance, we are once again partnering with City of Colorado Springs and Rocky Mountain Human Services, Homes for All Veterans, to raise funds for the Pikes Peak Veteran Housing Fund.
What is the Pikes Peak Veteran Housing Fund (PPVHF)?
The city of Colorado Springs established the PPVHF to get homeless or at-risk veterans off the street and into housing. The fund is designed to provide financial assistance to veterans as well as compensation to property owners for damages and unpaid rent. With less housing assistance available than there has been the past two years, many veterans in our community are struggling to pay their rent or utilities. This is leaving veterans with a lack of affordable housing and less landlords willing to lease to veterans who have been homeless in the past. The PPVHF is mitigating this gap by providing incentives including security deposits, application fees, damage mitigation, and more. Additionally, the fund has a cap of $5000 per client per year to be used not as a “hand-out” but a “hand-up” for our heroes in need.
Who are Rocky Mountain Human Services (RMHS) and What do They do?
Rocky Mountain Human Services, Homes for All Veterans, is one of the 48 partner agencies of HFMN and plays an important role in the PPVHF. RMHS is a non-profit organization, established in 1992, to provide services to vulnerable populations residing in the Rocky Mountain West. This includes, individuals transitioning from mental health institutes, children with developmental delays or disabilities, adults living with the effects of a traumatic brain injuries, and veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. In order to prevent veteran homelessness, RMHS provides housing referrals, short term case management and navigation, and referrals to shelters and counseling services. Through the PPVHF, Rocky Mountain Human Services, Homes for All Veterans, serves as a point of contact to landlords leasing to vulnerable veterans, as well as assisting in the administration of the fund.
What does Home Front Military Network do to Keep Veterans from Homelessness?
Here at Home Front Military network, our case managers work tirelessly to connect eligible veterans to the resources they need. On top of being connected to nearly 50 partner agencies that provide a wide array of resources, HFMN provides emergency financial grants to clients that need a little help getting back on track. In 2022, HFMN has already assisted more than 3,900 clients and provided $228,569 in financial assistance grants. These grants keep veterans off the street, water running, lights on, and so much more. Specifically, $167,308 of the grants HFMN has given out so far has kept 91 vulnerable veteran households from becoming homeless. Our passion for serving our veteran community makes it an honor to partner with PPVHF to ensure stable housing for all our heroes
How do I Receive Help?
If you are, or know of a veteran that is experiencing homelessness, the PPVHF may be able to help. Please go to Rocky Mountain Human Services, Homes for All Veterans, at 17 S. Weber in Downtown Colorado Springs or call them at (719) 323-2600.
Furthermore, Home Front Military Network is here to help. Call us today at (719) 577-7417 or email us at info@homefrontmilitarynetwork.org and one of our case managers will be in touch.
How do I Help Keep Veterans from Homelessness?
To donate to the PPVHF you can follow this link: https://www.coloradogives.org/story/Y2lsgg or mail in donations to Home Front Military Network at:
1120 N. Circle Drive, Suite #230
Colorado Springs, CO 80909
(Specify Pikes Peak Veteran Housing Fund in memo line on check)
Your generosity can change a veteran or their family members’ life forever and uplift the entire Colorado Springs community- thank you!
Resources:
Sources:
City of Colorado Springs/El Paso County. (2022). Pikes peak veteran housing fund: PPVHF. National League of Cities. Retrieved October 11, 2022, from https://www.nlc.org/wp- content/uploads/2018/11/Pikes-Peak-Veteran-Housing-Fund.pdf
U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. (n.d.). Colorado homelessness statistics. Homeless in Colorado Statistics 2019. Homeless Estimation by State | US Interagency Council on Homelessness. Retrieved October 11, 2022, from https://www.usich.gov/homelessness-statistics/co/
World Homeless Day 10/10/22. (2022). Retrieved October 11, 2022, from http://www.worldhomelessday.org/
