Castle Rock Community Inter Church Task Force

TO MEET THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS OF DOUGLAS AND ELBERT COUNTIES WHO ARE IN FINANCIAL DISTRESS AND AT RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS, TO HELP THEM THROUGH TROUBLESOME TIMES WITH DIGNITY.

FOOD AND TOILETRIES: IN 2023, THE CENTER DISTRIBUTED 1,878,745 IN FOOD, HYGIENE, AND HOUSEHOLD SUPPLIES. 973,443 POUNDS OF FOOD WERE DISTRIBUTED. APPROXIMATELY 93% OF ONSITE CLIENTS RECEIVE THESE BASIC SERVICES. THE CENTER ALSO CONDUCTS THREE OFF-SITE FOOD BANKS MONTHLY AT LOW-INCOME SENIOR HOUSING UNITS (REYN ROCK PLAZA, OAKWOOD APARTMENTS, AND AUBURN RIDGE), PROVIDING FOOD/HYGIENE ASSISTANCE TO SENIOR CITIZENS IN NEED. THE CENTER ASO LAUNCHED A MOBILE FOOD PANTRY IN SPRING 2022, BRINGING FOOD AND TOILETRY ITEMS TO THOSE IN NEED, STARTING WITH APEX MERIDIAN AND LINCOLN POINTE LOFTS.

UTILITY ASSISTANCE: THE AGENCY PROVIDED 227,789 IN UTILITY ASSISTANCE (HEAT, ELECTRIC, WATER) TO CLIENTS WITH SHUT-OFF NOTICES IN 2023. A TOTAL OF 539 PAYMENTS FOR 393 UNDUPLICATED HOUSEHOLDS WERE MADE, AS MANY NEEDED HELP WITH MULTIPLE UTILITY BILLS. 1,189 UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED. EXPENSES: 227,789 SANTA'S SHARING AND BIRTHDAYS: COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND HELP & HOPE CENTER SPONSOR FAMILIES FOR THE HOLIDAYS, PROVIDING GIFT CARDS AND TOYS. PARENTS MAY USE OUR BIRTHDAY ROOM YEAR-ROUND IF THEY CANNOT AFFORD BIRTHDAY GIFTS FOR THEIR CHILDREN, OR IF THEIR CHILD NEEDS A NEW GIFT IN ORDER TO ATTEND ANOTHER CHILD'S BIRTHDAY PARTY. IN 2023, SANTA'S SHARING DISTRIBUTED GIFTS VALUED AT 91,651, AND THE BIRTHDAY ROOM DISTRIBUTED GIFTS VALUED AT 10,656. EXPENSES: 102,307 EMERGENCY OVERNIGHT LODGING: THE CENTER PROVIDED 1,655 IN ASSISTANCE (22 NIGHTS OF LODGING FOR 36 PEOPLE) IN 2023. HELP & HOPE CENTER, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE POLICE AND SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENTS, PROVIDES VOUCHERS FOR EMERGENCY LODGING FOR HOMELESS OR TRANSIENT INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. EXPENSES: 1,655 ID DOCUMENTATION: HELP & HOPE CENTER ASSISTS CLIENTS IN SECURING THE DOCUMENTATION NEEDED FOR HOUSING APPLICATIONS, SCHOOL, AND SOCIAL SERVICES, INCLUDING COLORADO STATE IDS, BIRTH CERTIFICATES, ETC. THE AGENCY ALSO ASSISTS WITH GED FEES. INFORMATION AND REFERRAL: STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS MAKE THOUSANDS OF REFERRALS CONNECTING CLIENTS TO OTHER AGENCIES AND RESOURCES IN ORDER TO PROVIDE LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. VOLUNTEER PROGRAM: VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED 53,205 HOURS OF SERVICE IN 2023, THE EQUIVALENT OF 26 FULL-TIME STAFF. VOLUNTEERS ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF HELP & HOPE CENTER AND OVER 300 DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS SERVE IN VARIOUS POSITIONS THROUGHOUT THE AGENCY, INCLUDING THE FOOD BANK, THRIFT STORE, CLIENT SERVICES, OFFICE, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, FUNDRAISING AND SPECIAL PROJECTS. NEW VOLUNTEERS RECEIVE SAFETY AND ORIENTATION TRAINING AT MONTHLY MEETINGS, AND ALL VOLUNTEERS ARE HONORED AT SPECIAL VOLUNTEEER EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

HOUSING ASSISTANCE: HELP & HOPE CENTER PROVIDED 205,917 IN DIRECT HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR 399 HOUSEHOLDS IN 2023 (417 PAYMENTS FOR 1,073 UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS). THE CENTER ASSISTS CLIENTS AT RISK OF EVICTION WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OF 250 UP TO A FULL MONTH'S RENT IN ORDER TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS AND HELPS CLIENTS WITH SECURITY DEPOSITS TO OBTAIN NEW LIVING ARRANGEMENTS.

CLOTHING, HOUSEHOLD ITEMS: THE CENTER DISTRIBUTED ITEMS VALUED AT 455,913 IN 2023. CLIENTS MAY SHOP FOR FREE IN THE THRIFT STORE FOR CLOTHING, SHOES, HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, AND FURNITURE.