Earthlinks Inc

EARTHLINKS CULTIVATES TRANSFORMATION AND SELF-WORTH WITH PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND POVERTY. BY CREATING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH EARTH-CENTERED PROGRAMS, INDIVIDUALS STEP OUT OF ISOLATION AND INTO COMMUNITY, RESTORING EACH OTHER AND THE PLANET. PARTICIPANTS CREATE SUSTAINABLE CRAFTS AND WORK IN OUR ORGANIC GARDEN, RAISE BEES, AND FORM A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY THAT ASSISTS IN FINDING RESOURCES AND STABILIZING LIVES THAT ARE IN CRISIS.

WORKSHOP AND GARDEN PROGRAM SERVES 65 ADULTS AT ONE TIME WHO ARE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR WHO HAVE BEEN HOMELESS IN THE PAST USING A COMMUNITY BASED GARDENING AND CRAFT WORKSHOP SETTING. AROUND 65 PERSONS PER YEAR PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM. CRAFTS ARE CREATED AND THEN SOLD TO THE PUBLIC TO DEFRAY THE COSTS OF THE PROGRAM. IN 2021, 60 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN THE WORKSHOP PROGRAM. WHILE IN THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ARE EXPECTED TO SET PERSONAL GOALS FOR POSITIVE TRANSFORMATION IN THEIR LIVES. PARTICIPANTS MEET WITH STAFF AND SOCIAL WORKERS FOR ASSISTANCE IN MEETING THEIR GOALS, SUCH AS STAYING IN RECOVERY, OBTAINING HOUSING, APPLYING FOR BENEFITS, REUNITING WITH FAMILY, AND THE LIKE. PARTICIPANTS ARE ALSO ELIGIBLE TO SEE CONTINUATION ON SCHEDULE O.PARTICPATE IN ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES SUCH AS TRIPS INTO NATURE, BEEKEEPING, EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES, SUCH AS SUPPORT GROUPS. IN 2021, 91% OF PARTICPANTS WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN OR MAINTAIN STABLE HOUSING WHILE IN THE PROGRAM AND 87% SHOWED SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON OTHER PERSONAL GOALS. OVER 865 POUNDS OF PRODUCE WERE HARVESTED AND 8 BEEHIVES WERE MAINTAINED

AT THE END OF 2020, EARTHLINKS BECAME THE SITE OPERATOR FOR A SAFE OUTDOOR SPACE (SOS), STAFFING AND OVERSEEING DENVER'S FIRST SOS. THIS SITE CONSISTED OF 22 TENTS WHICH PROVIDED TEMPORARY SHELTER OVER A SIX-MONTH PERIOD INTO 2021 FOR UP TO 30 WOMEN AND TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS AT ONE TIME. DURING ITS TENURE, 50 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED AT THE SITE. SAFE OUTDOOR SPACES ARE HEALTHY, SECURE, STAFFED, RESOURCE AND SERVICES-RICH ENVIRONMENTS THAT PRIORITIZE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WHO ARE NOT CURRENTLY ACCESSING EXISTING SERVICES OR RESOURCES. THE CITY OF DENVER HAS NOW EMBRACED THIS MODEL AS ONE INTERVENTION TO ADDRESS THE GROWING HOMELESSNESS POPULATION IN THE CITY.SEE CONTINUATION ON SCHEDULE O. THE SAFE OUTDOOR SPACE WAS A TEMPORARY PROGRAM WHICH WAS PLANNED FOR A SIX MONTH PERIOD. AS SUCH, AT THE END OF SIX MONTHS, DURING 2021, THE PROGRAM TRANFERRED TO A NEW LOCATION UNDER DIFFERENT NON-PROFIT MANAGEMENT.

IN JULY 2021, THE COFFEE SHOP EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE WAS OPENED AFTER A SUBSTANTIAL DELAY DUE TO COVID-19 AND RELATED PERMITTING ISSUES. THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE WHO FACE BARRIERS TO TYPICAL EMPLOYMENT.