Community Mediation Concepts is working with the Mayor’s Office, City Council and Office of Economic Development to help keep families in their homes.  Too often tenants have a financial “event”, a sick child, a broken car, or something similar and they miss all or part of their rent payment.  They are not comfortable or sure how to talk with their landlord, so they get further and further behind, until the day an eviction notice is filed.  Then it is too late and many bad things can happen.

Community Mediation Concepts is here to facilitate the conversation between tenants and landlords.  They'’ll help them talk to each other, figure the situation out and come up with a solution.  They ran a pilot for the past six months and were able to keep families in their home and/or avoid an eviction in over 55% of the cases we worked with.

• All this takes place in a safe, confidential, honest and productive environment with the help and experience of a professional mediator.
• There is no cost to the tenant or the landlord.
• Solutions that are agreed to in mediation are almost always more cost effective, timely, comprehensive and lasting.  This is because those involved in the situation are making decisions that work best for them, that they can commit to, and that will actually resolve the problem. 
• Mediation also helps build trust and responsibility going forward.

Here is how it works:

1. Give Community Mediation Concepts a call or send them an email.  They’ll respond quickly and ask a bit more about the situation.  
2. If mediation seems like something that might work for you, they’ll get started.
3. Community Mediation Concepts will contact the other party, explain the process and get their commitment to move forward.
4. Community Mediation Concepts will schedule your mediation as quickly as you’d like.  They mediate during the day, evenings, and on weekends.  They’ll also find a place to mediate close to where you live, whether this is a library, rec. center or elsewhere.
5. Community Mediation Concepts will write your points of agreement up as a Memorandum of Understanding and you’ll both sign.  They will either provide a copy then or email a copy to you.

If you’re not sure, just give them a call and they’ll explore the opportunity with you and answer any questions you have.  If you believe mediation or a facilitated conversation will be helpful – you decide.

Our main number – 303-651-6534
Email us at CMC@FindSolutions.org
Visit our website at www.FindSolutions/LT

Denver’s Road Home is issuing a call for more than 1,000 volunteers for the annual Project Homeless Connect event on November 15 at the Colorado Convention Center. This free, one-day event is open to people of all ages who are experiencing homelessness or who are experiencing housing instability. During Project Homeless Connect, volunteers are paired with individuals and families to help ensure each participant is able to access all of the resources available, such as:

• basic medical exams
• legal help
• housing resources
• resume help and on-site job fair
• food, medical and other assistance benefits
• hygiene bags
• haircuts
• clothing
• other community-provided services

Those interested in signing up to volunteer for the event can do so online at bit.ly/DenverPHC2018. The event is open to guests from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., but volunteer shifts are available from as early as 7:30 a.m. to as late as 6 p.m.
 
“From jobs to housing to medical care, Project Homeless Connect gives participants the chance to access services all in one place. For volunteers, it’s a chance to connect to someone on a meaningful level and give back to the community,” said Mayor Michael B. Hancock.
 
Since 2006, Project Homeless Connect has provided much-needed services to more than 15,000 people experiencing homelessness. This year’s event will include more than 100 service providers within the Denver Metro Area. Space is still available for providers interested in participating in this year’s event. Those interested should contactelizabeth.murray@denvergov.org with their information and availability.
 
“By pairing volunteers with participants, we can foster social connections for the community,” said Chris Conner, director of Denver’s Road Home. “Guests and volunteers get to learn from each other and connect to resources together.”
 
Project Homeless Connect is coordinated by Denver’s Road Home, Mile High United Way and the City and County of Denver with support from Regis University.

Pilot evaluation recommends more diversity, greater access, implementation of work transition program

The Denver Day Works program helped 110 people who were experiencing an episode of homelessness and, in most cases, living on the streets obtain permanent work during its pilot year. Building on these first year success, the city today announced expansion plans for the program in 2018 and released the first-year achievements of the pilot and results of a recent evaluation by the University of Colorado Denver.

“Denver Day Works started with the simple idea of providing those experiencing homelessness, regardless of their background, the opportunity to work, earn some income and connect into a network of resources designed to help them improve their well-being,” Mayor Michael B. Hancock said. “In its first year, Denver Day works connected 110 people to permanent jobs and more than a dozen to housing. They‘ve worked hard and given back to our community, and as we expand the program in 2018, we can’t wait to provide this opportunity to more and more people so more lives can get back on track.”

In its first year of operation (November 1, 2016 – October 31, 2017), Denver Day Works successfully provided more than 10,000 hours of work experience to 284 people experiencing homelessness.

• 462 people were recruited for the program – original goal: 350
• 284 participated in a day’s work – original goal: 150
• Approximately 274 participants stayed with the program longer than the initial workday – original goal: 75 people
• 110 people achieved permanent employment – original goal: 49
• 57 people so far have maintained their employment – original goal: 30

Mayor Michael B. Hancock announced several changes to continue improving services for people experiencing homelessness and to better connect law enforcement with Denver’s diverse communities.
 
Bennie Milliner, who has served as director of Denver’s Road Home since 2012, is joining the Denver Sheriff Department as Director of Community Engagement. He will be responsible for improving communication, transparency, outreach and anti-recidivism efforts. An Air Force veteran, Milliner previously served in community liaison roles for U.S. Senators Ken Salazar and Michael Bennet. He also served on the Denver Public Schools Board of Education from 1996 to 2001.
 
Chris Conner, who joined Denver’s Road Home in 2011 as program administrator, will become interim director to lead homeless shelter and services coordination. As a former youth outreach worker, Conner has years of experience working with people experiencing homelessness and understanding the importance of providing individualized services through coordinated system integration. 
 
Along with these changes, planning is underway to transition the work of Denver's Road Home to an office within the Department of Human Services. This office will focus on the most effective, strategic delivery of services and continue to coordinate the work of shelter and service providers for those experiencing homelessness, including working closely with the Office of Behavioral Health Strategies.

Project Homeless Connect is a free resource fair for homeless and at-risk individuals and families. During this one day event, on Tuesday, September 19,  clients are able to access an array of services ranging from ID services, housing services, resume workshops, clothing banks, vision check and healthcare to veterans services, childcare, petcare and much more. They are expecting to see 1,000 clients at this year’s event and need nearly as many volunteers to make the day a success.

At the link below you can sign up for one of the shifts available throughout the day.

https://volunteer.unitedwaydenver.org/event/50408-Project-Homeless-Connect-2017

If you have never volunteered before, they recommend you take one of their trainings, however it is not mandatory. Trainings are listed in the link above.

Mayor Michael B. Hancock and Erik Soliván, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Housing & Opportunities for People Everywhere (HOPE), today launched a new strategy aimed at helping Denver residents experiencing homelessness or struggling to make ends meet.
 
The city’s strategy will go beyond a housing-first approach, and focus efforts on connecting individuals and families to affordable housing, healthy living and good paying jobs. The new approach for Denver will integrate all three factors to empower people to lead vibrant lives no matter their station in life.
 
“We want our residents to have the opportunity to turn a house into a home, and truly thrive in our city,” Mayor Hancocksaid. “To give people the chance to build a home, build their lives and build their futures, we must go beyond putting a roof over someone’s head. This is a new approach to leveraging our resources and coordinating department work to connect our people with good jobs, good health and a good home. When these three needs are met, people are empowered to succeed.”
 
Mayor Hancock and Soliván detailed the strategy and supporting action plan at the city’s third annual Housing Summit.The Office of HOPE will lead the work of leveraging public and private partner programs and resources to provide:

• Jobs through workforce training that will help families and people grow their wages and begin to save for their future;
• Health services, including mental health, addiction and supportive services, to help people rise to the opportunities ahead of them; and
• Housing that is affordable across income categories to ensure families and individuals take root in Denver.

 
Denver is experiencing a historic low for inventory and high cost of homeownership with median sale prices exceeding $350,000. And according to the Denver Housing Authority, a minimum of 21,000 affordable units are needed to meet the current housing demand. This need impacts everyone from those in our shelters to workers on construction sites, teachers, firefighters, police officers and the service industry.
 
The population of those who are homeless has also changed in recent years:

• Nearly three out of four homeless individuals surveyed in Denver are working;
• A growing number, about one in five, are homeless seniors, including an increasing number of senior women;
• The chronically homeless make up about one in five people experiencing homelessness, and a significant amount experience mental health and substance abuse issues; and 
• Young adults are beginning to make up almost 10 percent of the shelter population.

 
Under the three priority areas of affordable housing, healthy living and good paying jobs, the Office of HOPE, working across agencies, compiled a list of 30 short-term actions to improve and expand city and partner services throughout the end of the year. Short-term actions include:
 
Housing

• Develop policy and financing for Accessory Dwelling Units in partnership with the Denver Housing Authority.
• Develop code compliance checklist for Live/Work Spaces and look to establish a navigator in Permitting/Zoning to answer resident questions.
• Expand pipeline of permanent supportive housing projects by evaluating and developing a Supportive Services Funding Program, which will include a TANF and/or Medicaid underwriting criteria for the pipeline.
• Improve and expand Renter Eviction Assistance Program to prevent more people from losing housing or to help them access new housing opportunities when facing eviction.

 
Health and Supportive Services

• Expand number of co-responders from 6 to 24, pair them with a wider array of emergency service providers and develop specialized areas of expertise for youth, those with opioid addiction and other focused areas of need.
• Develop and administer pilot peer-to-peer mental health, engagement, counseling and support program.
• Expand storage options and develop sidewalk storage pilot program for individuals seeking shelter services.
• Develop and pilot shelter diversion program.

 
Workforce

• Evaluate, expand and integrate Denver Day Works Program with workforce actions.
• Expand the Section 3 Jobs Programs, which provide economic opportunities for low- and very low-income individuals, and integrate it with the Denver Housing Authority.

 
For the full list of short-term action items go to: www.DenverGov.org/HOPE.
 
“The strategy and actions reflect the feedback of our partners, communities and city agencies,” Soliván said.  “We are grateful for their hard work and ongoing support, and know that by working together, we can do more to build a safer, healthier and stronger Denver.”
 
This new strategy will also work with the Mayor’s mobility efforts to ensure the city is providing more and better transportation options for families and individuals where limited options may be impacting their ability to find affordable housing and good jobs.
 
Today, the City and County of Denver invests more in affordable housing and homelessness than ever before. The new strategy builds and expands on the considerable work by the city and partners in the areas of affordable housing, job training and health services over the last six years.
 
For a list of that work go to www.DenverGov.org/HOPE.  ​

Two new pocket-sized tools are aiding city employees and Denver residents in their efforts to help those experiencing homelessness. The Give a Better Way campaign, which aims to raise awareness about how to support community efforts to help the homeless, is broadening its work with new tools for park rangers, police officers and community members to connect residents to the resources they need.

The new Shelter and Services Resource Guide may be small enough to fit in a pocket, but it features a wide variety of information on shelters, medical and mental health care, benefits assistance, domestic violence support and other services in an easy-to-access format. The guide provides officers, park rangers and outreach workers on the street with a quick and easy tool to connect homeless residents with the closest available services.

Additionally, the campaign’s new Guide to Giving helps residents learn how to best support people who are experiencing homelessness through donations of their time, money, food or goods. Donations support more than 20 community partners who provide shelter, job training, meals, housing and other resources to help get people who are experiencing homelessness get back on their feet.

“By placing information at everyone’s fingertips, we’re making it easier for anyone to connect and contribute to the community supporting our homeless residents,” Mayor Michael B. Hancock said.
 
Denver residents have many ways to donate and make a difference in the lives of people in need.

• Text to give: to donate, text HOMELESSHELP to 41444 to give $5 to Give a Better Way. Charges will appear on your wireless bill, or be deducted from your prepaid balance. All purchases must be authorized by account holder. Must be 18 years of age or have parental permission to participate. Message and data rates may apply.
• Parking meters: donors can give spare change or electronic funds to Denver’s Road Home parking meters throughout downtown Denver. Businesses, non-profit organizations and even families sponsor meters for $1,000 per year. Denver’s Road Home and Mile High United Way use the funds to connect homeless individuals to services, provide low-income housing and fund other homeless outreach initiatives.
• More options: visit Denvergov.org/HomelessHelp for a list of service providers and means of donating time and money toward helping those experiencing homelessness.

Denver Outreach Court is designed to increase stabilization and reduce future interactions with the justice system for individuals experiencing homelessness or receiving homeless or transitional services. The court helps individuals take action on municipal level citations or warrants and provides direct access to mental health services and enrollment in Medicaid. Community service options are also available to complete court requirements. Instead of requiring people to come to a courthouse, which for those experiencing homelessness can often be difficult, the Outreach Court is held every other Wednesday at Denver Rescue Mission.