Authored by Jerimie Olvera, Homelessness Supervisor, City of Commerce City, Colo.
In 2021, Commerce City, Colo. recognized a pressing need as the number of people experiencing homelessness within the county increased by 400 percent between 2017 and 2020 within its community, and created a new street outreach position under the supervision of Commerce City Parks Recreation and Golf. At that time, the city lacked a dedicated staff or program to assist the unhoused community, highlighting a significant gap in support services.
The street outreach position was designed to connect individuals experiencing homelessness to essential services, like food, transportation and other government benefits. Based on increased engagement, it became clear that a collaborative approach was necessary to address challenges facing those experiencing homelessness. These efforts proved the necessity of developing a comprehensive approach, through the Community Well-Being division (CWB), to provide a range of wraparound services to address diverse community needs and foster a supportive environment for all residents.
The Growth of Community Well-Being in Commerce City
Following the creation of CWB, the division began collaborating with Adams County, various nonprofits and community partners to enhance its services. As more individuals connected with CWB and additional barriers were identified, different navigator roles were created. In the past three years, CWB has added several navigator roles to enhance support for residents, including:
- Family and Senior Navigator: Assists families and seniors by providing support for eviction prevention, utility assistance and access to basic needs. For seniors, the navigator coordinates services such as snow removal, minor home repairs and digital literacy classes. Additionally, the role fosters community engagement through events like bingo, helping to build connections among residents. This role is essential for enhancing the well-being and stability of families and seniors in the community.
- Housing Navigator: Builds relationships with local landlords and property owners, helping the community with move-in costs, rental assistance and various housing needs.
- Food and Health Navigator: Addresses food and health access, ensuring residents have access to necessary nourishment and healthcare needs.
- Education and Employment Navigator: Implements initiatives and programming around education and employment, providing resume assistance, GED classes, job referrals and partnerships with local colleges for community empowerment and improved employment prospects.
Partnerships with Community Well-Being
To deliver a comprehensive range of services, CWB actively collaborates with various organizations to enhance the support provided to individuals experiencing homelessness.
During encampment outreach, CWB visits sites to distribute basic supplies, build relationships, and connect residents to additional services. CWB has teamed up with Yahweh Health Clinic, a nonprofit comprised of medical providers and students, to offer essential street medicine services, including vital checks, wound care and stitch removal. In addition, CWB hosts a foot clinic on the first week of each month for essential foot care. Twice a month, Adams County Human Services partners with CWB to provide services like food stamp enrollment and Old Age Pension (OAP) applications, as well as exploring other benefits the client may qualify for.
One of the most utilized services is the weekly Walk-In services, which connect residents to critical support. CWB’s Walk-In services are vital for helping clients obtain necessary documents such as government-issued identification cards, social security cards and birth certificates to facilitate housing readiness. Furthermore, CWB connects residents with the County’s bridge housing program, Pathways to Stability, which offers a 30-day motel stay for clients with lease agreements awaiting move-in, and the County’s Safe Lot Program.
What’s Next For Commerce City
This year has been particularly encouraging for CWB (PDF). As a team, we have successfully assisted 23 households with eviction prevention, 27 households with transitional housing and 22 households with housing placements. Each of these numbers represents a story, and behind every story is a name — reminding us that every individual matters, and there is still plenty of work to be done.
CWB celebrates the successes of individuals who have transitioned from tents to homes, reunited with family or entered treatment to regain their sobriety. However, we also mourn the loss of clients who have passed away, reminding us of the critical importance of our work.
As we move forward, we aim to continue to build:
- Relief efforts that enhance Commerce City’s outreach programs to provide immediate assistance to individuals experiencing homelessness, ensuring access to essential resources such as food, shelter and healthcare.
- Rehabilitation programs to expand access to mental health services and substance use recovery support, offering personalized care and rehabilitation options to help individuals regain stability and well-being.
- Development initiatives by implementing skill-building workshops and job training programs to empower clients, enhancing their employability and fostering long-term economic independence.
- Community awareness campaigns to launch initiatives to raise awareness about homelessness and its challenges, fostering empathy and encouraging community support for those in need.
- Partnership expansion by strengthening collaborations with local organizations to broaden the range of services available, ensuring comprehensive support for individuals transitioning out of homelessness.
These initiatives will not only honor the lives of those we have lost but also reinforce our commitment to creating a supportive and resilient community for all.
