Family HomeStead was founded in 1978 as a coalition of social service agencies responding to the destruction of short-term low-cost housing for homeless families resulting from extensive urban renewal. Today we remain the only agency in Denver that exists to provide emergency and transitional housing in individual living units, along with supportive case management, solely to families with children. We began with 10 units and currently have over 70 units in Denver and Lakewood, Colorado. Case managers assist each family as the parents work to take charge of their family’s life, develop a reliable income, and locate permanent affordable housing.

From its inception, Family HomeStead has been innovative and creative in meeting the needs of homeless families. We were the first agency in Metro Denver to offer independent housing to homeless families, the first to develop a transitional housing program, the first to implement a continuum of housing and social services and the first to utilize Section 8 housing for homeless families.

In 2001 we expanded by purchasing 17 units in Lakewood. In 2017 we added an additional 33 units in Denver.

Family Homestead does not seek or accept government grants or funding for program operations. Our independence from Federal regulations enables us to quickly implement effective programs to meet the changing needs of homeless families within our local community. 

Our current executive director, Les Jones, was the founding Board President of the organization in 1978 and has served as Executive Director since 1985. 

The housing part of our programs takes a market approach. Clients often have little understanding of a lease relationship. They often have poor credit, previous evictions, and unresolved debt to prior landlords that are major barriers to securing permanent housing. Case managers assist clients in contracting previous landlords to set up a payment plan that helps them clear their debt and improve their credit rating. They also help clients understand that they must make paying monthly rent a top priority.

Families in both the emergency and transitional programs sign a lease, pay rent (after the first month of emergency housing), and are expected to comply with the terms of their lease. Property staff works continually with clients to enhance their effectiveness as tenants. 

Family HomeStead’s programs are designed to preserve the dynamics of normal family life and to engage the family in their immediate community. With our housing disbursed in several different neighborhoods, client families are less identifiable as homeless than if they were all housed in one location. Whenever possible we direct families to sources of permanent housing rather than to longer-term programs for the homeless. We also connect families with community-based services that will be long-term resources rather than to services available only to the homeless population. Because it is difficult for clients with very limited income to acquire the funds to procure long-term housing, we offer an incentive for clients to complete our program. Clients who do receive a grant payable to their next landlord, which grant pays up to the amount of the first month’s rent.