Murphy Center thrives for homeless with new leaders

Total guest visits to the Murphy Center, 242 Conifer St., from January to June have increased by 13 percent year over year, with nearly 18,000 visits from January to June this year. Murphy Center Resource Director Ken John, however, doesn't think that means there's a 13 percent increase of those in need. 

"I think people are getting the message. ... I think the guests are responding by starting to really come back to the building," said John, who was reluctant speak about past leadership models at the Murphy Center.

The Murphy Center, a one-stop shop in north Fort Collins for those experiencing or at risk of homelessness, is on its third leadership structure in eight years. The most recent transition was from Serve 6.8 to a collaboration of four nonprofit agencies: Homeless Gear (the managing partner agency), SummitStone Health Partners, Neighbor to Neighbor and Catholic Charities. 

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The change was initiated after Serve 6.8 came under fire for what the group said was an accidental destruction of homeless clients' property. A September city audit expedited by the April incident highlighted multiple areas of concern, though the nonprofit denied that was the reason for the change in management. 

Serve 6.8 received a $28,000 grant from the city of Fort Collins for Murphy Center services, which gave the city the authority to audit the nonprofit's operations. 

Since April 20, 20 formerly homeless Murphy Center guests have confirmed their move from homelessness to stable housing. This, "the ultimate statistic," wasn't tracked prior to the center's current leadership, said John, who founded Homeless Gear and sits on Homeward 2020's board,   

Hand Up, a Homeless Gear employment assistance program stationed at the Murphy Center for years, saw triple the number of people in the first six months of new leadership. In the first six months, the program has helped secure 112 jobs for program participants, a 70 percent improvement year over year. 

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And that's all happening with half of the Murphy Center's previous budget.

John said the budget peaked at more than $700,000 and averaged $600,000 per year. This year, the center's budget is approximately $300,000, with about one-third attributed to building costs that are covered by Bohemian Foundation through a private LLC created to support the Murphy Center.

The big reduction in expenses is from staffing.

The Murphy Center only has five staff members: John, a program director and three intake specialists. In previous years, clients were funneled through resource specialists or case managers.

"We blew that apart," John said.

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Case management is now owned by the 17 agencies housed in the Murphy Center. Collectively they provide more than 35 services to those experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Intake specialists triage the situation, helping guests identify and prioritize needs. After a nonprofit helps address that need, specialists walk the client across the building and introduce the guest to their next partner on the road to self-sufficiency. 

While last year, 3,000 individuals who walked into the Murphy Center had three or four gate keepers to services, the new process has helped guests navigate resources more quickly and more effectively, John said.

"When you can increase service and cut cost, that was the goal coming in and I think we've done that," John said. 

The army of 60 regular weekly volunteers, grown from six "inherited" volunteers when leadership transitioned from Serve 6.8, has also helped and is a play out of Homeless Gear's handbook — the nonprofit utilized 1,100 volunteers last year. 

Some of those volunteers are starting new programs, including a weekly bike repair program that helps approximately 20 guests a month. 

Artwork and photographs by Murphy Center guests, previously stripped from the walls, is hanging again. That alone has "brought grown men to tears," John said. 

"Forget about all of the numbers and forget about all of the efficiencies," John said. "We're bringing a higher level of personal interaction."

The Sister Mary Alice Murphy Center for Hope is funded primarily through grants and private foundations. 

The Murphy Center averages 140 guests per day and is a one-stop shop for service referrals. Learn more about its mission at www.murphycenter.org. 

Follow Sarah Jane Kyle on Twitter @sarahjanekyle or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/reportersarahjane. Keep up with social issues in Northern Colorado by subscribing to the Life Connected newsletter.