Collaboration opens up homes for 9 people living in poverty, homelessness

Nine strangers linked by homelessness and poverty are making a place for themselves in Fort Collins thanks to four nonprofits that decided to take a joint leap of faith.

Neighbor to Neighbor turned three former group homes into shared housing, a model they hope can be used in the future to mitigate homelessness for at-risk populations. 

N2N partnered with Homeless Gear, SummitStone Health Partners and Disabled Resource Services to support homeless residents living with disabilities and making less than 30 percent of area median income. The first of nine residents moved in two months ago. 

The logistics work much like student-oriented housing. Tenants rent their bedrooms individually and share common space. The difference: Each resident pays 30 percent of income toward rent.

"It's not free housing," said Kelly Evans, Neighbor to Neighbor's executive director. "Everyone pays 30 percent of their income, no matter where their income comes from." 

Some are on Social Security disability; some are working at low-skill, low-pay jobs. 

Unlike a group home that has staff on-site, these residents live on their own. Homeless Gear, SummitStone and DRS provide mental health therapy and independent living skills as needed.

In the 2016 point-in-time count, 197 people of the 290 homeless people counted identified themselves as having at least one disability. Finding housing for nine does little to solve the problem, Evans said. "But for those nine, it's life changing." 

James Park, 39, who suffers from mental illness, spent most nights at a Fort Collins homeless shelter before joining 45-year-old Aaron Letner and Evan Shockley, 24, in their shared house just before Christmas. 

"It's nice having a fridge, a microwave and a shower whenever I want," Park said. "It's nice having a place to stay every night."

The need for housing for people with mental illness is high, said Matthew Jaramillo of SummitStone Health. 

Those with severe and persistent mental illness often find themselves in the hospital or in jail. If arrested and convicted of a crime, their criminal record will follow them to any potential housing situation, Jaramillo said. 

"In Fort Collins especially, rents are increasingly high and landlords can be selective in who they choose to rent to. It puts our clients at a disadvantage," he said. If the illness prevents them from earning a sustainable income, "that's also a barrier for many people." 

The homes 

Each resident has two rooms in the houses, which have space for many more people, but the city's occupancy rule limits residents to three. Neighbor to Neighbor could petition the city for a waiver, but that's not a fight N2N wants right now, Evans said.

N2N serves as the landlord and administers the federal contract, while the other three agencies are each responsible for one house. At SummitStone's house, the residents all grapple with mental illness. At Disabled Resource's home, residents all have disabilities.

Separated by age, interests and experiences, the three men living in a quiet neighborhood south of Horsetooth Road co-exist, taking care of the house, cooking, doing their own laundry and eating together.

"For the first couple weeks I just walked around (the house)" in shock, said Letner, who prior to that, more often than not, slept outside or found shelter at the rescue mission. Chronic health issues prevent him from working. 

Shockley, the youngest of the trio, lives with epilepsy, a disorder that began when he was 15. 

For the last three years, he lived in a cold, drafty RV, existing on milk and bananas — all that he could afford — before Disabled Resource Services shepherded him to shared housing. 

Now he has a permanent roof over his head and steady meals. 

"It's fantastic," Shockley said. "It's awesome."

Neighbor to Neighbor, which specializes in housing services, fell into this social experiment when Mosaic offered its three group homes at no cost, Evans said.

Mosaic was transitioning its residents with disabilities into a more community-based setting and had to find a new organization to continue the contract with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

"It was a new enough venture I knew we couldn't do it by ourselves," Evans said. She put out the call to "anyone who would be open-minded enough to try something new." 

SummitStone, Disabled Resource Services and Homeless Gear answered the call. 

Evans estimates it cost about $10,000 to get the homes ready for occupancy after standing vacant for about 18 months. Some homes needed more work than others.

And halfway through the process, she learned N2N would have to furnish every home. Plymouth Congregational Church and The Group real estate stepped up to provide plates, cookware, living room furniture and more. 

"We're still working on" making the house a home, said Letner, who's brought in house plants to warm up the space. Shockley proudly showed off the pots, pans and dishes "that were all here when I moved in." Though still sparsely furnished, they lack for nothing ... except a cheese grater, Letner said. 

'A gift'

Alison Dawson, director of programs at Disabled Resource Services, said she is "super happy" they joined the collaboration.

"It's so amazing to get these men off the streets," she said. "They are all just so grateful they have this place. It's a huge miracle and a gift." 

With expensive rents and long waiting lists for subsidized housing, "it can take years" for people to get a spot, Dawson said. 

"When people who are vulnerable with either mental or physical disabilities, it's not a healthy place to be on the street," she said.

Dawson said she has had three clients die on the street.

"There are some people who don't do well in shelters and for whatever reason end up being on the street," she said. "I'm happy and grateful we're able to give this opportunity to these guys and super grateful to Neighbor to Neighbor. I hope it goes well and there is more."  

So far, the social experiment seems to be working, but it is only nine people in three homes.  "We need to continue to find housing solutions especially for people experiencing homelessness," Evans said.

"It's not only for their well-being but in this scenario, providing housing is less expensive for the community than chronic homelessness."

Co-existing

Despite the differences in ages and schedules — two are night owls — Shockley, Letner and Park say they all get along. They get around Fort Collins on Transfort, share grocery shopping responsibilities and claim they have no substantive issues with each other. 

Neighbor to Neighbor has the homes for 20 years and must keep them available for low-income residents with disabilities. 

Dawson said it is her hope the residents are there "long-term or as long as they want to be there." 

Disabled Resource Services has a waiting list "just in case" but it could take "forever" to get off the list if the current residents stay put.  

"It's not a pretty picture," Dawson said.