Colorado Coalition for the Homeless

By Sister Anna Koop, SL

October 20, 2014 

What a delight to visit the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. I happened to be on the founding board of this organization over thirty years ago and it was so good to see the incredible ways in which it has grown.  

The organization focuses on housing, healthcare and support services, and did so for some 18,000 people last year.

The director of the Coalition, John Parvensky, says that housing is healthcare. The coalition has 500 units of housing, and 78 of these units are above the two-story Health Care Center. Twenty of these units are for families, and this is all brand new. The grand opening was on September 9, 2014.

Stout Street Health Care Center is an exemplary model of integrated healthcare. There are four different suites which house teams of doctors, nurses, psychiatrists and social workers so that the patient can have all of those services in one place. They also offer dental and eye care. The building has a wonderful sense of space to it. I remember the early days when there was one waiting room where all of the patients were crowded into a small space and probably transmitted germs to one another. The feeling of space gives you a sense of tremendous respect for the patients. All involved pride themselves on reducing barriers in order to provide access to the services. They do not charge for their services.

The funding of this magnificent facility was a combination of several sources. They say they could not have done it without the Affordable Health Care Bill, the State passing a Medicaid bill, some innovative tax incentives, and a capital campaign. 

They are convinced that integrated healthcare is a way to reduce costs. The organization does not provide shelter or food, but does much to get people to the place of being stabilized and able to provide for their own needs.

The Coalition does a great deal of advocacy work (i.e. opposing the camping bill, which the city passed and is not a helpful tool for the homeless). They have an annual memorial gathering for homeless people who have died. In addition, they have created a restaurant, Pizza Fusion, where only homeless persons are hired. We had the pleasure of sampling their cuisine for our lunch.

This is truly an organization that has contributed hugely to the housing and healthcare of the homeless population. Denver is gifted by the presence of the Coalition. We should be proud to point to its creativity and hard work. It should definitely be lifted up as an excellent model.

I surely delight in knowing that the facility is there and imagine that some of the folks I know are getting excellent treatment at the Center and good housing in the units provided.