Perhaps the most exciting news during a monthly update with Homeless Outreach Providing Encouragement was that a woman who has struggled with homelessness for years in Longmont was now housed.
Executive Director Alice Sueltenfuss highlighted this and other recent successes helping to house people in and around Longmont during Thursday’s Conversation for HOPE.
The organization was featured on 9News’ Word of Thanks campaign last month. According to Sueltenfess, the microgiving event brought in just over $60,000 toward HOPE’s SafeLot program.
SafeLot is one of the first programs of its kind in Colorado, providing people a safe place to park if they live in their vehicle. Services including showers, laundry, hot meals and client advocacy are also available on site.
“What we are is a short term solution to homelessness,” Sueltenfuss said, highlighting that HOPE works with people at the SafeLots to get them into housing, which takes around four months on average.
Another big step forward for the nonprofit is adding a counselor in the near future. Accessing mental health care, which can be hard for anyone, can be especially challenging for homeless people. Sueltenfuss said bringing in a convenient mental health option has long been a goal for the organization and is soon going to be a reality.
“Someday is here. We’ve got it,” she said.
Sueltenfuss said HOPE helped to house 50 individuals in Boulder County last year. As of December, the group has also taken on Boulder County’s Coordinated Entry program for the Longmont area.
She said in December alone, Longmont had 29 Coordinated Entry referrals. HOPE has extended the hours when those services are available with the intention of being able to reach more people.
Sueltenfuss outlined some other transitionary housing options Longmont Mayor Joan Peck spoke about with the community on Saturday, along with Sueltenfuss’ hopes to see more permanent supportive housing for folks who need it in Longmont.
“I feel positive about things. We’re doing OK,” Sueltenfuss concluded.
The meeting wrapped up with an eye toward some upcoming events for the group including the Hops for HOPE fundraiser next month and an in person panel, called the Face of Homeless, that will be taking place in May with a group of community experts to discuss the foundational causes of homelessness. More information on those events and the services HOPE provides can be found at hopeforlongmont.org/.
