History of the Colorado House

In 2002, the Commission on Homelessness in Southern Colorado generated an extensive report on the level of available services in the Pikes Peak Region.  The study had found that one of the chief areas in which the region needed coverage was in the arena of transitional housing that would effectively bridge the gap between emergency shelter service, and self sustaining affordable housing.   A small amount of "housing only" transitional properties were intermittently available but they did not offer services and resources that would promote self sufficiency and ultimate independent living.   Other programs offered a combination of housing and services but were available only to very specific persons within the homeless demographic such as women with children, chronic drug abusers, or intact family units.  The need for an enhanced transitional housing project that was both resource rich and available to a broad range of the homeless demographic was becoming critical if the region was to truly offer solutions that would successfully address homelessness. 

In response to this growing concern, two local non-profit agencies, Partners In Housing and The Rocky Mountain Community Land Trust, collaborated to create the Colorado House and Resource Center concept in an effort to fill this specific gap in local transitional housing availabilities and resources.  In June of 2003 the agencies purchased the Embers Restaurant and adjoining Newport Inn Motel at the corner of Colorado and Wahsatch Avenues in downtown Colorado Springs.   The complex was converted into a 30 unit transitional housing facility with an attached, multi use resource center to provide residents with free access to essential resources.  The facility officially opened for residency in January of 2004, and continues to provide quality, low cost, transitional housing resources to meet the demands of the community. 

The facility unequivocally offers services to men, women, children, single parents, family units, and homeless individuals.  This all inclusive approach of the Colorado House and Resource Center program directly addresses identified community needs and has established itself as a key element in the local continuum of homeless care.  The facility has been functioning successfully and dutifully fulfilling its intended purpose for the community through five years of operation and has seen many successful residencies and subsequent advancements into self- sufficiency.

21 South Wahsatch Ave.
Colorado Springs , CO 80903
(719) 325-0100

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