Raising a family of three, on a reservation was not always easy for Jim and Mary, poverty was a part of everyday life. Jim, Mary and their 3 children lived in a trailer with no running water. Three or four times a day Jim and Mary and their children had to haul water from a well about a quarter mile away. For electricity they had to run an extension cord to Mary’s sister’s trailer. This was their one source of electricity for a refrigerator, a hot plate to cook with and a lamp for light. Jim and Mary began to look for a better way of life for their family so they decided to move to Denver. Having no other alternative, the family moved into a shelter. Shelter rules allowed the family to sleep there at night, but during the day they had to leave the shelter and look for work. The children were enrolled in school but as the family moved from shelter to shelter the children were moved to a new school each time. While living at the shelters, safety for their children was always a concern for Jim and Mary. After enduring life in 3 different shelters, the family contacted Colorado Homeless Families, and so began the process of becoming self-sufficient. After being accepted into the program the family is now living in a CHF home with 4 bedrooms, running water and a real stove to cook on. Mary and Jim worked 2 jobs to support their family. Being without transportation they both used the bus to get back and forth to work. This was not always easy—Mary would ride the bus till 1:00 am and then walk 40 blocks to her home. After 3 months of living at Colorado Homeless Families the family received a car and six months worth of insurance because of generous donors. This has enabled Jim and Mary to look for better paying jobs. The family is so very grateful for the warmth and security they have found at Colorado Homeless Families.
Metro Denver area (7 counties) and to help them become self-sufficient within 18 months to two years.