Partners in Housing is pleased to announce the start of construction on the Bentley Commons affordable housing expansion! A community celebration groundbreaking event was held on Jan. 30 with special guests present and comments made by Mayor Yemi Mobolade and Dr. Mike Claudio, Harrison School District Assistant Superintendent.

GPR Properties, comprised of Partners in Housing, along with Greccio Housing and the Rocky Mountain Community Land Trust, acquired the development at Bentley Commons in 2009. At that time, 24 two-bedroom apartments and a community center were existing on the site. These homes have been operated as affordable rentals.

When the property was acquired, GPR Properties knew the long-term plan was to add more housing at the site next to Sand Creek with lovely mountain views. The current construction plan will add 6 buildings with 168 new apartments – 60 one-bedroom, 81 two-bedroom, and 27 three-bedroom – bringing the total to 192 to be completed by mid 2025.

Bentley Commons will house working families with children, singles, veterans, and families in transitional housing units. We are working with the US Veterans Administration and VASH vouchers and with Colorado Springs Housing Authority’s HAP voucher program as well.

All 192 apartments will be home to our community members earning below 60% of Area Median Income, with many units set aside for those at less than 30%, 40% and 50% of Area Median Income.

Access to safe, quality, affordable housing – and the supports necessary to maintain that housing – constitute one of the most basic and powerful social determinants of health. Aside from preventing homelessness, financial hardship, and stress and anxiety, housing provides stability for children and the family unit, avoiding repeated moves, from homes, schools, relationships, and the workplace.

GPR Properties has worked collaboratively on many projects over the past 20 years and are excited to be partnering with Palace Construction, Way Architects, Medici Consulting Group and with many funders to allow these efforts to reach this milestone.

Many thanks to all who provided support in the planning and efforts to overcome hurdles along the way. Major funders include US Bank, Myron Stratton Home, City of Colorado Springs, El Paso County Housing Authority, CHFA, and Colorado Division of Housing.

STAY IN THE LOOP:

Bentley Commons Groundbreaking Highlights

MERRY MEMORIES: Holiday Highlights

Thank you to all the incredible neighbors who donated or volunteered during the 2023 holiday season! Each contribution went toward helping Partners in Housing families celebrate the holidays in a meaningful way!

To everyone who gave gifts, gift cards, food, time and/or money, we thank you!

Here are a few highlights of the 2023 holiday season:

Care and Share, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church and individual donors provided Thanksgiving turkeys and sides for all 68 families in the Partners in Housing Family Self-Sufficiency Program.
Generous groups and individuals supplied holiday gifts for 109 families.
Ridgeway Elementary School – Collected 2,512.25 lbs. of food for the Colorado House pantry
One family gifted 10 full sets of high-quality cookware instead of giving presents to each other
20 volunteers assisted children and parents by wrapping gifts chosen from the Holiday Shopping event. Round Up Fellowship volunteered for set up and clean up of the shopping event.
Pikes Peak Kiwanis Club – volunteered as Santa and Mrs. Claus, assisted with the Colorado House Holiday event for families where children wrote letters to Santa and decorated ornaments.
Two Christmas craft shows – hosted by the Colorado Springs Ladies Events and Keller Williams Clients Choice Realty, respectively – were held with proceeds going toward gifts for children in the Partners in Housing Family Self-Sufficiency Program.

A huge, heartfelt thank you to everyone who made the holiday season brighter for families in housing crisis.

SUSTAINING HOPE: Giving Beyond the Holidays

While the holidays provide a perfect occasion to give, people’s needs continue throughout the year. At Partners in Housing, the food pantry and donation centers are available to Partners year-round. It’s important to spread out donations throughout the year to meet their needs.

Become a Housing Hero! You can make great things happen when you join Housing Heroes, a group of compassionate, change-focused individuals who give monthly. Visit the QR code at right to learn more to start your journey!
Host a drive! You can help families on their path to independence by sharing why certain items are important to donate and what Partners in Housing does in our community. See our high-priority donation calendar by visiting the QR code at right.
Spring cleaning is around the corner! We accept donations every Tuesday from 9 a.m.-noon at our Donation Center located at 450 Gold Pass Heights.
Extended Drop-off for High-Priority Items: Drop-off Donations at the Colorado House, 21 S. Wahsatch Ave., Monday 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Thursdays 1:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m., and Fridays 9 a.m. to noon.

Your giving makes a difference – at the holidays and year-round!

BEHIND THE SCENES:

A Volunteer's Impact

“I support Partners in Housing because it serves families with children. If children do not have stability, they are not going to be able to thrive. As an educator, I have worked with vulnerable children all my life, both teenagers and young children, and many of those kids came from unstable environments. I have learned firsthand, until children find some stability, whether at school or at home, they are not going to be able to achieve their full potential. It is the children who have no voice that need us most. If we don’t support and nourish and nurture these young kids and make sure they have what they need, what’s going to happen to us as a society? And no child in Colorado Springs should be sleeping in a car.”

This holiday season, Karen Littlejohn, a dedicated volunteer and generous donor, led our Holiday Shopping event for families alongside many other hardworking volunteers. What Karen accomplished during this time was extraordinary, and at a time when additional support was much needed. Our annual Holiday Shopping Event for families is held for two weeks each December when children and parents select gifts for each other in separate rooms at the Colorado House. With the help of volunteers, presents are wrapped and families reconvene with gifts ready for each other.

In the weeks leading up to our free Holiday Shopping Event for families, Karen coordinated donation deliveries, met donors, set up and organized the gift area for display, coordinated volunteers, and spent countless hours ensuring we had gifts for every child and parent in the program. This steadfast commitment to families is no coincidence- Karen has worked with children of all ages throughout her career as a teacher in District 2 and District 11. She began volunteering with Partners in Housing after becoming acquainted with Partners in Housing’s mission at a Lunch and Learn event several years ago. She has spent many hours in the donation center, reorganizing and creating a more welcoming space for families to shop. As Holiday Shopping comes to a close, Karen has taken initiative and redirected her efforts to maintain our Welcome Baskets for families as they begin their year-long journey in the Family Self-Sufficiency Program.

When asked about the importance of volunteering, Karen shared that, “I think it’s important for people to consider volunteering as a way to support their community; volunteering is really rewarding whether you give an hour a month or an hour a week, it’s going to make a difference in someone’s life. I really believe the quote, ‘I cannot do all the good that the world needs, but the world needs all the good I can do.’ It is absolutely true. I think we all are called to do something meaningful, and something that matters.”

In her free time, Karen also volunteers twice a week assisting a kindergarten class filled with some amazing kiddos in addition to her work to support Partner families. Karen added that all her work could not be accomplished without the help of other hardworking and dedicated Partners in Housing volunteers. She reflected, “there is an amazing spirit of caring and commitment among the Partners in Housing volunteers that is contagious.”

Thank you, Karen, for all that you do in our community! We greatly appreciate you!

SAVE THE DATE: Lunch & Learn is March 21

Are you new to Partners in Housing? Would you like to learn how you can help families experiencing homelessness to be self-reliant, stable and prosperous? This session is open to anyone interested in learning more about Partners in Housing programs.

Join us Thursday, March 21, from noon to 1 p.m. for FREE lunch and a presentation on how Partners in Housing achieves a 92% success rate – with your help!

RSVP by Friday, March 15. RSVP NOW!

Help Partners in Housing while you shop

Did you know you can support Partners in Housing families every time you shop? We currently have 112 shoppers who raised $955.01 this past quarter to support our transitional housing program!! When you select Partners in Housing as your nonprofit, King Soopers will give each time you shop at no cost to you!

Learn how you can sign up for King Soopers Community Rewards here.

PAYING IT FORWARD HAS TAX BENEFITS!

We’ve made it easier to support Partners in Housing

AND save on your Colorado state taxes!

HOMELESS CONTRIBUTION TAX CREDIT

• 25% state income tax credit to Colorado taxpayers

• Gifts made to Partners in Housing of $250+ are eligible, including cumulative gifts

• When donating by check, please include “HCTC” in the memo line of your check and make payable to Partners in Housing. When donating online, under “Gift Preferences”, select the HCTC option.

• The Colorado statute (C.R.S. 39-22-548) for this tax credit requires a full Social Security Number to process. Please call us at (719) 325-5845 to provide your information securely by phone.

CHILD CARE CONTRIBUTION TAX CREDIT

• 50% state income tax credit to Colorado taxpayers

• Gifts made to Partners in Housing of $500+ are eligible, including cumulative gifts

• When donating by check, please include “Child Enrichment Center” in the memo line of your check and make payable to Partners in Housing. When donating online, under “Gift Preferences”, select the Child Care Contribution Tax Credit option.

• This tax credit does not require your SSN to be provided during gift processing – you fill in the SSN field yourself when the form is mailed to you.

Always consult with your accountant and/or tax advisor for advice concerning your particular circumstances. If you would like additional information regarding either tax credit, please contact Cathy at cmckinley@partnersinhousing.org or (719) 325-5830.

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(719) 473-8890 | office@partnersinhousing.org | www.partnersinhousing.org

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BEHIND THE SCENES:

﻿A Volunteer's Impact

A Volunteer's Impact