HomeAid Colorado Completes Longmont Dwelling
HomeAid Colorado, a non-profit that builds dignified housing for the temporarily homeless, has completed construction of a home for Safe Shelter of St. Vrain Valley. Safe Shelter supports women dealing with domestic violence, and the home will provide a safe and discreet place for abused women and their children to start a new life.
The dedication of this new shelter will be held at 3:30 p.m., May 7, 2008. To ensure the safety of those it serves, the home's site is only provided as necessary. If you would like to cover the shelter's opening, please contact Grace Markley to coordinate.
Longmont has the highest number of reported cases of domestic violence in Boulder County. In these cases, the most pressing concern is finding a safe place to live that removes them from danger. This modern, 6,000-square-foot facility can house up to 25 women and children. Annually, the house will serve as many as 150 clients.
"This facility will provide safety and security to many women and children affected by domestic violence, who often don't know where to turn to escape abuse," said Liz Smokowski, executive director of Safe Shelter. "This modern housing would not have been possible without the generous support of HomeAid Colorado."
Generous donations of time and materials by several members of the building community made this project possible. Olson Architecture of Niwot, an all-female firm, designed the plans for the house. Construction was led by the project's builder captain, Harvey Bauer of Five Star Construction.
"It was a pleasure to contribute to a worthy cause such as this," said Bauer. "Even in a housing downturn, and perhaps especially during this difficult economic time, the need for quality housing to serve those in need is great. We are happy to contribute."
Safe Shelter was founded in 1978 in Longmont by a group of women concerned about the welfare of women and children in abusive situations. Today, it provides a comprehensive system of programs and services to address the needs of domestic violence victims, such as a 24-hour crisis line, emergency shelter and legal advocacy.
"The dedication of the professionals who worked on the Safe Shelter house demonstrates our organization's deep commitment to providing quality housing for the temporarily homeless," said Rich Staky, board of directors president of HomeAid Colorado. "This is the first time HomeAid Colorado has built a shelter that will serve abused women and children. We are proud to contribute to this worthy cause."
The dedication of this new shelter will be held at an undisclosed location May 7, 2008. For the safety of those it serves, the home's location is only provided as necessary. If you are a member of the media who is interested in covering the shelter's opening, please contact Grace Markley at 917-549-3246 to discuss your plans.
About HomeAid
HomeAid Colorado identifies reputable non-profit care providers for the homeless and matches them with a participating local "builder captain." The captain brings the in-kind resources of subcontractors, suppliers and consultants, and delivers quality housing for the temporarily homeless, who comprise approximately 90 percent of the homeless population. Since its inception in 2000, HomeAid Colorado has built 25 transitional homes and emergency shelters for homeless men, women and children across the state. Nationally, HomeAid is the leading non-profit provider of housing for the homeless.
For more information about HomeAid Colorado visit
hacolo.org or call 303-691-0104.
For more information about Safe Shelter of St. Vrain Valley visit
www.safeshelterofstvrain.org.