Homelessness Prevention and Response

Permanent Supportive Housing is an evidence-based intervention that implements housing first principles. PSH pairs financial assistance towards the cost of rent and utilities with voluntary wraparound services (e.g substance use disorder treatment, counseling, and employment assistance) to ensure that participants retain housing.  

There are 2 purpose-built PSH projects in or around Colorado Springs. 

• Greenway Flats is a 65-unit complex in the Mill St. neighborhood that opened in 2019. Springs Rescue Mission provides supportive services to Greenway Flats residents.  
• Freedom Springs is a 50-unit complex in Cimarron Hills that opened in 2020. Freedom Springs provides PSH for local veterans. Volunteers of America provides supportive services for residents.  

Additionally, human services agencies around the community place clients in scattered sites.   

Between 2015 and 2021, 85% or more of the people receiving PSH successfully retained housing 6 months after the intervention began.  

There are two more site based PSH projects under development.

• The Commons provides 50 one, two, and three-bedroom apartment units to address the needs of individuals and families experiencing unstable housing.
• The Launchpad is a 50-unit permanent supportive apartment home community for young adults aged 18 to 24.

Rapid Re-Housing funding provides short-term and medium-term stabilization to people experiencing homelessness. RRH providers use funds to identify new housing units for people experiencing homelessness, provide financial assistance with rent and move-in costs, and provide voluntary service for people who have been successfully rehoused.  

The Place and Homeward Pikes Peak provide Rapid-ReHousing services for clients in Colorado Springs using City administered HUD funding.  

Street Outreach funding allows providers to meet people experiencing homelessness where they are and build rapport with people experiencing unsheltered homelessness.  

HUD funding assists two local services providers conducting street outreach, The Place and the Colorado Springs Fire Department.  

• Community Development supported the creation of the Colorado Springs Fire Department Homeless Outreach Program (HOP).

In 2024 the City's HUD funds support three agencies that provide 690 beds for people experiencing homelessness:

• Springs Rescue Mission serves adults ages 18+ (450 beds nightly for adults, including low-barrier beds available regardless of sobriety, employment or ability to produce identification)
  • 5 E. Las Vegas St.
  • Open 24/7, no need to call ahead
  • Kennels available for pets
• Salvation Army Family Hope Center serves families with children under 18 (31 rooms, each accommodating 6 family members)
  • 719-578-9190, best to call ahead as they are typically full​
  • 709 S. Sierra Madre St.
  • Adults must be clean of drugs and alcohol, if not they can agree to being sober while in the program and have UAs
  • Adults are background checked for violent offenses
  • Families have a semi-private room and share a common space and restrooms
•  The Place serves youth ages 15-20 (20 beds)
  • 719-630-3223 (9 a.m.-5 p.m.)
  • 719-205-7129 (after hours)
  • 423 E. Cucharras St, 
  • Youth must be clean of drugs and alcohol
  • Youth under 18 must have permission from a guardian or Department of Human Services to stay there

There are other shelter programs in town, including:

• Family Promise serves families with children under 18 years (capacity is 4 families)
  • 719-329-1244, call to apply
  • This is a unique shelter model as faith congregations host the families in individual rooms set up for the families and feed them a meal each night
  • Adults must be clean of drugs and alcohol, if not they can agree to being sober while in the program and have UAs, and receive background checks for violent offenses

• Homeless Outreach Court is an alternative justice program that allows criminal defendants experiencing homelessness to receive sanctions related to the resolution of homeless status in the place of fines or jail time.  

• Outreach Court has provided alternative sentencing for 18 defendants across 36 cases.  

The Homeless Outreach Team at the Colorado Springs Police Department responds to calls for service regarding homelessness and provides resource referrals for homeless residents.  

• The Pikes Peak Veteran Housing Fund is a private fund supported by the city that allows veterans who might otherwise remain homeless to receive the financial assistance necessary to obtain housing.  
• Since inception in 2020, PPVHF has housed 25 veterans and impacted 53 lives.

• The Low Income and Homeless Service Providers Bus Pass Program annually distributes support to providers in the form of bus passes that can assist clients with case management activities.  
• In 2022, 12572 one-ride bus passes were distributed to 20 programs across Colorado Springs that support people experiencing homelessness.  

City staff regularly work with the Pikes Peak Continuum of Care on the development of a regional plan to make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring.