Have you ever given a presentation and then two days later remember things you wished you had said? I recently spoke at the Greeley Family House signature fundraiser, Summerfest, and with a limited time, I tried to stay on point, while keeping it short. And then driving home, I remembered some points I really want people to hear.

The Greeley Family House is unique in Weld County as our focus is on families – with children – experiencing homelessness. These are families who have income or are actively seeking employment for income. A lot of the families we work with are in the 3rd generation of poverty; these families view homelessness as a norm and just the way life is meant to be. The idea that they can achieve housing AND pay for it is a foreign concept. Sometimes the entire concept of employment is foreign to them.

We do not call it “houselessness.” They don’t just need a place with four walls. We want a family to feel safe, to feel a sense of community, to make friends – to make Weld County feel like “home.” We all crave a need to belong, and so do the families we assist. Some of these are people that you might encounter each day in your routine, employed in a variety of work and may even be your employees.

For our families, the housing journey starts through temporary shelter at the House. While staying at the shelter, the family receives weekly case management. They focus on how they became homeless and what it will look like to move back into permanent housing. Employment, childcare, transportation and learning how to budget are key areas that must be addressed for a family to find housing.

The shelter is NOT a long-term housing solution so a family must stay focused with the goal of moving from the shelter to an apartment. Their case manager continues to work with the family to and show them what they need to do to keep the apartment. They also help the family learn how to live within their means, take care of their space and make paying rent a priority. It is teaching a family to see pride in employment and paying their own bills. A pride in providing for their children. It is teaching them that Weld County can feel like home.