Denver City Wire

Charity’s House to provide a range of stabilizing services for residents transitioning from homelessness

Denver’s Department of Housing Stability (HOST) on May 6 celebrated the grand opening of 36 new supportive housing units at 3022 Welton St. in the historic Five Points neighborhood. Developed by the Community Outreach Service Center, Charity’s House offers one-bedroom apartments for individuals facing homelessness or coming out of the justice system.

“Charity’s House stands as a beacon of opportunity for our unhoused residents,” said HOST Executive Director Laura Brudzynski. “This project not only provides a safe roof over the head of the 36 households that will reside here. But critical wraparound services will help lift residents up and provide economic mobility.”

The $13.3 million development offers income-restricted units for individuals earning up to 30% of the area median income (up to $24,650 for a single-person household). Residents will receive social work services from the Community Outreach Services Center staff. Wellpower is providing supportive services and connections to community-based supports tenants need to keep their housing and avoid a return to homelessness. 

Charity’s House results from the vision of long-time community leaders Pastor Robert Woolfolk and Mrs. Eddie Woolfolk, who have served the community through Agape Church and the Community Outreach Service Center, which they established in 1988. Long wanting to build apartments for community members in need, the Woolfolks acquired the land for the apartments from the family of Thomas A. Albright, a baseball player in the Negro League who moved to Denver.

HOST provided a $1.8 million performance loan to Charity’s House to support construction costs, as well as $950,000 to fund supportive services over 15 years. Other public financing partners include the Colorado Housing & Finance Authority, Colorado Division of Housing, and Denver Housing Authority (DHA) which is providing subsidy vouchers for all units to ensure residents pay no more than 30% of their total income on housing costs.

The development of Charity's House is also made possible through resources from a partnership between the City and County of Denver and DHA. The "DHA Delivers for Denver" (D3) Program utilizes property tax mill levy revenue from Denver's Affordable Housing Fund, in part, to expedite and expand a pipeline of supportive housing residences. 

Original source can be found here.