Community Partnership Project, Anchor House, Aims to Tackle Affordable Housing

The transitional apartment complex for youth exiting foster care is set to break ground by year's end

ColoradoBiz Staff //May 22, 2018//

Community Partnership Project, Anchor House, Aims to Tackle Affordable Housing

The transitional apartment complex for youth exiting foster care is set to break ground by year's end

ColoradoBiz Staff //May 22, 2018//

It is projected that more than 200 young people will emancipate from foster care in Colorado in the next year. With that in mind and to address the need for affordable housing in the Denver metro area, Lutheran Church of Hope, Broomfield has partnered with Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains and Thrivent Financial to build a transitional apartment complex for youth exiting foster care without a permanent family. Called Anchor House, the building will be constructed in conjunction with Flatirons Habitat for Humanity.

"Anchor House is an important extension in STEP, our teen-focused foster care program which is committed to helping young people to better prepare to navigate the world successfully after foster care," says Brian Brant, vice president of Child and Family Services at Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains (LFSRM) believes this is about more than affordable housing. "We know that no matter how many skills and competencies they develop in foster care, young people still need guidance, support and encouragement along the way."

This May, in honor of National Foster Care Month, the team is spreading the word about the project. Monetary donations will fund the build-out as well as the acquisition of appliances and other essentials. 

As young people, because of age, leave foster care, Anchor House, a 501c(3) will provide the opportunity to continue to develop skills necessary to make successful transitions to independent adulthood and to become contributing members of the community.

Dawn Davis, president of FirstBank North Metro and former foster child, says, "Though no action of their own, children aging out of foster care are faced with many real life, adult decisions and situations that take place almost overnight. Housing is of top priority as many are faced with immediate homelessness as soon as they turn 18. We support children through the education and foster systems but have not done an adequate job of thinking through how to get them to the next step of productivity in society. This type of housing is an integral first step to give these kids a hand up. They are the most resilient group of people you will every meet and it is factual truth that by providing housing and supportive services, they can and will change the world for all of us."

Anchor House hopes to break ground later this year or in early 2019.