Denver Catholic

10 NOVEMBER 11-24, 2017 | DENVER CATHOLIC T hanks to Catholic Charities' newly opened Guadalupe Apart- ments, this winter will be the fi rst in seven that Christopher Llamas won't be homeless. "January 1 would have been the fi rst day of the eighth year," the 26-year-old told the Denver Catholic. "I lived under bridges and anywhere else I could fi nd cover." Now he has a fully furnished studio apartment and supportive services to address the issues that led to his homelessness, which he said was trouble keeping a job due to cognitive disabilities su¡ ered from shaken baby syndrome. "I'm so grateful," Llamas said about his recently acquired home. "To be able to stay warm in winter is awesome. … It's a chance to get adjusted to normal life." Llamas was among some 125 people including Guadalupe Apartment residents, a¡ ordable housing leaders, stakeholders and government oª cials attending the Oct. 27 grand opening of Weld County's fi rst large-scale perma- nent supportive housing complex. Located at 1520 N. 11th Ave. in Gree- ley, Guadalupe Apartments aims to give low-income and homeless individuals and families a path to housing stability. "This isn't just an apartment build- ing," Justin Raddatz, executive director of Archdiocesan Housing Inc., an arm of Catholic Charities, told the Denver Catholic. "It's a home with a coach." The $13.5 million Guadalupe Apart- ments consist of 47 studio, one- and two-bedroom furnished units that com- bine non-time-limited a¡ ordable hous- ing assistance with on-site supportive services, including case management, mental health assessments, and employment resources. "The case managers purpose is to serve the residents and remove the barriers that are blocking them from achieving their goals—from needing medical referrals to learning Micro- soft Word to get a job," Raddatz said. "That's what the Archdiocesan Housing team provides to all the residents free of charge." The apartments are subsidized through the US Department of Hous- ing and Urban Development voucher program so residents' rent cost is no more than 30 percent of their income, oª cials said. Larry Smith, president and CEO Around the Archdiocese Catholic Charities opens fi rst permanent supportive housing in Weld County Guadalupe Apartments provide 'a home with a coach' to homeless, low-income BY ROXANNE KING editor_king@icloud.com @RoxanneIKing This Thanksgiving, share your blessings by saving a place for your neighbors in need at the Samaritan House. SamHouseDenver.org/thanksgiving Most people never expect to become homeless – but when they do, Samaritan House and the new Samaritan House Women's Shelter are there…thanks to generous donors like you. Each year we help thousands of people in need during the Thanksgiving season. You don't need to give a lot in order for someone to receive a lot... $40 will provide a Thanksgiving meal for 25 people. Thank you for your support and may you be blessed this Thanksgiving. Save a Place at the PLEASE GIVE TODAY!

• Cover