BY MICHAEL ELLIS

Living in poverty and homelessness is not only stressful but can result in feelings of fear, hopelessness, and prioritization of daily survival over long-term planning. The singular purpose of Warren Village is to create opportunity and community to empower formerly homeless, low-income, single-parents to change the trajectories of their lives and achieve sustainable personal and economic self-sufficiency. Since 1974, this organization has been implementing a Two-Generation (2Gen) approach through three integrated components: 

Safe & Affordable Housing — With safe, consistent, and affordable housing, we believe that low-income, single-parent families can break the cycle of poverty and achieve self-sufficiency. Warren Village offers 92 apartments accommodating families of up to six children and one adult. In addition, through our First Step program, we offer one-year transitional, communal living for single mothers.

Early Education & Child Care — For those whose early lives have been marked by poverty, difficulty connecting and trusting can lead to slower social and emotional development, which impacts other areas of development and school readiness. At the United Airlines Early Learning Center, we work with young children of families who reside in our transitional housing program to ensure that exposure to early trauma does not define their paths. Our Learning Center can accommodate as many as 106 children ages 6 weeks to 10 years.

Parent Services & Advocacy — Warren Village provides the resources families need to change and improve their lives. Skilled and dedicated advocates help residents by providing postsecondary education assistance, career exploration and guidance, financial literacy skills, and plans for long-term housing. Additionally, we offer two new initiatives to Warren Village residents: the Wellness Initiative and the Workforce Partnership Initiative providing our residents with a greater holistic approach to sustaining self-sufficiency.

Using this approach, each year, Warren Village serves approximately 145 low-income, single-parent families in the Denver metro area. Residents are primarily single mothers between the ages of 21 and 29 with one child under the age of five. Less than 50% are employed when they arrive and 100% are homeless or unstably housed. 

One of those single-parent families at Warren Village right now is Jessica and her daughter Janelle (pictured). Jessica was a vibrant high school student living in Sterling, Colorado. In 2012 her mother passed away, and Jessica moved in with her sister to finish high school. Jessica continued on to college, and while thriving in her studies, she found herself in a number of unstable living conditions. An unaffordable apartment that left her in debt and homeless. A traumatic family situation that she had to escape. Then she unexpectedly became pregnant. A domestic violence incident shortly after left her worried for her unborn baby, so Jessica picked up and fled the situation, searching for help. She knew she wanted more for herself and her baby and she vowed to fight for it. After moving into Warren Village and with the help of her family advocate, Jessica quickly began working on realizing her goals: providing a stable home for her soon-to-be daughter, paying off debt, and continuing her education. She embraced every opportunity, Life Skills Class, and resource available to her. “Living at Warren Village gives me the freedom to focus on my goals and stop worrying about my family’s survival. I’m rooting for all the other women who I’ve encountered here and can only hope that their lives will be impacted as positively as mine.” Read their full story at WarrenVillage.org/jessica-story/

Holiday Shop

This holiday season is the perfect time to get involved! This December, Warren Village will host its 33rd annual Holiday Shop despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The Warren Village Holiday Shop is our biggest event of the year for residents, alumni, and program participants. This year’s gift collection will occur in a virtual format to keep our residents, alumni, volunteers, and other supporters safe. Learn more about how you can participate through sponsoring a family’s wish list or joining in on our virtual December event at WarrenVillage.org/Holiday-Shop

Giving Opportunities for Warren Village

Colorado Gives Day — Choose to support Warren Village through Colorado Gives Day on Tuesday, December 8, 2020.

Planned Giving — The Warren Legacy Society is comprised of individuals and families who have generously named Warren Village as a beneficiary of their estate.

Corporate sponsorships — Your organization can help sponsor a Warren Village fundraising event or be part of an underwriting program.

There are several ways you can make a donation to Warren Village, and you may be eligible for a 25% Denver Enterprise Zone Tax Credit (with a gift to Family Services) or a 50% Colorado Child

Care Contribution Tax Credit (with a gift to the Learning Center).

Online — Visit WarrenVillage.org/Donate

Mail — Send a donation to: 1323 Gilpin Street, Denver, CO 80218-2552

Phone — Give us a call at 303.321.2345

Your support is more than a donation: it is an investment in the lives of low-income, single-parent families that is helping them make the journey from poverty to self-sufficiency.