October 1, 2011 September 30, 2012

Transcription

1 2012 October 1, 2011 September 30, 2012

2 We should not judge people by their peak of excellence; but by the distance they have traveled from the point where they started. Henry Ward Beecher Each individual s journey takes a different path. Our life s journey is framed by our family, our friends, our neighbors, our community and all the people we meet along the way. Our lives are shaped by our education, careers, our health and well-being, and various unforeseen circumstances. The youth we serve at Urban Peak have journeyed far, some by distance, but all through their individual life experiences. The following 2012 Impact Report shares with you four distinct journeys taken by youth from Urban Peak. As you will see from the stories of Victor, Aaron, Kristina and Dale, no two journeys at Urban Peak are the same. Our clients can participate in any of our programs or services at any time; there is no one entry point for the youth we serve and no requisite knowledge or skills to access our services or classes. Our goal is to meet youth where they are and to provide them with the assistance and support they need to become self-sufficient and obtain the necessary services they need to maintain a safe existence. In fiscal year 2012, Urban Peak served 2,550 youth in Denver and another 613 youth in Colorado Springs. This is the most clients we ve served in one year since our founding and the need continues to grow. Each youth we serve has their own unique story and circumstances that have led them to experience homelessness. Whether their point of entry was through the Shelter, our Drop-In Center, or meeting a member of our Outreach team, Urban Peak provides opportunities for each youth to get the support and tools they need to change their life s direction from one of pain and uncertainty to one of hope and success. Come, journey with us. The 2012 Impact Report invites you to learn about Urban Peak s programs and services, and to learn how youth of different ages with different barriers and experiences all benefit from Urban Peak. Together with you, our partners and supporters, we are helping Colorado youth who experience homelessness transition from a life on the streets to a life with safe, stable housing and the support they need to succeed. Urban Peak. Real life. Real change. With gratitude, Kim Easton CEO 2

3 3 Urban Peak Colorado Springs served 613 youth experiencing homeless in fiscal year 2012.

4 Urban Peak Colorado Springs OUTREACH:» Made 970 contacts with youth living in uninhabitable environments» Distributed materials to 402 youth including hygiene supplies, blankets, clothing supplies, sexual health counseling, and referrals The SHELTER:» Provided a total of 163 youth with a warm, safe, and stable place to sleep for a combined 5,561 nights» Supported a total of 211 youth through day services including meals, clothing vouchers, bus tokens, GED classes, health services, case management, and life skills classes» Served 11,052 meals at the shelter» Assisted 84 youth (57%) in exiting to safe and stable living environments Transitional HOUSING:» Welcomed a brand new transitional housing program, housing a total of 12 youth» In total, Urban Peak Coloardo Springs housed 24 youth Case MANAGEMENT:» Provided 149 youth with 923 individualized sessions of intensive case management EDUCATION and EMPLOYMENT:» Served a total of 120 youth through Education and Employment services» 34 youth enrolled in Urban Peak GED programming» 12 youth enrolled in high school classes; 25% of the youth received their high school diploma» 38 youth obtained employment as a result of Urban Peak Colorado Springs employment program Clinical SERVICES:» Delivered 48 behavioral health sessions, co-occurring mental health sessions, and substance abuse counseling sessions» Conducted 43 health intakes through the Health Program» Hosted 88 youth attended Healthy Living Classes 4

5 DALE S JOURNEY Shelter Follow Dale s Urban Peak Journey:» THE Place» Education & THE Place» Housing Dale arrived at the Urban Peak Colorado Springs Shelter in late 2010 at 19 years old. He stayed at the Shelter for roughly two months. While there, Dale says, I was able to just focus on my problems, not everyone else s. He says that the Shelter was, like a family. In fiscal year 2012, the Shelter:» Provided a total of 163 youth with a warm, safe, and stable place to sleep for a combined 5,561 nights» Supported a total of 211 youth through day services including meals, clothing vouchers, bus tokens, GED classes, health services, case management, and life skills classes the Shelter successfully helped 57% youth served exit to safe and stable living environments 5

6 Dale s home life had been tumultuous as long as he could remember. While living in Germany with his mom and stepfather, his step-father became abusive to him and his mother. Dale was depressed and angry and requested to go live with his birth father in Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, things weren t much better in the Caribbean. Dale and his father fought frequently and his father kicked him out. He went to live with his grandmother and quickly became involved in gangs. After watching two friends get shot on the street, Dale was frightened; he wanted out. Dale called his mother, who was now living in Colorado, and asked to return home. Despite the time apart, things weren t any better with his mother and step-father than they had been in Germany. The abuse continued at home. Suffering from unresolved anger issues and depression, Dale assaulted someone at work and later tried to commit suicide. Shortly after, Dale found himself in a treatment facility for his anger and depression. After being discharged, Dale could not return home because the environment remained too volatile. The staff at the treatment facility recommended that Dale go to the Urban Peak Colorado Springs Shelter, THE Place. Did you know? Over 50 percent of young people in shelters and on the streets report that their parents told them to leave or knew they were leaving and didn t care. Education & EMPLOYMENT Colorado Springs HOUSING PROGRAM Dale enrolled in the Education & Employment program after arriving at the Shelter. He successfully obtained his GED in just a couple of months. Several months later, Dale turned his sights on college and began the enrollment process for Pikes Peak Community College with the assistance of an Urban Peak Education & Employment counselor. Dale hopes to become a social worker so he can help others like himself. Dale moved in to the Urban Peak Colorado Springs Housing Program after leaving the Shelter in late He remains in the program today, often leading by example for others in the program. Dale currentlyhelps obtain food donations from local businesses to give to the Urban Peak Shelter. In fiscal year 2012, Colorado Springs Housing Program:» Housed a total of 24 youth In fiscal year 2012, Urban Peak Colorado Springs:» Served a total of 120 youth through Education and Employment services» 34 youth enrolled in Urban Peak GED; 3 youth earned their GED 38 Youth obtained employment agency wide in Colorado Springs 6

7 MISSION Urban Peak helps youth experiencing homelessness and youth at risk of becoming homeless overcome real life challenges by providing essential services and a supportive community, empowering them to become self-sufficient adults. VISION Urban Peak will be a national service model of innovation and success for youth experiencing homelessness and will achieve outstanding results for our clients, supporters, donors and employees st Street Denver, CO Executive STAFF Kim Easton Shawna Rae Kemppainen Kendall Rames Malinda Anderson Dan Hanley Audrey Field urbanpeak.org LinkedIn.com/ Company/Urban-Peak Facebook.com/ UrbanPeakCO 423 E Cucharras Street Colorado Springs CO CEO Executive Director for Colorado Springs Deputy Director/Director of Programs Director of Finance Director of Development & Public Affairs Deputy Director/Director of Programs, Colorado Springs Twitter.com/ UrbanPeakCO YouTube.com/user/ UrbanPeakCO The stories in this report are representative of real Urban Peak youth. The names and faces of the youth have been changed to protect their identities. Board of DIRECTORS Fiscal Year 2012 / October 1, 2011 September 30, 2012 DENVER Chris Burckhardt Todd Fredrickson Ron Barber Leslie Herod Dick Thomas Sarah Burgamy Robert Butler Heather Draper Stella Chan Rick Ericksen Amy Hansen Gerald Moore Susan Noble Joanne Reilly Pat Rigdon Mary Jane Rogers Amy Meyer Smith Stefan Stein Hamid Taha Terri Taylor Katie Wells COLORADO SPRINGS Stella Chan Pam Osterhouse Todd Karl James (Pat) Rigdon Sean Holveck Michael Johnson Charlotte Nal Patricia Nixon Blair Sievert Chelsea Tebo Mallory White Jesse Mortensen Emily Orbanek Chris Telk Stefan Stein Chair Past Chair Chair Elect Treasurer Secretary UPCS Chair UPCS Chair Elect Chair Past Chair Treasurer Secretary