A YEAR IN REVIEW: Summer 15 to Summer 16

THE BRIDGE HOUSE MISSION

Bridge Houses goal is to address immediate survival needs of homeless and
working poor individuals and provide resources which lead to employment,
housing, personal stability, and healing.

Bridge House provides a range of programs and services to help homeless

individuals progress.

We offer a Bridge of Opportunity where clients can enter and participate to

the extent of their needs and capacity.

bridge of Ready to Work

o p p or tunity Job readiness services

Housing support

Access to mental & physical health care

Case management for immediate needs

Community Table

Serving Boulders Homeless & Working Poor brid geho use

READY TO WORK: GOALS
Provide a pathway to self-sufficiency for homeless individuals who are
ready to work through a work-first model

Change the perception of homeless individuals in the community and


with employers

Address persistent barriers impacting the ability of homeless individuals

to work and find housing

Develop a sustainable, transitional employment business model

Provide a holistic model to break expensive cycles of homelessness,

addiction, and incarceration
 Homeless in

Jose
Boulder County
5+ years. Heavy
user of Detox
and ER. 10+
years in prison. SPRING 2015:
JULY 2016: TRT at ARC.
Accepted into Enrolled in
County housing. Vivitol treatment
for alcoholism.
A SUCCESS STORY

SPRING 2016:
Celebrates one The Ready to Work case managers
year sobriety were patient with me and my JULY 2015:
Longest period recovery. They helped me get back Joined RTW.
in more than on top and nally I am in control
20 years. of my life again. Ready to Work
gave me the chance to work
hard and change my life.

AUGUST 2015:
Moved into
APRIL 2016:
RTW House
Hired full-time
Housed for
at CTK.
JANUARY 2016: the rst time
Joined debt relief in 5 years.
and mentoring
program.
Reunites with
children.
RTW: PROGRAM OVERVIEW
44 trainees selected based on an application, intake and

orientation process

Trainees work in Social Enterprise and live in housing provided by

Bridge House

After 9 months of working, trainees seek full-time, mainstream employment

After 12 months of housing, residents seek permanent housing

Ready to Work has given me the stability to reflect on my past and

know where I want to be. I was given the opportunity to land on my feet
again after many hard years. Now I can pursue my happiness. Fred
 RTW: A HOLISTIC MODEL

PORT SUPPOR S I N G HO U S I N
SU
P T
H OU G

HO
SU
T

G
ORT SUPPOR

NG HO U S I N
PP

US I
CASE MANAGEMENT

ORT SUPPOR
AFFORDABLE,

N G H OU S I N
SOBRIETY SUPPORT SAFE COMMUNITY
BUDGETING SKILLS LIVING

S I
P

U
P

HO
SU

G
T
SU HO
T
PP
ORT SUPPOR I NG N G H OU S
US I

ORK WORK
W WO
RK
O

RK
ORK WORK W

WO
PAID JOB

RK WORK
IN SOCIAL
ENTERPRISE
W

W
RK

O
RK
WO K WO
RK WOR
RTW: PROGRAM SPECIFICS
Paid, transitional work in Social Enterprise as a
stepping stone to mainstream work

Two work options landscaping for City of


Boulder and property managers or food service
with Community Table Kitchen

Up to 29 hours a week, $8.31 an hour for 4 months,

raise to $9 hour

Build resume and references

Earn and save money

Transportation provided Ecopass during paid

employment phase

Housing at 4747 Table Mesa, Boulder

Nessa
Homeless
over one year,
BOCO native,
Husband died,
medical debt.
JUNE 2015:
Joined RTW
as a trainee.
A SUCCESS STORY

Ready to Work gave me hope when AUGUST 2015:

JUNE 2016: I had none. They showed me there
Launched Moved into
was a way out and offered me an RTW house,
jewelry business
opportunity to get off the street and First cohort.
and website.
get back to work. I believe in myself
again. I am living in my own
apartment now and working
at a local bakery doing
what I love.
MAY 2016: JUNE 2015 TO
Secured permanent APRIL 2016:
employment at a Training and
Louisville Bakery. working at
Her employer Community
gifted her a car. Table Kitchen.
MARCH 2016:
Moved into
independent
housing.
4747 TABLE MESA HOUSING
Ready To Work Housing and Employment Center
Community living for 44 people
34 men, 10 women

Paid work for up to 29 hours a week

Trainees pay room and board no more than

1/3 of income up to $60 per week

Computer lab, outdoor recreation area, library

This program is awesome. It
24/7 access and support
has a lot of structure and that
Build rental history is exactly what I need for my
recovery. I am now sober and it
Savings required
is working. In the program I
Sobriety required have everything I need to
succeed. The case managers
Pass health screening
guide me and 100% support
On site medical, AA, NA me in my sobriety. Aaron
They really made a difference!
I cannot express enough thanks to the
Bridge House Crew. Collectively the crews have
completed way more than I was initially
anticipating.In fact almost twice as much.A large
part of that goes to the Bridge House Crew for
their support, great attitudes and really hard
work. They really made a difference!
OSMP Staff Crew leader
PROJECTED PROGRAM OUTCOMES
 mployment 100% of trainees who enter will work, 70% will obtain
E
full-time mainstream employment after participation in Ready to Work

 avings 100% of trainees will save 30% of their income or more,

S
approximately $1,000 after 12 months

Sobriety Trainees will remain clean and sober

 ousing With increased savings and mainstream jobs, graduates of

H
Ready to Work will find stable housing within 3 months of completion

Identification 100% of Ready to Work participants will have proper ID

Clean up work barriers 100% will improve employability by working


with case management to address barriers such as criminal background
and child support
PARTICIPANT DEMOGRAPHICS

58%
OF RTW TRAINEES 50%
SELF-REPORT A OF RTW TRAINEES
HISTORY OF HAVE BEEN HOMELESS
FOR 6 MONTHS
SUBSTANCE
OR MORE
ABUSE

510
84%
IS THE AVERAGE

OF HOMELESS
CREDIT SCORE OF
A RTW TRAINEE 65%
OF RTW TRAINEES
ADULTS IN BOULDER HAVE BEEN
INCARCERATED
ARE UNEMPLOYED 31%
OF RTW TRAINEES
ARE CHRONICALLY
HOMELESS
BUDGET BREAKDOWN

THE COST THE

THE COST COMMUNITY
OF DOING OF A RTW
TRAINEE: COST OF A RTW
NOTHING: GRADUATE:
(one year)

Up to $50K per year $15K or 50% is earned

estimated for chronically in trainee wages
homeless adult (USICH) funded by social enterprise

$45K per year

for prison (CO DOC)

$150K per year

$5K in social
enterprise expense

$10K for one year

$0
for highest users of of housing and support
Boulder County detox, services requires govt
hospital and ambulance and private support
(BCPH)
total cost: $30K for one year
Oh my god!
What an incredible job by Chef John and
the Community Table Kitchen crew! The
food was delicious, healthy and enjoyed by
all.I have heard so many great comments!
Thank you, thank you. In 15 years of help-
ing organize and attending these kinds
of events in all kinds of locations with a
variety ofcaterers, and this was the most
delicious food!
CTK catering customer
PROGRESS PRIOR TO 2016
 ilot program launched in January 2012 with a 5 person crew and single
P
landscaping work contract with the City of Boulder

September 2013 opened Community Table Kitchen food service Social Enterprise

2014 Increased crew to 16 positions

Over 50 graduates

August 2015 opened Ready to Work House and Employment Center

adding housing and tripling program capacity to 44 positions

Earned Revenue in 2015 $312,000

Received grant to explore regional replication - 2016

Ready to Work has given me the opportunity to focus on my issues while I stabilize. I was homeless and they
gave me a place to stay and a job while I get my life back together. I am very grateful for this chance. Chris
 Long history

Gilbert
of addiction.
Employment in
construction industry.
Job loss resulting
SUMMER 2016: in homelessness. OCTOBER 2015:
Throws rst pitch Entered Bridge House
to represent RTW Resource Center for
at local baseball assistance with
A SUCCESS STORY
game as RTW benets and
graduate. nding a job.

JUNE 2016: NOVEMBER 2015:

Moved into I needed help and Ready to Work Accepted into
permanent, was there for me. This program helped RTW and moved
independent me by giving me a job and a roof over into RTW House.
housing. my head. After 6 months in the program
they helped me nd a full time job
and now I have the chance to give
back to my community.

FALL 2015:
SPRING 2016: Special crew
Joins mentor member working
program, regains for Open Space and
drivers license. contract property
MARCH 2016: management.
Hired Full Time
with Property
Maintenance at
$12 per hour.
MILESTONES: 8/15- 8/16

Total RTW Participants (interns and trainees) 103

Interns graduated to trainee 81

Current Interns (as of August 2016) 8

Current trainees working and living in RTW 34

Current trainees living in RTW, employed outside 6

Current trainees working in RTW, living outside 2

Total current trainees meeting the program goals

42
(100% employed with RTW Social Enterprise, 100% sober,
(52% of all entered)
100% saving)
RESULTS

Statistics for Trainees who exited the % of total

Program between 8/15 and 8/16 enrolled

# of Trainees who have exited RTW during this period 45 52%

Trainees who entered this year and still in program *** 42 48%

% of eligible

Independent Housing - Graduation Rate

22 60%
(some moved into other permanent housing)

Employment - Graduation Rate 33 73%

*** on the path to successful graduation

James Homeless for more
than one year and
cycling in criminal
justice system.

JANUARY 2015:
BH Resource
Center intake.
A SUCCESS STORY

While I was living on the street it was

APRIL 2016: FEBRUARY 2015:
hard to nd a job without some place
Moved into Joined
to live, but Ready to Work gave me a
permanent Ready to Work.
job and a place to live. I felt safe for
housing.
the rst time in along time. Ready to
Work is a great opportunity to keep
you on the right track. I have
learned so many new skills
in the program.

AUGUST 2015:
SPRING 2016: Moved into RTW
Graduated House after 310
court program. straight days at
Boulder Shelter
for the Homeless.
JANUARY 2016:
Employed at
Community Table
Kitchen.
A RECAP OF YEAR ONE
Ready To Work Housing and Employment Center
The culture is set work is working!

Trainees consistently flourish in a work-first environment forming positive

habits and building self-esteem

Trainees are taking advantage of key program enhancements such as

computer training, mentoring and job training

Trainees are saving and tackling financial management and debt relief
with the help of a new pilot initiative

RTW House is safe, clean and provides a home environment

Social Enterprise continues to be the cornerstone of program success


and community awareness
DID YOU KNOW
2016 YTD

$11.60
SAVINGS FOR
RTW TRAINEES TRAINEES
$17,795 AVERAGE RATING
IS THE AVERAGE OF RTW PROGRAM:

3.0
WAGE FOR AN RTW
GRADUATE IN A
MAINSTREAM JOB
RTW SOCIAL
ENTERPRISE EARNS OR VERY GOOD

46%
$173K
OF THE TOTAL
BH BUDGET

EARNED YTD BY
RTW OUTDOOR
CREW
TRAINEES PAY
1/3 OF THEIR INCOME
IN RENT. 2016 YTD
PAID RENT IS
$269K
EARNED YTD BY
$59K COMMUNITY TABLE
KITCHEN
Should it Pass
I hope my homelessness doesnt put you off your stride.

I understand when you avoid looking in my eyes.

For should this cup pass to you,

I will lift you up, those upon the street drink from a different cup.

I hope my sleepless eyes dont bother you to much.

Im older than I was a week ago, believe me I know.

Sleep is hard to come by with a hard floor to touch.

For should this cup pass to you,

I will lift you up, those upon the street drink from a different cup.

Nessa, RTW Graduate