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Colorado Association of REALTORS® Foundation Awards Grants
Totaling $125,000 to 11 Colorado Non-Profits in June, in addition to $125,000
granted in May

The
ongoing economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic has left many Coloradans unable to
make rent and mortgage payments due to layoffs and furloughs. In light of this
unprecedented emergency, the Colorado Association of REALTORS® Foundation
announced on June 19, 2020 it is awarding additional grants totaling $125,000
to 11 Colorado non-profit organizations to assist individuals and families
experiencing housing-related emergencies as well as aid in the construction of
affordable housing units. The Foundation will offer another grant cycle
opportunity from July 13, 2020 to Aug. 31, 2020, with an additional $100,000
invested across Colorado by Sept. 15, 2020

The most
recent grant recipients include:

  • Advocates
    for Victims of Assault – Summit Advocates (Frisco) – $12,500
  • Archway
    Housing (Lakewood) – $7,000
  • Chaffee
    Housing Trust (Buena Vista) – $10,000
  • Grand
    Junction Housing Authority (Grand Junction) – $12,000
  • Greccio
    Housing (Colorado Springs) – $10,000
  • Mercy
    Housing (Denver) – $15,000
  • Project
    Hope of Gunnison Valley (Gunnison) – $7,250
  • Rocky
    Mountain Children’s Health Foundation (Arvada) – $13,750
  • Safehouse
    Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence (Boulder) – $7,500
  • Ray
    of Hope Cancer Foundation (Denver) – $10,000
  • Veterans
    Community Project (Longmont) – $20,000

Advocates for Victims of Assault – Summit Advocatessupports
survivors and their dependent children by providing the only emergency shelter
in Summit County, CO and by assisting survivors and their dependent children in
applying for and obtaining long-term, safe and affordable housing in the
community.  Through its Living Beyond Violence Program, the CAR Foundation
grant will assist with move-in expense assistance and rent subsidies for
survivors and their dependent children.

Archway Housing offers quality
affordable housing with tailored services and resources to enhance the social
and economic well-being of families. CAR Foundation funds will be used to provide
rental assistance to up to 140 households and prevent eviction for up to 60
households.

Chaffee
Housing Trusttargets households earning less than 80
percent of Area Median Income (AMI).  The average AMI of current CHT
homeowners is 67 percent and the average CHT renter AMI is 50 percent. By
providing local workers with housing, CHT bring stability and equity building
none existed.  The grant will be used to purchase a 17,000 sq. ft. lot in
a new development with the capacity to build eight condominium homes
exclusively for low-income county residents and workers.

Grand Junction Housing
Authorityprovides housing to
vulnerable people in the community by providing security deposits to households
that have been approved for affordable housing but lack the funds for security
deposits due to COVID-19 circumstances. For the remainder of 2020, GJHA
estimates 65 households will need security deposit assistance, which averages
$1,000, and is not available from other sources. The funding from the CAR
Foundation will assist 12 households this year.

Greccio Housingprovides an Eviction Prevention Program to
prevent the threat of homelessness or eviction to individuals and families who
are experiencing a one-time major life crisis.  The funds from the CAR
Foundation will be used to fund direct assistance for 10 families enrolled in
the program to fulfill its mission.

Mercy Housinghas halted
evictions, stopped late fees, and is creating payment plans for those whose
income is affected during the COVID-19 pandemic.  CAR Foundation funds
will be used for rental assistance in to support COVID-19 financial hardships,
such as loss of employment, COVID illness, or childcare loss.

Project Hope of Gunnison Valleysupports, educate, and provide confidential
advocacy to individuals affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, and/or
human trafficking.  The CAR Foundation grant will provide transitional
housing and rental assistance.

Rocky Mountain Children’s
Health Foundationimproves the quality of life for families, sick children, and
infants. The funds from the CAR Foundation will provide rent and
mortgage assistance to families with a pediatric patient, in the Rocky Mountain
region, who are experiencing a financial burden that is compromising their ability
to pay non-medical expenses. 

Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence has been supporting individuals and families who are
experiencing domestic violence for 41 years. Funds from the CAR Foundation will
help SPAN continue to provide direct financial assistance for rent.

Ray of Hope Cancer Foundationsupports
patients who are facing dire financial circumstances, many of whom were
struggling prior to receiving their cancer diagnosis and have no capacity to
meet this added expense. Funds from the CAR Foundation will provide $500 grants
for 20 patients throughout the entire state of Colorado.

Veterans Community Projectis an
innovative housing program dedicated to ending Veteran homelessness through
tiny home veterans’ villages and community and outreach centers that offer
housing stability and wraparound services to all veterans who walk through the
door.  Funding from the CAR Foundation will be used to co-sponsor a tiny
home in the VCP Village – Colorado.

Additional Grants Available in July

The CAR Foundation will offer a second grant cycle from July
13, 2020 to Aug. 31, 2020, with an additional $100,000 that will be invested
across Colorado by Sept. 15, 2020.  Non-profit organizations that provide
housing-related services are encouraged to apply.  Grant Guidelines and
Acceptance Conditions can be found on the CAR Foundation website at http://carfoundation.org/. 

Contact Stacey Brown, or
303-785-7126, with questions regarding submissions.

Additionally, in May 2020 the CAR Foundation awarded
$125,000 in disaster relief grants to three Colorado non-profit organizations:
Brother’s Redevelopment, Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, and Habitat for
Humanity of Colorado.

This content was originally published here.