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

o p p or tunity

Ready to Work
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

A SUCCESS STORY

Jose

JULY 2016:
Accepted into
County housing.

SPRING 2016:
Celebrates one
year sobriety
Longest period
in more than
20 years.

APRIL 2016:
Hired full-time
at CTK.

Homeless in
Boulder County
5+ years. Heavy
user of Detox
and ER. 10+
years in prison.

The Ready to Work case managers

were patient with me and my
recovery. They helped me get back
on top and nally I am in control
of my life again. Ready to Work
gave me the chance to work
hard and change my life.

JANUARY 2016:
Joined debt relief
and mentoring
program.
Reunites with
children.

SPRING 2015:
TRT at ARC.
Enrolled in
Vivitol treatment
for alcoholism.

JULY 2015:
Joined RTW.

AUGUST 2015:
Moved into
RTW House
Housed for
the rst time
in 5 years.

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

NG HO U S I N
I
S
U
G
HO

N G H OU S

SU

ORT SUPPOR
PP
T

ORK WORK W
W
O
RK

US I

I NG

ORT SUPPOR
P
P
T
SU

PAID JOB
IN SOCIAL
ENTERPRISE

RK WORK
W
WO
O
RK

RK WORK
O
WO
W
K
R

N G H OU S I N

AFFORDABLE,
SAFE COMMUNITY
LIVING

US I

ORT SUPPOR
PP
T

CASE MANAGEMENT
SOBRIETY SUPPORT
BUDGETING SKILLS

HO

SU

N G HO U S I N
I
S
G
OU
HO

ORT SUPPOR
P
P
T
SU

RK WOR
K
WO
WO
RK

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

A SUCCESS STORY

Nessa

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

JUNE 2016:
Launched
jewelry business
and website.

MAY 2016:
Secured permanent
employment at a
Louisville Bakery.
Her employer
gifted her a car.

Ready to Work gave me hope when

I had none. They showed me there
was a way out and offered me an
opportunity to get off the street and
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.

MARCH 2016:
Moved into
independent
housing.

AUGUST 2015:
Moved into
RTW house,
First cohort.

JUNE 2015 TO
APRIL 2016:
Training and
working at
Community
Table Kitchen.

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

24/7 access and support

Build rental history

Savings required

Sobriety required

Pass health screening

On site medical, AA, NA

This program is awesome. It

has a lot of structure and that
is exactly what I need for my
recovery. I am now sober and it
is working. In the program I
have everything I need to
succeed. The case managers
guide me and 100% support
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
SELF-REPORT A
HISTORY OF
SUBSTANCE
ABUSE

84%

OF HOMELESS
ADULTS IN BOULDER
ARE UNEMPLOYED

50%

OF RTW TRAINEES
HAVE BEEN HOMELESS
FOR 6 MONTHS
OR MORE

510

IS THE AVERAGE
CREDIT SCORE OF
A RTW TRAINEE

31%

OF RTW TRAINEES
ARE CHRONICALLY
HOMELESS

65%

OF RTW TRAINEES
HAVE BEEN
INCARCERATED

BUDGET BREAKDOWN
THE COST
OF DOING
NOTHING:

THE COST
OF A RTW
TRAINEE:

Up to $50K per year

estimated for chronically
homeless adult (USICH)

$15K or 50% is earned

in trainee wages
funded by social enterprise

$45K per year

for prison (CO DOC)

$5K in social
enterprise expense

$150K per year

for highest users of
Boulder County detox,
hospital and ambulance
(BCPH)

$10K for one year

of housing and support
services requires govt
and private support

(one year)

total cost: $30K for one year

THE
COMMUNITY
COST OF A RTW
GRADUATE:

$0

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 helping 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

A SUCCESS STORY

Gilbert

SUMMER 2016:
Throws rst pitch
to represent RTW
at local baseball
game as RTW
graduate.

JUNE 2016:
Moved into
permanent,
independent
housing.

SPRING 2016:
Joins mentor
program, regains
drivers license.

Long history
of addiction.
Employment in
construction industry.
Job loss resulting
in homelessness.

OCTOBER 2015:
Entered Bridge House
Resource Center for
assistance with
benets and
nding a job.

I needed help and Ready to Work

was there for me. This program helped
me by giving me a job and a roof over
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.

MARCH 2016:
Hired Full Time
with Property
Maintenance at
$12 per hour.

NOVEMBER 2015:
Accepted into
RTW and moved
into RTW House.

FALL 2015:
Special crew
member working
for Open Space and
contract property
management.

MILESTONES: 8/15- 8/16

Total RTW Participants (interns and trainees)

Interns graduated to trainee

Current Interns (as of August 2016)

Current trainees working and living in RTW

103

81

34

Current trainees living in RTW, employed outside

Current trainees working in RTW, living outside

Total current trainees meeting the program goals

(100% employed with RTW Social Enterprise, 100% sober,
100% saving)

42
(52% of all entered)

RESULTS
Statistics for Trainees who exited the
Program between 8/15 and 8/16

% of total
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
(some moved into other permanent housing)

22

60%

Employment - Graduation Rate

33

73%

*** on the path to successful graduation

A SUCCESS STORY

James

Homeless for more

than one year and
cycling in criminal
justice system.
JANUARY 2015:
BH Resource
Center intake.

APRIL 2016:
Moved into
permanent
housing.

While I was living on the street it was

hard to nd a job without some place
to live, but Ready to Work gave me a
job and a place to live. I felt safe for
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.

SPRING 2016:
Graduated
court program.
JANUARY 2016:
Employed at
Community Table
Kitchen.

FEBRUARY 2015:
Joined
Ready to Work.

AUGUST 2015:
Moved into RTW
House after 310
straight days at
Boulder Shelter
for the Homeless.

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

$11.60
IS THE AVERAGE
WAGE FOR AN RTW
GRADUATE IN A
MAINSTREAM JOB

2016 YTD
SAVINGS FOR
RTW TRAINEES

$17,795

RTW SOCIAL
ENTERPRISE EARNS

$173K

EARNED YTD BY
RTW OUTDOOR
CREW

46%

TRAINEES
AVERAGE RATING
OF RTW PROGRAM:

3.0

OR VERY GOOD

OF THE TOTAL
BH BUDGET

TRAINEES PAY
1/3 OF THEIR INCOME
IN RENT. 2016 YTD
PAID RENT IS

$59K

$269K

EARNED YTD BY
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