With all the resources we have, particularly here in Boulder County, it just shouldn’t be this hard for people to put food on the table or be able to afford a decent place to live,” she said. I think it’s something that deeply disturbs me.
I worked all over the world in countries in Africa and South America on poverty. “It’s kind of old-school, but it’s a lot more effective.”įor Van Domelen, EFAA’s work is aligned with her worldview and important to communal society when it comes to those in need. “Basically, our approach is not so much “fill out the form, and do you qualify?” as “let’s have a conversation,” Van Domelen said. Rather, a priority list depending each family’s situation. The organization has also helped extensively with car repairs in the wake of the initial COVID-19 pandemic. It is not a drop-in homeless shelter, and it is not permanently affordable housing. This short-term housing program in Nederland is meant for low-income families and fixed- income older adults who are at risk or have lost their housing. The nonprofit will start housing in Nederland in February 2023, and priority will be given to older adults and families with children experiencing housing insecurity. The organization will honor the leases of current residents who will live in the units until the end of January 2023. In Nederland, we’re looking at a blend a different program that fits the community need.”ĮFAA recently closed on the 10- unit Nederland property in June 2022, a former motel located at 260 East Street. “There is also an issue of seniors being able to go through those same transitions and find more stable housing when they may have to move out of their home. “There are more and more people that are being driven out of being able to afford Nederland,” she said. She says that they wanted it to remain with a social purpose in the community. Van Domelen said that they were approached by the current owners of the property, who were retiring. “It’s a holistic approach to support families that are going through housing insecurity.”Īt the new Nederland housing site, older adults and families children will have access to a mountain resource liaison to help them work toward self-defined goals and connect them to other critical community resources. “We work with families on their goals and savings, linking with other programs, working with the kids on other resources, after-school activities that we run,” she explained, speaking of financial literacy workshops and more offered. Families who participate in the program are paired with a case manager to help them with family and financial goal setting to work toward stability and resilience. A total of 94% of families who participated in EFAA’s housing program moved into safe and stable housing upon exiting.
Last year, EFAA provided housing for 125 families experiencing homelessness, including 255 children. The Nederland property will round out EFAA’s offerings of housing throughout Boulder County, adding to what is already available in Louisville, Longmont, Lafayette, and Boulder. “The idea is to keep the community connection so that mountain residents can maintain their jobs, schools, relationships, and routines,” said Van Domelen The new housing in Nederland will benefit older adults and families with children who are living in the mountains, and are at risk of losing their homes. The goal is stability over a period of time, and creating affordable housing for those that need it. We really are helping people with housing transitions.” “We’re not in the permanent housing business, but we really help people who are going through periods of housing insecurity. “Temporary housing is, I think, the best way to put that,” said Van Domelen. Of course, the organization also aids those who are in need with housing, like reduced-rent locations and rental assistance. The organization provides direct support, like rent, medical bills, utility bills, and car repair help. In Boulder, we run a food bank, and we have financial assistance, or basic need support. We serve the City of Boulder, the Boulder Valley School District part of the mountains, so Nederland, all the way up to and including Jamestown north across the Peak to Peak region,” said Van Domelen. According to Executive Director Julie Van Domelen, the nonprofit is a “community-based safety net” that has been operating for more than 100 years. Recently, the organization announced that it is expanding its housing offerings to Nederland. The Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA) is a local nonprofit that provides a variety of housing supports to families with children who are experiencing homelessness.
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