La Puente Home, Incorporated

Results: In 2023, La Puente provided the following services: (1) The Community Shelter afforded 10,376 bed nights to 373 individuals, distributed 859 hygiene kits, and served 28,719 community meals. Of our 373 guests, 70 successfully transitioned into stable housing through our Housing Navigation Initiative. (2) Adelante Family Resource Center worked with 112 households, equaling 346 individuals. (3) PALS had 39 children participate in its programming. (4) Crisis Prevention assisted 1,746 individuals in 1,042 households. Out of the total individuals, 92 identified as veterans. Employment Readiness Initiative served 176 clients. (5) The Food Bank Network served 9,790 individuals from 4,218 households, distributing 445,131 meals throughout the region. VEGI offered nutrition and gardening education to approximately 1,000 youth. (6) Street Outreach provided essential survival items and case management services to 280 individuals; 48 people successfully transitioned into stable housing.

Target demographics: La Puente offers services to anyone in need within our six-county region; during the most recently completed calendar year, data collected by all of our programs has shown we reached approximately a quarter of the SLV’s overall population. Out of those served, we provided no-means testing services so that anyone in need could access the assistance they required. While we do not serve any one target population, demographics range from newborn babies with their families, to the elderly.

Direct beneficiaries per year: 10,000

Geographic areas served: La Puente provides services within Colorado’s San Luis Valley; the region comprises Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Mineral, Rio Grande and Saguache counties.

Programs: La Puente carries out its mission through a variety of programs and initiatives. (1) The Community Shelter is a 68-bed living space with a soup kitchen serving three daily meals. Case managers work closely with Shelter guests to connect them with a comprehensive support network including La Puente’s Housing Navigation Initiative. (2) Adelante Family Resource Center promotes the empowerment and stabilization of families. Services include assistance with housing, case management, referrals, improved access to counseling, and family advocacy. (3) PALS provides a safe, trusting environment to foster the emotional, social, and educational needs of children exposed to trauma, abuse, or neglect. (4) Crisis Prevention offers wrap-around services, including financial and case management support to help re-house or re-stabilize individuals facing crisis. Crisis Prevention also houses La Puente's Employment Navigation Initiative. (5) The Food Bank Network supports a network of 15 food pantries that address the lack of food access within the SLV. In partnership with the Network, La Puente’s VEGI initiative uses gardening to teach individuals about self-sufficiency and nutrition. (6) Street Outreach builds relationships and provides essential supplies to individuals who are unsheltered, living in isolation, or at risk of homelessness, offering navigation of or referrals to services that promote housing placement and overall health.