I had the great privilege of working a 2 month internship with Partners in Housing (PIH). During my time, I was able to see first hand all the wonderful support this organization provides to families. Partners are given financial advice, career counseling, and individual case management during their 1 year in the program. This is a place that helps people go from surviving, to truly living. Most of the individuals that complete the program are able to successfully get sustainable housing upon exiting. I'm so thankful for my opportunity with PIH, and hope to continue providing support any way I can.
My story about Partners in Housing. I have been a single mother for nine years. I struggled in those years to make ends meet and finally I had hit rock bottom. I was living in Pueblo and driving to springs to work; I came home one night absolutely exhausted and I forgot my purse in my car. My car was broken into, my purse stolen and all my money taken. My bank did not replace all my money and so I had no way of paying for my apartment in Pueblo. I then heard about Partners in Housing from a friend and went to them for help. They took me in and for two years helped me to get a better paying job, get scholarships and financial aid for my schooling. By the end of my second year at Partners in Housing, I was able to buy my first house. During my two years at Partners in Housing, I was received by honest, compassionate people who cared about me and who truly wanted to see me have a happy, prosperous life. Partners in Housing provided a safe, stable environment for me and my daughter. We were always greeted with smiles, warmth and laughter. I graduated from Partners in Housing and received a scholarship from the University of Phoenix; this is a school that Partners in Housing works with to help others achieve a higher education. I am very grateful to the staff at Partners in Housing for all they did for my daughter and I.
As a member of the Colorado Springs community for nearly 30 years, and a volunteer and board member for a number of high-profile not-for-profit organizations, I'm proud to say that my experience with Partners In Housing, its partner-clients, and community partners, was the most rewarding of my personal and professional life. PIH has continuously lead our community in providing affordable housing for homeless families with children, and been a model for homeless advocacy and non-profit joint ventures for many years. The forward thinking and amazing leadership by PIH staff and its boards has set an example for creativity and producing measurable outcomes based on Partner graduation rates and numerous examples of convering homeless people to contributing members of our community. PIH has experienced extraordinary success, in part, due to community collaborations and a willingness to work with others, and to eliminate the barriers often erected when seeking public, private, and foundation support for both programs and housing. PIH offers an unusual blueprint that could be easily adapted to other communities throughout the United States. I hope that one day PIH can provide that model to benefit homeless families throughout our country. I am proud to have served PIH in a variety of capacities over the years and will continue to offer my unwavering support for their mission in the years ahead. Steven R. Price, CCIM, CRE (719) 338-8303