El Paso County assistance programs.

People who have fallen on hard times, who are behind on their bills, need rent help, or who are in general struggling in this weak economy have options. One local non-profit agency, the Pikes Peak Community Action Agency, Inc., both administers its owns assistance programs and can also refer people to other local charities and agencies.

Together these local organizations will provide El Paso County and Colorado Springs families with comprehensive services, resources and programs to help people pay for every day expenses and also to reduce the effects of poverty throughout the Pikes Peak and El Paso County region. (719) 471-7870

Emergency and Crisis Assistance

They offer a program known as Family Stabilization Services. It helps almost 20,000 people each and every year. Many of the people who receive aid from this program are formally “stable” households, people that paid their bills on time in the past, and now are finding themselves in some type of short term crisis. Maybe they had a job loss or reduction in income, or maybe a medical emergency came up.

This emergency program was designed to help these people. It will address the emergency needs such as provide grants for rent or mortgage, money for medical prescriptions and drugs, utility and heating bill help, food assistance, assistance with obtaining a valid identification, housing rehabilitation, transportation, and even budget and debt counseling to help people get out of credit card or medical debt. Find additional ways to get medical bill assistance or credit card help.

The Pikes Peak Community Action Agency provides people with a variety of services, including cash grants (as funding allows), referrals to other national and local programs, and resources from other charities and non-profit agencies. The goal is to help people make it through the short term emergency, and help them become self-sufficient over the long term.

 

 

 

Education Programs and Job Training

The agency (phone number above) also offer services and resources that primarily focus on providing people with job training, short-term certifications, and tools to help them improve life skills and employment opportunities Transitions to Independence Program is the name of this offering. They offer clients assistance with improving their job skills, professional certification and short-term training fees, money for paying book and licensing fees, supportive counseling, and information on scholarship programs. Click here to find additional information on scholarship grants.

In addition, the TIP Program also works with local companies and various community-based organizations to build collaborative networks of support and possibly help someone find a job.

Rent Assistance

If you are facing an eviction, the federal government funded Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program may be able to help. This housing assistance program is not for the chronic homeless or those with a shaky employment history, but is intended to assist those Colorado families who are facing an unexpected emergency, crisis, or short term hardship.

The assistance program, which is currently being funded with federal government stimulus money, provides either short- and long-term rental assistance as well as money for heating and utility bill assistance primarily to those affected by the poor economy. Funding does not pay for mortgage payments, but it will help those people who have lost their home to a foreclosure move into a new apartment. The Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program  also will pay for people to store their belongings, it will provide them with basic free credit and legal counseling, and it will pick up the cost of a motel or hotel room if they cant get into an apartment right away.

Seven local non-profit agencies are taking part in the program, including Pikes Peak Community Action Agency ((719) 471-7870), and all of these agencies are required to provide counseling and case management. Read more on Colorado Spring rental assistance.

 

 

Food assistance programs

If you are struggling with feeding your family, the Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado, partners with local charities and food distribution centers to provide help to those in Colorado Springs and El Paso County who need it most. Over a years timeframe they distribute hundreds of thousands of pounds of free food and groceries to those families and individuals who need it most. Call them at 719-528-1247.

Emergency services, cash grants, and assistance in El Paso Colorado

Catholic Charities of Colorado Springs runs the The Hanifen Center. This center/program will help meet the immediate basic needs of individuals and families. Some of the services offered by the agency include housing, shelter and rent help, employment/income counseling, life skills, education, job training, mental health aid, medical/physical health, transportation, and childcare referrals and assistance. Financial assistance for bills may also be offered on a very limited basis as funding allows. Call them at 719.636.2345.

The Salvation Army, El Paso County branch is another local nonprofit agency that offers a multitude of assistance programs. One of the primary programs is the family services, which provides cash grants and other forms of assistance to families and individuals that are experiencing life crises and financial hardships. Some of the services provided include: free food and clothing, rent help, cash for utility bills, Christmas assistance and various emergency needs. In total, the Salvation Army of Colorado Springs fills over 36,000 of these needs each year including almost 8,000 emergency meals to senior citizens, elderly, homeless and others in the El Paso community. They can be reached at 719.636.3891.

Receive access to additional help from Tri Lakes Cares. While this agency does not have quite as many options, they can provide emergency groceries, school supplies, holiday food baskets, and other forms of aid to people in need. (719) 481-4864.

Ecumenical Social Ministries (ESM) - Families and individuals that live East of I-25 in zip codes 80903, 80905, 80906, 80907, 80909, 80910, 80916 may be able to receive emergency partial rent assistance to prevent eviction from home. Funds can also be provided to pay heating and utility bills. Colorado Springs. 719- 636-1916

Northern Churches Care - Rent Assistance is offered on Monday only. Colorado Springs. (719) 277-7470

Westside Cares - Several assistance programs are offered to low income, the working poor, and unemployed. They include rent, bus tokens, eye glasses and exams. Many criteria apply in order to receive aid. Call 719-389-0759.

Billie Spielman Community Care Services - They run a program known as Family Stabilization Services (FSS) This service is designed to address and help people with emergency needs such as, utilities and clothing (all zip codes), heating expenses and free food, medical prescriptions, transportation assistance, and budget and debt counseling (for zip codes west of I-25). Call (719) 344-8994

Women Partnering Programs – Vulnerable women and children can get help. They address basic needs, starting with housing, energy bills, food, and utilities. Counselors work with individuals to tell them about resources and help them apply for assistance. 10 South Institute, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903, dial 719-577-9404

Walt Fortman Community Center – Offers social services, including utility and heating bill assistance, rent, and housing payment assistance. Aid is offered as part of the WFCC's Family Stabilization Services (FSS) program. 501 East Iowa, Fountain, Colorado 80817, call 719-382-8515

Eastern El Paso Community Center – This local community action agency also runs the Family Stabilization Services. Get help with energy and electric bills, rent, food, medications, and other financial grants. 450 Colorado Ave, Calhan, Colorado 80808, dial 719-347-2976

Home Front Cares – Military members, Active Duty, Activated Reserve and National Guard members can get financial assistance for utility bills, food, medications, housing, and other basic needs. Telephone 719-447-3838

Southern Colorado AIDS Project (S-CAP) – AIDS/HIV patients may qualify for funds and grants which may be used to provide money for rent, security deposits and utility bill payments to prevent homelessness in the community. 1301 S. 8th Street, Suite 200, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80906, dial (719) 578-9092

Maternity of Mary, Inc. – Offers case management, advice, and information on financial assistance for pregnant mothers. 24825 Meier Rd, Calhan, CO 80808, call 719-683-4831

Legal services and representation

Colorado Legal Services provides access to legal advocates who are tasked with helping low-income, elderly, and disabled individuals in dealing with civil legal matters. Applicants can get free advice from civil legal aid attorneys, law students, pro bono attorneys, faculty and other legal advocates who provide access to free legal programs and assistance. They have offices across the state, and also support El Paso county families. Call them at 303.837.1321 for more information, or learn about about Colorado free legal advice.

Foreclosure assistance programs

Consumer Credit Counseling Service has an office located at 5265 N Academy Blvd, Suite 1000 in Colorado Springs, CO. Their phone number is (719) 598-2227. They are a HUD approved housing agency that can help homeowners deal with mortgage troubles. Their services including everything from addressing a so called predatory loan, to providing foreclosure prevention and counseling services to delinquent borrowers. They can even work directly with lenders and banks to find a solution to a foreclosure problem. Find additional Colorado foreclosure assistance programs.

Pikes Peak Foreclosure Prevention Partnership offers the following services and resources. The agency will work with your bank, lender, or mortgage company to enable owner to remain in home. The organization will encourage the home owner to get financial help and cash assistance from family and or friends to catch payments up to current status. In addition, they will assist in getting a second mortgage on the persons home to bring first mortgage current if owner is working. The partnership may also refer families to other local non-profit agencies and charities for short time assistance. Phone 719-444-8833

Colorado Springs debt assistance, bankruptcy programs, and other financial advice

In addition to the foreclosure programs indicated above, Consumer Credit Counseling Service also provides a variety of financial counseling and advice programs. They can help people deal with credit card and medical debts, provide bankruptcy solutions and programs, and enter consumers into low cost or even free debt management plans. CCCS' trained debt counselors can help consumers address and control their outstanding debts, whether their financial challenge is a result of unforeseen a medical emergency, circumstances, short term hardship, inadequate financial skills, job loss, or just maintaining an image. The phone number is (719) 598-2227.

Cornerstone Credit Counselors Service, of Colorado Springs ((719) 522-1722), will negotiate with creditors and credit card issues to try to reduce payments and interest rates for consumers, they will provide consolidation of the payments through a debt elimination program. Read some of the pro and cons of debt settlement and consolidation. More.

 

 

Heating and energy bill help

Contact the Energy Resource Center. The programs they run and the agency can help people repair furnaces and heating units, and can direct families towards the low income HEAP program which can provide cash grants and financial assistance. Call them at 719-591-0772.

Community Clinics in El Paso County Colorado

Mission Medic Clinical Services - (719) 219-3402. They may be able to provide health care to low income and patients without health insurance.

Northern Churches Care of Colorado Springs has a nurse that provided limited medical care. 719 277-7470

Open Bible Medical Clinic works with drug companies patient assistance programs to provide low cost medications, and may be able to refer people to other local programs, if you meet program terms. Call (719) 475-0972

Clinic at St. Francis - This community clinic provides basic health care for both low-income and uninsured patients, including adults and children, who have little access to affordable medical treatment or health care services. Call (719) 776-8850

Food, groceries, and household items

The following charities, non-profits, and organizations may be able to provide free food and other items such as household products, diapers, clothing, or more. You will need to call to get the specifics. Or click here to locate additional food banks in El Paso County.

Crossfire Ministries (Colorado Springs(719) 447-1806), Eastborough Food Panty (719-596-1929), Good Shepherd United Methodist Church (emergency food pantry (719) 392-5782), Lighthouse Mobile Ministries (719-633-6800), and St. John Baptist Church ((719) 633-7017).