Jewish Family Service of Colorado.
Regardless of your religion, Jewish Family Service of Colorado may be able to help. The non-profit is focused on assisting the less fortunate, seniors, and people facing a crisis. Several resources are available to address the needs of qualified clients. The non-profit will even offer job search assistance. Thousands of people, of all races and religion, usually get help from Jewish Family Service (JFS) of Colorado ever year.
Financial support
Whenever possible, the organization will try to offer families help from the Emergency Assistance Program, which can provide those that qualify with a safety net. There is very limited financial aid offered in order to prevent homelessness in the Denver metro area. So funds, which also be sent as a loan, may be issued for paying rent, utility or heating bills.
The focus of JFS is on homeless prevention. So this means they can provide working poor and/or low-income individuals emergency rent assistance, access to supportive services, and case management. The support will help those that are facing a crisis and ideally allow them to remain living in their homes.
Grants may be offered to help during the short term while the clients works to stabilize their situation. Call Jewish Family Service of Colorado at 720.248.4716 for more details or referrals. Only a small number of requests can be fulfilled, and some families will be given loans well. There are other sources of short term funds too. Find more details on emergency short term loans in Denver.
If you don't qualify, then referrals to other Denver or Boulder area non-profits may be available. If you do qualify for help with your rent or energy bills, then financial assistance will be paid out at the same time as the individual needing to enroll into case management. During this process the family will have a budget done, ensure they have a decent job, and work to set up future plans.
A Family Safety Net Program is run with partners in Denver and Boulder. JFS works with agencies including Coalition for the Homeless, Access Housing, Catholic Charities, Denver Urban Ministries, Energy Outreach Colorado, Senior Support Services, Inter-Faith Community Services, and the Senior Assistance Center. Together they offer resource to prevent homelessness. The program promotes self-sufficiency by providing clients in crisis with limited emergency financial assistance, free food, care management, and information and referrals.
Seasonal and Community Life programs from JFS of Colorado include the following.
- Thanksgiving assistance program and baskets are offered as part of the Dorinda Levy Thanksgiving Fund. Low income, struggling, and unemployed members pf the community will get all the ingredients for a traditional Thanksgiving meal, including a free turkey, green beans, potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing, gravy, pumpkin pie supplies, eggs, and milk.
- Free School Supplies for Students is for children whose families are at risk. As a result of the Back-to-School program, students can be provided a wide selection of free school supplies, notebooks, clothing, and more.
- Individualized Holiday Gifts and Baskets from Bright Holidays. This is an adopt a family type program and is for children, the homebound, seniors.
- Jewish Family Service of Colorado Community Passover Program will provide free groceries, food, and more. Each Passover basket for a Denver area family includes a kosher chicken and a full complement of free kosher-for-Passover food items.
A Food Pantry, known as Harry and Jeanette Weinberg, helps families and individuals that are facing hunger and insecurity. It can be called upon in an emergency. Or, in some cases, people use it on a more recurring basis. It provides many struggling families with supplemental food that allows them to make ends meet without sacrificing health and nutrition.
Some of what may available at the pantry includes free fresh vegetables, fruits, dairy products, baby formula and breads. Other items are supplemental canned and packaged foods. There may also be Toiletries, Baby food, infant formula, and diapers. Jewish Family Service of Colorado also takes part in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). To make an appoint, dial 720.248.4716. Proof of income, address, residency, and other documentation will be needed.
Job training and placement
Help with a job search is available in the Denver metro area, Jefferson County, and nearby towns. JFS of Colorado may be able to assist people through various employment support services. Assistance is for anyone that is unemployed and/or underemployed. The case manager provides job application and resume assistance, best job search tools and techniques, hot job leads, and appointments for counseling. Phone number is 303.597.5000. Or learn more on government workforce development job programs.
The SHALOM Denver Employment Services program will help prepare welfare recipients and people on government benefits for the workforce. It is a fully intensive job-readiness program.
Staff from Jewish Family Service of Colorado work with individuals one-on-one and the agency will prepare for success in the Denver workplace. Job seekers and people that need support come from diverse backgrounds. Many of the clients have highly developed skills, extensive work histories, and even college degrees. Others have significant barriers to finding or holding a job, such as disabilities, criminal backgrounds, or a lack of education. The goal of the program goal is to move participants from welfare to work.
The SHALOM program can ideally give clients skills assessments and development, volunteer and internship placements, interviewing skills, résumé strategies, job search plans, and job placement. Networking skills and referrals are offered too. Some people may be placed into internships that could lead to full time positions with local employers.
Through workshops and classes that offer work skills development, life skills training, one-on-one counseling, computer classes and hands-on professional internships, SHALOM Denver participants are prepared to become successful in the workforce over the long term.
Senior assistance from Jewish Family Service of Colorado
A number of programs are offered for the elderly, homebound, and seniors.
Home-based Services can help older adults remain living in their homes with dignity and safely. They can receive companionship and a little extra help in order to maintain their independence. Homemakers from JFS in Colorado visit senior clients across Denver County a few times per week. They can help with shopping, light housekeeping, cooking, and small errands. They can also assist with Grocery shopping service, vacuuming, cleaning kitchen, and meal preparing. Home services do have a cost to the client and they are not free. Phone 720.248.4622.
Outreach is a visitation type service. This will offer companionship and also educational opportunities to seniors. Another option is the Geriatric Care Management program, which will help the client choose a nursing care facility in the area. Call 303.597.5000.
The homebound can get assistance from Kosher Meals on Wheels, or KMOW. The applicant needs to be 60 or older and qualified as homebound. For this particular program, the individual must also be Jewish or have a spiritual need to receive kosher meals. A free hot meal is delivered Monday through Friday. Clients will get a small emergency box of shelf-stable items in the fall and also nonfat dry milk powder twice per month. During the holidays, a frozen meal is pre-delivered.
Each box of food consists of an entrée and sides, such as fruits, vegetables, and breads, which are needed to provide at least one-third of the recommended daily nutrients for older adults. The Volunteers of America (VOA) in Colorado is also a key partner. 720.248.4665.
Several other programs are available. They include Disability Services, Mental Health Services, KidSuccess School-based Counseling, Geriatric Counseling, and the JFS Colorado Senior Connections. The main office is at 3201 South Tamarac Drive, Denver, CO 80231.
|
