Joseph Rios, Author at Brothers Redevelopment

Robert Montour’s life changed forever when his father was killed in World War II after a destroyer ship he was on was sunk in Okinawa — a Japanese prefecture.

Montour, who was only 10 when his father was killed in 1945, knew he was destined to serve in the Navy. So as soon as he turned 16, he packed his bags and ventured off to boot camp before eventually serving in the Korean War.

“My dad being killed kind of guided me toward wanting to get into the service,” said Montour, who is now 87 and lives alone in his longtime Lakewood home. “I could not wait to get in.”

When he came home, Montour married his late wife and had six children. He moved temporarily to California to take a painter’s apprenticeship, after which he worked for 41 years as a commercial painter. His career included time spent painting many of the skyscrapers in downtown Denver when they were first constructed.

But even Montour — who has worked with his hands all his life — admits that he needs help with upkeeping his home. The exterior of his house was beginning to deteriorate, and he needed modifications and repairs for his home to continue to age in place.

Thankfully, Montour learned of Brothers Redevelopment’s Paint-A-Thon after he saw a flyer about the service at his barbershop in August. So, he applied for the program, and two weeks later, a group of Wells Fargo volunteers came to paint Montour’s home and visit with him and his family. Lakewood Mayor Adam Paul and Lakewood City Councilmember Rebekah Stewart also visited the site to see the paint job and visit with Montour.

His home is one of three houses Wells Fargo painted through the Paint-A-Thon and is part of the company’s Welcome Home Initiative — an enterprise-wide employee engagement initiative that aims to support Wells Fargo’s commitment to affordable and sustainable housing.

Later this year, thanks to funding from Wells Fargo, Brothers will also provide Montour with a step-in shower, a new back door, and repairs for his home.

“I don’t like to be dependent on anybody — but I appreciate the help,” said Montour. “I appreciate someone being concerned about me and my well-being.”

Thank you Brothers Redevelopment, Inc. and Wells Fargo for helping this Korean War Veteran and his amazing family….

Posted by Mayor Adam Paul on Saturday, September 17, 2022

I feel so lucky to have been invited along with Mayor Adam Paul to the home of one of my constituents whose home was…

Posted by Councilwoman Rebekah Stewart on Saturday, September 17, 2022

Around three years ago, Anita Marui lost her mother and was left without any family in Colorado. That’s when PCL Construction Superintendent Josh Cervantes stepped in.

Cervantes and Marui were introduced to each other when he volunteered to paint her house in 2019 through Brothers Redevelopment’s Paint-A-Thon Program. And since then, the two have always stayed in touch.

Cervantes regularly texts Marui, has went to church with her, and even made sure that she had Thanksgiving dinner. And although she’s never asked him for help, Cervantes went out of his way to grocery shop for her during the pandemic.

“It’s not just about doing a good deed. It’s about building friendships,” said Cervantes. “Friends are family, and if they need something, we’re there to help out.”

Cervantes has volunteered for the Paint-A-Thon every year since 2016 and has organized some of the most complex Paint-A-Thon projects. He walks into every Paint-A-Thon project with the goal of taking an old home and turning it into an “MTV Cribs pad” while showing care and encouragement for each Paint-A-Thon client.

Earlier in August, as he was volunteering for the Paint-A-Thon with other PCL Construction employees at a Littleton home, Cervantes was awarded the Roland Buteyn Heart of Service Award from Brothers— the highest honor a Paint-A-Thon volunteer can receive. The award is named after Roland Buteyn who helped to develop many core Brothers’ programs like the Paint-A-Thon and Home Modification and Repair departments.

Brothers Volunteer Department Director Chad Nibbelink said that although this is the fifth year Roland is not with us to help present his award, his legacy will live on through the lives he touched, the programs he helped create and people like Cervantes who generously serve through Brothers.

“(Cervantes) and his wife Arica are some of the best Paint-A-Thon advocates. They display genuine care and service for our older adult neighbors and authentically engage their volunteer teams — making for the most fun and rewarding experience for everyone,” said Nibbelink. “Josh is totally deserving of this award, and we are honored to make him the 2022 Roland Buteyn Heart of Service Award recipient.”

Cervantes said the Paint-A-Thon is the perfect opportunity for PCL Construction to come together as a team to help people in need. He added that him and PCL Construction volunteers always try to go above and beyond and do more than what’s expected for each Paint-A-Thon project.

PCL Construction has volunteered for the Paint-A-Thon since 1985. The company is also sponsoring this year’s Local Social — Brothers’ annual fundraiser that supports the Paint-A-Thon.

“I have a huge heart, and receiving the award hit me emotionally. But to me, it’s not about the award, it’s more about setting an example,” said Cervantes. “The award is an award, but it’s about people seeing the little things you do make a difference. And hopefully that can carry on from one person to another.”

Native Roots Cannabis Co. became a supporter of Brothers Redevelopment in 2021 with a three-year agreement to collaborate on volunteer projects and sponsorship opportunities related to the organizations’ shared goals of safe and affordable housing for low-income, elderly and disabled Colorado residents.

For the past few years, Colorado has been in the midst of an affordable housing crisis. A stable and affordable home is essential for people to thrive in their lives and uplift their communities. As a local business, Native Roots wants to see Coloradans thrive and communities uplifted. Supporting Brothers helps achieve that vision.

As a cannabis cultivator, manufacturer, and retailer, Native Roots employs nearly 500 Coloradans across the state. With this size workforce, Native Roots is no stranger to the hardship people face when housing challenges arise. Moving, rent increases, property sales, evictions, foreclosures, etc. can be stressful at best and devastating at worst. The services provided by Brothers ensure many Coloradans can maintain their homes, navigate the housing market, and age in place, all of which positively impact the state’s available housing stock.

Native Roots is sponsoring Brothers’ premiere annual fundraiser — the Local Social. The event supports the nonprofit’s Paint-A-Thon Program, a service that utilizes volunteers to paint the exterior of homes for low-income/older homeowners.

“Brothers Redevelopment is able to leverage financial donations to stretch the impact of each donor’s contribution. Native Roots is confident knowing that Brothers is a reputable and strategic beneficiary making a difference in the lives of everyday Coloradans,” said Native Roots’ Public Affairs Manager Liz Zukowski.

The Local Social falls on Friday, Sept. 9 this year at 6 p.m. Tickets are on sale for $75 and include catered dinner by Biscuits and Berries, open bar access, door prize entry, and fun and games.

Native Roots has participated in the Paint-A-Thon two years in a row. In 2021, they enlisted the help of other cannabis operators in Colorado Springs to complete two home projects for local residents. In 2022, they completed a project for a homeowner in Denver’s Globeville neighborhood.

“Native Roots has 20 retail locations across the state; on the front range, in the mountains, and down south. It is important that we partner with nonprofit organizations that meet the needs of all our communities, and Brothers is able to respond where the need is greatest,” said Zukowski.

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Kevin Lockett was known as a kind, gentle man who loved his family, his commercial refrigeration business, his customers, and looking out for those in need.

He was known to use his business to help others like the Ft. Lupton Food Bank. And in his spare time, he enjoyed traveling around the world with his wife and seeing different places he didn’t get to as a child like Mexico.

Sadly, on July 5 Lockett fell through a roof while working and passed away due to his injuries at the age of 59. His family was left looking for a way to honor his memory and legacy of giving back to others before they were presented with the opportunity to volunteer for the Paint-A-Thon.

So, on Aug. 13 the family and employees from Heritage Title Company volunteered for a Paint-A-Thon project. Volunteers wore shirts that read “Kevin’s Krew” as they spent their Saturday painting a Denver house for an older married couple in need. It was a touching tribute for a man that gave so much.

“We thought if given the opportunity, he would’ve been out there painting,” said Leanna Boland, Lockett’s sister. Boland serves as Heritage Title Company’s regional title officer. The volunteer opportunity came from Heritage Hearts in Partnership — an employee volunteer program and community outreach of Heritage Title Company.

“It was a rewarding experience. I liked the opportunity to be outside and working and to be giving back to someone in need,” she added.

Boland believes Lockett would’ve absolutely loved the fact that his family completed a Paint-A-Thon project in honor of his memory. She said the experience filled each volunteer’s heart and provided them with the chance to build relationships while contributing to a worthy cause.

“Seeing the homeowners’ faces and how happy they were was great. They came and visited with us when we were painting, and they were just so appreciative of the people that were there for them,” said Boland.

Earlier this year, Kesha moved nearly 1,300 miles away from her Michigan home with her two teenage children to live with her oldest son in Colorado Springs.

But after her family split ways, Kesha and her children suddenly found themselves homeless for eight months in a new part of the country. The family stayed at different motels and couch surfed to stay afloat. But the burden of struggling with homelessness was larger than having unstable housing — it contributed to a negative effect on Kesha’s mental health.

“It was tough, it was really tough. It added to depression, it caused depression,” Kesha said. “It was kind of unreal to just have something like that up and happen all of a sudden.”

While seeking resources that could help her find housing, Kesha was referred to Brothers Redevelopment’s statewide housing helpline, Colorado Housing Connects (1-844-926-6632). And thanks to that connection, she began working with Colorado Housing Connects Housing Counselor/Navigator Katrina Brown who took Kesha under her wing.

Brown helped Kesha and her children access security deposit assistance for an apartment along with finances for her first month of rent so that the family could finally have a stable housing situation. She also assisted the family in accessing food assistance, furniture for their new apartment and even recruited her friends to donate gift cards to Kesha for places like Walmart and Target.

“When I say Colorado Housing Connects basically helped us with everything, I really mean it. It was comforting to know that we had someone in our corner, and we weren’t going to go through everything alone,” Kesha said.

Back in 2015, Hammersmith Management Vice President of Operations Leslie Johnson was recruited by a coworker to volunteer for a Paint-A-Thon project. And since then, she has been a regular volunteer for the program.

Johnson immediately felt a connection to Brothers Redevelopment’s mission of providing housing and housing services to low-income, elderly, and disabled Coloradans. It’s one of the reasons why she has painted eight houses through the Paint-A-Thon and serves on the organization’s Local Social fundraiser committee. Her commitment to serving low-income and/or disabled homeowners is the reason Brothers awarded her the Roland Buteyn Heart of Service Award in 2019 that honors Paint-A-Thon volunteers whose efforts shine and reflect the passion and compassion behind the program that paints around 100 homes for older adults each year.

“I feel like I end up receiving more than I give when I volunteer, and that is true with my experience with Brothers,” said Johnson. “The connections with Brothers staff, program recipients, and my coworkers is priceless.”

Each year, Hammersmith celebrates its HammerTime Day of Service which provides a paid day off for each of the organization’s team members to volunteer or serve for the Paint-A-Thon or other nonprofits. The Paint-A-Thon resonates with Hammersmith team members because it’s a chance to bond with each other, accomplish a project together and directly improve the life of a deserving Coloradan, Johnson said.

Hammersmith and Johnson’s commitment to the Paint-A-Thon is felt throughout all of Brothers and its clients. But the company’s work to make the Local Social possible is just as important.

This year, Hammersmith is sponsoring the Local Social — an annual fundraiser that benefits the Paint-A-Thon. The fundraiser, which falls on Sept. 9, will feature a live DJ, food, an open bar, games and more.

“Hammersmith has a special connection with Brothers because our work is all about homes, homeowners, and communities. One of our goals as a HOA management company is for all homeowners to have pride of ownership,” said Johnson. “That sense of pride not only builds a community and increases property values. But it also decreases violations and issues. The Paint-A-Thon instills and reignites pride of ownership while also providing our team with a meaningful way to give back.”

Tickets for the Local Social are on sale for $75 and include a catered dinner from Biscuits and Berries, access to an open bar, door prize entry and more. To purchase tickets and find more information about the event, click here.

“I attend a lot of fundraisers, and the Local Social is my favorite. The best thing about it is how approachable it is,” said Johnson. “It’s not a fancy black tie gala. The food is fabulous, the games are awesome, the music is jamming, and the drinks are flowing. It’s a fun night with a great purpose, and I can’t wait to attend again this year.”

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For the past 11 years, the Hayes Family Foundation has supported Brothers Redevelopment in one way or another — whether that be through volunteering for the Paint-A-Thon or by providing grants.

The group provided its first donation to Brothers in 2011, one year after it was founded. And since 2016, the foundation has been generous enough to provide Brothers with one of its largest annual budgeted grant amounts.

“Although we remain a small foundation, we are extremely loyal to our beneficiary nonprofits — especially (those) under strong leadership,” said Hayes Family Foundation Executive Director Lindsey Hayes Daly.

When Hayes Family Foundation Founder H. Michael Hayes passed away in 2014, the foundation’s asset base grew, forcing the group to establish its giving priorities. That’s when the foundation reached out to Brothers Redevelopment President Jeff Martinez who gave the group guidance on how to support smaller nonprofits and nonprofits who focus on operations and not fundraising.

“Together, we both grow our unrestricted donation philosophies. We are forever grateful for Jeff’s guidance,” Daly said.

The Hayes Family Foundation is sponsoring Brothers’ premiere annual fundraiser — the Local Social. The event supports the nonprofit’s Paint-A-Thon Program, a service that utilizes volunteers to paint the exterior of homes for low-income/older homeowners.

To the Hayes Family Foundation, the Paint-A-Thon is a worthy cause to support because the program offers vulnerable homeowners the chance to save and devote income to other important costs like medication, groceries and bills — while still allowing low-income Coloradans the opportunity to maintain their homes.

“Brothers truly understands and seeks to exceed return on investment for organizations who support them. A home is often the most important way to bring and keep a family together,” said Daly.

The Local Social falls on Sept. 9 this year at 6 p.m. Tickets are on sale for $75 and include catered dinner by Biscuits and Berries, open bar access, door prize entry, and fun and games.

For more information about the event and to purchase tickets, visit https://brothersredevelopment.org/2022-local-social/.

“The Local Social honors the staff and community who support Brothers’ mission every day, serves as a celebration for longtime supporters, and is the most fun way to introduce new community members to Brothers’ expansive programs and outreach. Further, because the overhead cost for the Local Social is low, our sponsorship dollars have a greater impact than most sponsorships — directly impacting the Paint-A-Thon community Brothers serves,” said Daly.

After contracting COVID-19 and spending 21 days on a ventilator at a Denver hospital, Gloria’s string of misfortunes continued after recovering from the virus.

Shortly after being discharged, Gloria — an undocumented older adult who is a monolingual Spanish speaker — was greeted with a medical bill totaling nearly $350,000 because she didn’t have insurance.

With nowhere left to turn to for help, Gloria began working with Brothers Redevelopment’s Aging in Place senior services program — a resource that empowers older Coloradans to age in place by bundling all the information they need to know about services under one roof. And thanks to the work of Brothers Senior Services Spanish Coordinator Eden Armendariz, the hospital waved $329,000 off Gloria’s medical bills. Armendariz also helped Gloria set up a payment plan to pay the remaining $20,000 balance over the next three years.

Without Brothers, Gloria and her family would’ve gone into debt and struggled paying for necessities during a time when prices continue to rise throughout the country.

Gloria’s success with the Aging in Place Program is an example of Brothers fulfilling its mission of being a compassionate organization that stands in the corner of Colorado’s most vulnerable residents. Her story is also an example of the kind of impact the Aging in Place Program aims to achieve.

Since the program’s inception in 2017, Aging in Place has connected thousands of older adults to resources like Medicaid, Social Security, food assistance, rental/mortgage assistance and more. From July 21, 2021, to May 22, the program has provided 42,096 services that amount to a program wide cost savings of $1,864,424.72.

Cost savings is by far the biggest success that the program has brought to older adult households. When we say that the program has provided cost savings of $1,864,424.72, we mean that in 2022, clients are receiving monthly benefits or other services that amount to a total savings of $1,864,424.72.

These benefits and services are resources that our clients have a right to access. But often times, we’ve found that our clients simply did not have information about benefits and resources they are entitled to.

Brothers’ ability to connect older adults to additional income, rent and utility assistance and other services has been vital for many residents who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the rising costs of necessities.

According to a 2021 survey conducted by The Commonwealth Fund — which works to promote a high performing health care system — older adults in the country have suffered the most economically from the pandemic compared to their counterparts in other surveyed countries. Around 19% of Americans age 65+ either used up all or most of their savings or lost a job/source of income because of the pandemic, the survey says.

“During this time of escalating costs, the Aging in Place staff is continuing its commitment to offering services to all older adults. Many older adults do not know that there are benefits that they are missing or are eligible for,” said Brothers Resident Services Manager Gary Olson. “Our program offers a benefits checkup which reveals areas that may increase income. This year we have helped over 3,000 people, which is our best year yet.”

Colorado’s only statewide housing helpline, Colorado Housing Connects (1-844-926-6632), is further advancing its mission of preventing evictions by now offering free tenant-landlord mediation to Adams County residents.

Through a partnership with Adams County formed in 2021, Colorado Housing Connects launched the tenant-landlord mediation program for the purpose of creating housing stability in the county. Colorado Housing Connects employees trained mediators to facilitate high-quality, no-cost mediation services to mitigate landlord-tenant disputes in Adams County. The goal of the program is to divert parties away from court-sanctioned eviction proceedings and to work toward mutually agreed alternatives between renters and landlords like rental assistance, payment plans, lease compliance, and more.

Mediation can help protect housing for struggling Adams County residents and is confidential. Among those who can benefit from the tenant-landlord mediation program include those who are concerned about paying rent, residents who are worried that rental assistance won’t come soon enough and those who are experiencing lease disputes or violations.

State data shows 2,445 eviction cases have been filed in Adams County in 2022 as of May 31.

“Far too often, we hear from tenants and landlords at their wit’s end. The relationship has eroded, and communication is strained,” said Colorado Housing Connects Program Director Patrick Noonan. “This can lead to eviction, other litigation, or lease non-renewal. Mediation is an opportunity for both parties to come to the table and work out an agreement that spares landlords avoidable costs and tenants an eviction. A tenant-landlord mediator can cut out the emotion and support a solution driven discussion.”

Outside of Adams County, Colorado Housing Connects offers tenant-landlord mediation services to Denver residents. The Denver tenant-landlord mediation program serves for all manner of housing disputes, including maintenance issues, lease disputes, security deposit disagreements, and more.

Housing nonprofit Brothers Redevelopment operates Colorado Housing Connects in partnership with the Colorado Department of Local Affairs. Colorado Housing Connects works to encourage long-term sustainable housing solutions to renters by informing Coloradans about the eviction process and their rights and by connecting residents to local rental assistance resources and legal referrals.

Those who are interested in Colorado Housing Connects’ tenant-landlord mediation services can learn more information about the programs by dialing 1-844-926-6632 or by submitting a web inquiry at coloradohousingconnects.org.

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Colorado’s largest and oldest home modification and repair program fell short of winning Housing Colorado’s Eagle Award — which celebrates accomplishments and leadership in housing and support services. But no award or trophy can justify the thousands of lives Brothers Redevelopment’s Home Modification and Repair Program has touched for more than 50 years.

Since the program’s inception in 1971, Brothers has completed more than 3,900 projects for aging and disabled homeowners across the Denver metro area, Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Gilpin County, Boulder County, rural parts of the state, and other areas of Colorado. Through the Home Modification and Repair Program, Brothers provides home repairs and mobility/accessibility modifications that promote safety and help vulnerable Coloradans age in place and comfortably in their own homes.

Thanks to Brothers’ long history of providing high quality housing related services, local governments, counties, and other sources of funding have invested nearly $2 million into the Home Modification and Repair Program. Because of that, each service provided through the program is offered for free or at a significantly reduced rate to qualifying Coloradans.

The Home Modification and Repair Program has contracts with more than 12 Colorado cities and counties that total an annual budget revenue of $1,778,336.

Funding/Location	Community Development Block Grants	Housing Authority	General Fund	Denver Regional Council of Governments	Private Grant	CAPABLE	Medicaid	Total
Douglas				X			X	2
Arapahoe	X			X	X		X	4
Jefferson				X	X		X	3
Denver				X	X		X	3
Adams				X	X		X	3
Boulder						X		1
El Paso	X						X	2
Gilpin				X				1
Clear Creek				X				1
Aurora	X			X			X	3
Centennial	X						X	2
Sheridan		X		X			X	3
Arvada			X	X			X	3
Thornton	X			X			X	3
Westminster	X			X			X	3
Commerce City	X			X			X	3
Broomfield			X	X			X	3
Colorado Springs	X						X	2
Total	8	1	2	14	4	1	15

Repairs provided by the program can include services like electrical work, roof repairs, plumbing work, furnace repairs, water heater replacements, and more. Mobility/accessibility modifications involve installing wheelchair ramps, expanding bathrooms, roll in shower conversions, installing grab bars, and other forms of modifications that help aging adults safely move through their homes and enjoy increased mobility.

Around 25% to 33% of older adults fall annually, and half of those falls occur in their homes — according to the Washington University of Medicine in St. Louis. However, research from the university suggests that in-home falls can be reduced by nearly 40% with a community-based program — like the Home Modification and Repair Program.

In 2021, the Home Modification and Repair Program completed 303 projects and saved older and disabled adults more than $1.3 million collectively.

Korean War Veteran receives helping hand from Paint-A-Thon

PCL Construction’s Josh Cervantes receives Roland Buteyn Heart of Service Award

Native Roots is a proud supporter of Brothers Redevelopment, an organization rooted in its care and commitment to Coloradans

Volunteers and family paint house in honor of loved one

Colorado Housing Connects rescues woman from homelessness

Hammersmith Management continues its commitment to Paint-A-Thon

For 10-plus years, the Hayes Family Foundation has supported Brothers in one way or another

Brothers continues to support older adults as inflation rises across state

Colorado Housing Connects launches Tenant-Landlord Mediation Program in Adams County

Home Modification and Repair Program nominated for Eagle Award