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Brothers Redevelopment Blog0

Denver Emergency Rental Assistance Program to stop accepting new first-time applications

The Denver Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) will stop accepting new first-time applications for assistance at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 9.  

Recertification applications submitted prior to Nov. 1 and first-time applications submitted by Dec. 9 will continue to be processed. From June 2021 to Sept. 2022, Brothers Redevelopment administered more than $4 million in rental assistance to 819 Denver households. The need for rental assistance remains high — but limited funding is available to continue the program.  

According to the City of Denver’s Department of Housing Stability, the department is working to find ways to coordinate across Denver ERAP and Denver’s Temporary Rental and Utility Assistance Program (TRUA) to best serve residents during the transition from ERAP back to TRUA.  

Denver County residents seeking access to TRUA should call Colorado Housing Connects at 1-844-926-6632 to speak to a housing navigator to determine their eligibility and start the application process.  

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Brothers 2022 year in review

Throughout 2022, Brothers Redevelopment helped our neighbors across Colorado find solutions to their housing-related needs.

Once again, our organization prevented evictions and foreclosures across the state; saved older adults millions of dollars in cost savings from our Aging in Place senior services program; expanded Colorado’s largest and longest Home Modification and Repair Program; painted smiles on dozens of older adults through the Paint-A-Thon Program; saw the generosity of Coloradans through Kyle Clark’s Word of Thanks campaign on 9News; built and preserved affordable housing; and much, much more.

As we close out the year, here’s a look back at our accomplishments and milestones from 2022.

Brothers provides millions of dollars across the state to vulnerable renters 

The world appeared to return to as normal as possible in 2022 — but the ongoing impacts of the pandemic, combined with societal challenges like inflation, pricey rents, and an affordable housing shortage left many Coloradans in need of help.

Staff tasked with providing Rental and Mortgage Assistance answered the call and went above and beyond to keep Coloradans housed during tough economic times. This year, Brothers administered funds for rental assistance services programs, including Colorado’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program and the City of Denver’s Temporary Rental and Utility Assistance Program.

From June 2021 to November, Brothers provided over $9 million in rental assistance to 1,658 households in the state through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program. In Denver, the organization provided $396,797 in rental assistance and $15,682 in utility funds through the city’s Temporary Rental and Utility Assistance Program from January to September.

“You helped us over and over again this year. And frankly, we wouldn’t have survived this odd time without your help,” said Wendy Muhaisen — a resident who benefited from Brothers’ rental assistance services all throughout 2022.

Colorado Housing Connects (1-844-926-6632) expands services while receiving recognition at Eagle Awards 

These past few years have been very busy for Brothers’ statewide housing helpline, Colorado Housing Connects. But the helpline’s staff and housing counseling teams continued to work incredibly hard to advance housing stability across the state.

In 2022, Colorado Housing Connects proved to be an effective resource for Coloradans as the helpline received 50,670 inquiries from 60 of Colorado’s 64 counties. Coloradans received assistance with eviction/foreclosure prevention, tenant-landlord issues, housing counseling services, housing discrimination issues, and more.

Meanwhile, the helpline further equipped itself to address the region’s housing needs by launching tenant-landlord mediation programs in Adams County and Denver. The Adams County Tenant-Landlord Mediation Program works 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. The Denver program serves for all manner of housing disputes — like maintenance issues, lease disputes, security deposit disagreements, and other disputes.

Colorado Housing Connects’ work has not gone unnoticed. In May, the helpline was awarded the Eagle Award from Housing Colorado — a non-partisan membership association dedicated to serving organizations and professionals in the affordable housing industry in Colorado.

The Eagle Award represents one of the highest achievements within the Colorado housing community and celebrates extraordinary accomplishments and outstanding leadership in housing and support services.

Aging in Place keeps/adds money to older adults’ pockets 

Cost savings is by far the biggest success that Brothers’ Aging in Place senior services program has brought to older adult households.

As of Oct. 22, the Aging in Place Program has provided $847,569.33 in cost savings to older adults. When we say the program has provided $847,569.33 in cost savings, we mean that in 2022, clients are receiving monthly benefits or services that amount to a total savings of $847,569.33.

Brothers’ Aging in Place Program connects older adults to resources like Medicaid, Social Security, food assistance, rental/mortgage assistance and more. 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.

Older adults have suffered during these past few years, particularly when it comes to savings or income. According to a 2021 survey conducted by The Commonwealth Fund — an organization that works to promote a high performing health care system — 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.

Resident Services helps tenants in our communities access resources 

While our Aging in Place program serves the broader community, Brothers’ Resident Services program serves the communities we own and manage with services to help residents who rely on us for a home.

For example, at Paris Family Apartments in Aurora — a community for families with children who have a household income at or below 60% of Average Median Income — our team brought birthday parties and presents to children, hosted National Night Out with the Aurora Police Department, and more.

In our senior communities, our residents were treated to potluck parties, performances and classes to help them manage their budgets.  As the holidays kicked, off, many residents at Brothers Property Management communities were also treated to turkeys, pies, and gift cards to King Soopers for Thanksgiving.

Home Modification and Repair Program continues expansion, fulfills Brothers’ mission 

It’s amazing what a repair or home modification can do for low-income older adults — just ask Colorado Springs resident Dean Reedy.

In February, Reedy’s pipes cracked, leaving him without running water for nearly a week. To get by, he used bottled water he purchased with food stamps to wash his hands and shower — until he got in touch with Brothers’ Home Modification and Repair Program. And after applying for the program, Reedy’s issues were quickly resolved when Brothers fixed his plumbing, installed a new shower and kitchen faucets, and replaced his water heater — all at no charge to him.

Reedy is one of 375 households who received services through the Home Modification and Repair Program in 2022. Brothers’ Home Modification and Repair Program is Colorado’s largest and longest running program of its kind. And it continued to grow in 2022 by expanding to cities like Aurora, Firestone, and Broomfield.

As the year closes, the program is planning to offer Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design to boost safety for local businesses. Examples of this work could be adding security cameras, installing better lighting, putting up a fence, or changing the landscape of a property.

The Home Modification and Repair Program catapulted into the local spotlight in April thanks to the work of 9News reporter Kyle Clark and his Word of Thanks — a micro-giving campaign that involves Clark presenting an organization he’d like to highlight on “Next with Kyle Clark” and asking viewers to consider a $5 donation.

Thanks to Clark and the generosity of “Next with Kyle Clark” viewers, the Home Modification and Repair Program received $42,474 in donations from 1,276 donors.

Painting smiles for low-income, disabled older adults  

There are a few reasons why the Paint-A-Thon has been so successful over the past 44 years.

Brothers has always been blessed with a caring volunteer department and volunteers who genuinely want to have an impact on the region’s low-income older adults. Those factors — combined with generous donors who support the Paint-A-Thon at Brothers’ annual Local Social fundraiser — are why Brothers was able to paint 94 homes in 2022 during its 44th Paint-A-Thon season.

The Paint-A-Thon had 1,945 volunteers this year who collectively spent 14,340 hours painting houses, doing yard, and visiting with Brothers’ older adult clients.

For a more thorough review of the 44th annual Paint-A-Thon, click here.

Polis takes in Valor on the Fax 

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis is no stranger to the impact Brothers has had on the affordable housing landscape in recent years.

In 2019, Polis and then U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson joined Brothers President Jeff Martinez for the ribbon cutting of Paris Family Apartments. Three years later, Polis and Brothers’ paths would cross again — this time at the site of Valor on the Fax.

Polis, Lieutenant Gov. Dianne Primavera and other elected/public officials joined Martinez in April for an exclusive tour of Valor on the Fax —a 72-unit supportive housing community that will open in February for people facing housing insecurity because of acquired brain injury or related disability. Valor on the Fax is being developed by Brothers in partnership with the Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado — another nonprofit organization that serves people with brain injuries.

The supportive housing community will reside at 7900 E. Colfax and provide services to tenants, their families, and providers. Valor on the Fax is employing “trauma-informed design,” meaning that the building’s features are being created to reduce symptoms of brain injury.

The Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado will provide comprehensive services to Valor on the Fax tenants like resource navigation, job training and recreational and wellness activities. Meanwhile, Brothers will manage the community and provide housing resources to tenants like rent and utility assistance, homebuyer classes and more. Tenants will also receive housing vouchers to help them pay their rent.

Construction on Valor on the Fax is expected to be finished in early 2023.

 

 

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Brothers Redevelopment, Volunteers of America To Build Hundreds of Affordable Homes at Former Park Hill Golf Course

Two of the Front Range’s leading nonprofit housing organizations are teaming up to own and build more than three hundred units of permanently affordable rental housing at the former Park Hill Golf Course in Northeast Denver. If approved by City Council and Denver voters, Brothers Redevelopment, Inc. and Volunteers of America National Services (VOANS) will deliver new affordable housing as part of the proposed effort to convert the defunct golf course into new housing and more than 100 acres of new public parks and open space.

The two nonprofit organizations will serve as community development partners to Westside Investment Partners, the Denver-based company that owns the 155-acre site. In addition to owning and building new housing, the nonprofits will provide numerous wraparound services to ensure housing stability.

“With the news that Denver created just 933 income-restricted units over the past twelve months, the opportunity to build new affordable housing at the former golf course is significant,”  said Jeff Martinez, President of Brothers Redevelopment, Inc. “There’s an acute affordable housing shortage in northeast Denver, and opportunities to build hundreds of affordable units, particularly our low- and fixed income neighbors in one location, are becoming exceedingly rare.”

“Together, our two organizations have owned, developed or managed more than 1,600 apartments serving low- and fixed-income residents across the Denver metro area,” said Doug Snyder, Vice President, of regional real estate development at Volunteers of America National Services. “There’s an overwhelming demand for affordable family and senior  apartment homes across Denver, and we look forward to providing additional new housing opportunities and the services that keep these families and seniors housed in northeast Denver.”

The proposal to convert the former golf course, currently under consideration by Denver’s City Council, would build 2500-3200 high-quality units. Of these, more than 25% will be set aside for permanently affordable housing, with an equal number of permanently affordable rental and for-sale units. The proposal also sets aside more than two-thirds of the land, or 100+ acres, for new public parks and open space.

About Brothers Redevelopment

Established in 1971, Brothers Redevelopment, Inc. provides housing and various housing-related services to thousands of low-income, elderly and disabled residents across the state.  For more information on the many services that Brothers Redevelopment offers, visit www.brothersredevelopment.org or www.coloradohousingconnects.org.

About Volunteers of America National Services

VOANS, part of the Volunteers of America family of organizations, provides affordable housing and healthcare services in over 38 states and in Puerto Rico.  As one of the largest non-profit affordable housing owner/operators in the nation, the VOANS portfolio includes over 240 properties and 15,000 affordable housing units. VOANS also operates over 46 senior healthcare programs, including skilled nursing, assisted living, home health care, adult day and Program for All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).  For more information on VOANS, please visit our website at www.voans.org.

About Volunteers of America 

Volunteers of America, is a national, faith-based nonprofit dedicated to helping those in need live healthy, safe and productive lives. Since 1896, Volunteers of America supports and empowers America’s most vulnerable groups, including veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, at-risk youth, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals and families, those recovering from addictions and many others. Through hundreds of human service programs, including the housing and health care services provided by VOANS, Volunteers of America helps 1.5 million people in over 400 communities. For more information, visit www.voa.org

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44th annual Paint-A-Thon season in review

The day-to-day tasks of upkeeping a house can be difficult for anyone — especially for low-income older adults like Gail.

At the beginning of the pandemic, Gail’s husband passed away in a nursing home, and she was unable to see him due to COVID-19 protocols in place at the time. She described the incident as the most painful, frustrating experience of her life.

The two were best friends and chose not to have children, making his loss that much more devastating for her. And to make matters worse, Gail was left alone to upkeep a 50-year-old house that needed work done — especially on the exterior of the home.

Thankfully, Gail learned of Brothers Redevelopment’s Paint-A-Thon Program earlier this year. So, after applying for the program, volunteers from PCL Construction arrived at her house in August with paint buckets and brushes dressed in green shirts that read “Mission: Home Possible” — a nod to the title of Brothers’ 2022 Local Social fundraiser that the company sponsored.

The paint project was that more special for Gail because her husband worked for PCL Construction decades ago.

“They were all wonderful people. This took one of the burdens off my back because I have so many other things that need to be done on my home,” said Gail. “I didn’t want to be embarrassed with how it looked in the neighborhood. It looks so much better, and now I don’t have to worry about it.”

Gail’s house is one of 94 homes Brothers painted in 2022 during its 44th Paint-A-Thon season. The program utilizes volunteers from places like businesses, churches, and other entities to paint homes owned by low-income people, older adults, and those with disabilities.

Brothers painted houses in 17 cities this past year, including in Denver, Brighton, Colorado Springs, Thornton, Littleton, Lakewood, Englewood, Aurora, and other parts of the state.

“Paint-A-Thon had an incredible year in 2022. We saw our volunteer numbers increase by 250 and we increased our cost savings to homeowners by over $100,000,” said Brothers Volunteer Department Director Chad Nibbelink. “Perhaps even more significant were the increased interactions we saw with our homeowners and volunteers. We heard from both volunteers and homeowners that getting to know each other was one of the best parts of their Paint-A-Thon experience.”

A cause bigger than yourself

The 2022 Paint-A-Thon season wouldn’t have been possible without the selflessness of the 1,945 volunteers who collectively spent 14,340 hours painting houses, doing yard work, and visiting with Brothers’ older adult clients.

Volunteers chose to contribute their time to the Paint-A-Thon for a variety of reasons. Some painted houses in honor of loved ones like Heritage Title Company — who dedicated a Paint-A-Thon project to Kevin Lockett who passed away in July.

Others chose to volunteer for the Paint-A-Thon because they wanted to make an impact on affordable housing in Colorado — like 2022 Local Social fundraiser sponsor Native Roots who was named a Civic 50 Colorado honoree this year by CSR Solutions of Colorado. Other businesses who either fund Brothers or volunteered for the Paint-A-Thon that were recognized as a Civic 50 Colorado Honoree include Wells Fargo, who had employees volunteer for the Paint-A-Thon through its Welcome Home Initiative, Bank of America, Key Bank, and U.S. Bank.

In total, 133 volunteer teams worked to contribute to the Paint-A-Thon’s success.

“It’s a project that although it’s a lot of work in the day, you get to see the outcome of it. You get to see the transformation of a house, which is unique,” said Michelle Curry, PCL Construction District HR and Professional Development Manager. Curry has volunteered for the Paint-A-Thon four times and helped Brothers plan the Local Social.

“The homeowners have been fantastic and grateful and excited for this change. It’s just really a feel good event,” Curry added. “Ultimately it’s a day that you learn a lot, and even if you don’t think that you have the skills to do it, you really come together as part of your volunteer team. I would definitely say it’s an awesome way to tangibly give back to your community.”

Extending the life of homes for low-income, older adults

Linda Hunsberger serves as a part time caregiver for her 97-year-old mother at their Broomfield home. But the two jokingly say they care for each other, because Hunsberger has her own medical conditions.

This past year, Hunsberger had two knee replacements — making it increasingly difficult for her to maintain her home. The mother and daughter qualified for the Paint-A-Thon because of disabilities and income, and had their house painted in June by a group of teenagers from YouthWorks — a Christian organization that connects middle and high school students to mission trips.

Hunsberger said tears welled in her eyes when she realized a group of teenagers were spending part of their summer volunteering to beautify her home.

“I smile to myself when I think of Brothers Redevelopment,” said Hunsberger.

Like Hunsberger, 2022 Paint-A-Thon recipients struggled with income. The average 2022 Paint-A-Thon recipient’s income was $23,999 a year — a number that is drastically lower than Colorado’s median household income average of $75,231, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The average Paint-A-Thon project value is $6,024 — a price that would’ve cost Paint-A-Thon clients 25% of their average annual income had they paid for their houses to be painted.

“We know our volunteers care and that’s why they contribute so much to the effort. Their big hearts and hard work are why this program has been so impactful for the last 44 years,” said Nibbelink.

 

 

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Brothers congratulates HUD for 10 year anniversary of the Office of Housing Counseling

Brothers Redevelopment congratulates the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for celebrating its 10th anniversary of the Office of Housing Counseling.

In the past 10 years, Brothers’ housing helpline, Colorado Housing Connects (1-844-926-6632), has provided housing counseling services to over 20,000 clients throughout Colorado. Brothers employs HUD-certified housing counselors that went through certification to demonstrate proficiency in industry topics like the responsibilities of homeownership and tenancy, avoidance of foreclosure and eviction, financial management, and fair housing.

As a HUD-approved housing counseling agency, Brothers provides services to address a full range of housing counseling needs. Services include assisting homebuyers in evaluating their readiness for a home purchase and navigating the homebuying process, helping clients find affordable housing, offering financial literacy training, and providing foreclosure prevention counseling.

“It is easy to overlook just how involved housing counseling can be. When we hear from a client facing foreclosure, it isn’t about preserving an asset — it is about fighting for their home, the place where they meet their most basic needs, raise their family, and build their life,” said Colorado Housing Connects Program Director Patrick Noonan.

“Not only do our counselors respond to a client in crisis with empathy and compassion in each conversation, but they also pour hours into finding resolutions for a homeowner facing displacement. It is the small details that can determine whether a resolution is approved,” Noonan added. “Our counselors work incredibly hard to get the details right and to meet the client where they are in the moment.”

Brothers has provided housing counseling services since 1981. In 2006, the organization was selected by the Colorado Division of Housing to manage the Colorado Foreclosure Hotline. Through the hotline, Brothers brought together counseling agencies across the state to help hundreds of thousands of homeowners facing foreclosure. As a need for rental assistance grew, Brothers expanded the Colorado Foreclosure Hotline in 2014 to cover all housing topics — leading to the launch of Colorado Housing Connects.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Brothers teamed up again with the Colorado Department of Local Affairs and the Colorado Division of Housing to launch the Housing Counseling Assistance Program. Funded by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, the program involves Brothers collaborating with numerous housing counseling and legal services in Colorado to assist residents with comprehensive housing counseling, housing navigation and eviction prevention.

The service is free to all Coloradans and operated through Colorado Housing Connects. Among the housing counseling and legal services who are involved in the program include Boulder County, Douglas County Housing Partnership, NEWSED, Denver’s Southwest Improvement Council, and others.

To access Brothers’ housing counseling services, call Colorado Housing Connects at 1-844-926-6632 or visit coloradohousingconnects.org.

“Whether it was helping homeowners through the foreclosure challenges of the 2012 housing crisis, responding to the housing needs of victims of disasters, or the continuing housing relief and recovery resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, housing counselors have been there over the last decade to support families in making critical housing choices and equipping themselves for the future,” said HUD Deputy Assistant Secretary for Housing Counseling David Berenbaum in a statement. “This month, we recognize not only our role in helping people stay in their homes during times of crisis, but also in supporting a network of HUD Certified Housing Counselors who serve some 3,000 clients a day.”

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Emergency rental assistance is ending. But Brothers Redevelopment’s services aren’t going anywhere

 

The Colorado Emergency Rental Assistance Program will no longer process new requests for additional assistance/recertification on Oct. 21 at 11:59 p.m. and will stop accepting new applications in mid-November. But Brothers Redevelopment’s services aren’t going anywhere.

Since June 2021, Brothers has provided over $9 million in rental assistance to 1,658 households in the state through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program. The agency also serves Denverites by administering funds for Denver’s Temporary Rental and Utility Assistance Program — a financial resource available to Denverites. From January to September, Brothers has provided $396,797 in rental assistance and $15,682 in utility funds through the program.

Outside of financial assistance, Brothers’ housing helpline, Colorado Housing Connects (1-844-926-6632), has also been a beacon of hope for struggling Coloradans. The helpline received 35,246 inquiries from 59 of Colorado’s 64 counties in 2021. Callers received assistance with eviction/foreclosure prevention, tenant-landlord issues, housing counseling services, housing discrimination issues, and more.

If you’re concerned about paying rent in the coming months, here are some resources from Brothers that can help you keep your housing.

Rental Assistance

Denver County residents seeking rental assistance through the City of Denver’s Temporary Rental and Utility Assistance Program should call Colorado Housing Connects to speak to a housing navigator to determine their eligibility and start the application process.

Those who live outside of Denver County can still apply for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program if they’re new applicants until mid-November. To apply for the emergency rental assistance program, click here.

Colorado Housing Connects

Colorado Housing Connects is available to all Coloradans throughout the state and provides information on housing services and topics of interest to renters, landlords, first-time homebuyers, older adults, people with disabilities, and anyone with fair housing concerns.

The helpline works with renters to prevent evictions by connecting clients to local rental assistance resources, informing renters about the eviction process and their rights, and by helping renters access legal referrals.

Since 2020, Colorado Housing Connects has also offered free eviction prevention webinars in which housing/legal experts cover the eviction process, renter rights and rental assistance resources. To find the next webinar, click here.

Renters seeking assistance can contact Colorado Housing Connects at 1-844-926-6632 or by visiting coloradohousingconnects.org.

Tenant-landlord Mediation Services

Colorado Housing Connects offers free tenant-landlord mediation to residents in Adams and Denver counties.

The Tenant-Landlord Mediation Program in Adams County was designed for the purpose of creating housing stability in the county. Trained mediators facilitate high-quality, non-cost mediation services to mitigate landlord-tenant disputes in Adams County. The goal of tenant-landlord mediation 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.

In Denver, Colorado Housing Connects offers tenant-landlord mediation services for all manners of housing disputes — including maintenance issues, lease disputes, security deposit disagreements, and more.

Medication can help protect housing for struggling residents and is confidential. Among those who can benefit from the tenant-landlord mediation 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.

Those who are interested in tenant-landlord mediation services can learn more information by calling Colorado Housing Connects or by submitting a web inquiry at coloradohousingconnects.org.

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

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

 

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

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.”

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Volunteers and family paint house in honor of loved one

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.

CONTINUE READING

2250 Eaton St., Suite B,
Denver, CO 80214

Main Phone Number: 303-202-6340
CHC Phone Number: 844-926-6632
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info@brothersredevelopment.org

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