Without the million hours our volunteers have poured into the Paint-A-Thon the past 46 years, homeowners like Paula Maloney wouldn’t have experienced the transformative impact of renewed hope and revitalized homes. And in some cases, like Maloney’s, they could’ve been left without a home.
Maloney is a single, 80-year-old woman living with a disability in her longtime Thornton mobile home. Her home is located at a major corner lot in a mobile home park and has been struck by two cars over the years. One of the accidents involved a drunk driver and knocked over a telephone pole which then penetrated the exterior wall of the home, nearly hitting Maloney while she slept.
Maloney was forced to pay for repairs for the damage the drunk driver caused at her home. But her problems with maintaining her home had just begun.
Her trailer park lot’s management office gave her an eviction notice telling her that she needed to paint the exterior of her home, do intense landscaping, clean up any junk, and fix broken skirting.
Feeling overwhelmed and with nowhere else to turn, Maloney learned about Brothers Redevelopment’s Paint-A-Thon program. After applying, her life changed when volunteers from Dordt University kicked off the 46th annual Paint-A-Thon in March at Maloney’s home. The group spent the day painting her house, trimming trees, cleaning gutters inside and out, carefully caulking any seams at risk of water damage, and helping clean up the exterior of the house.
“When you’re 80 years old, and you think that you’ll be evicted — yeah, it makes you feel very nervous. Just at the time I received the notice, (Brothers) reached out to me,” said Maloney. “It came together exactly at the right time.”
Stories like Maloney’s remind us of the incredible impact volunteers can have. It’s because of those million hours, given selflessly by countless individuals, that neighbors can remain in their homes, feel safe, and experience the joy of a revitalized space. Brothers is eternally grateful for everyone who has ever picked up a paintbrush, wielded a hammer, or lent a helping hand at the Paint-A-Thon.
“I just didn’t know what to do, and (I had) nowhere to go. You don’t know how grateful we are that you guys are doing this for us,” said Maloney.
2023 was a year of groundbreaking initiatives, colorful transformations, and unwavering support for our community from Brothers Redevelopment.
We started the year with ambitious goals, fueled by our belief that everyone deserves a safe, decent place to live. We ventured into uncharted territories as we proudly unveiled Valor on the Fax — the nation’s only affordable housing community crafted for individuals with acquired brain injuries or related disabilities. And we tackled complex housing challenges head-on. From aiding those on the brink of housing insecurity to assisting older adults in maintaining their homes through essential repairs and modifications, we navigated through complexities with dedication and compassion.
The 42,277 individuals we had the privilege to serve this year are far more than mere statistics. They are families who got to keep their housing, individuals rediscovering hope and purpose, and older adults enjoying an enhanced quality of life.
As always, we at Brothers Redevelopment are thankful for the support of our partners, volunteers, donors, and others who allowed us to move onward and upward in 2023. Here’s a glimpse into some of the highlights that made our year so special.
Unveiling Valor on the Fax: A Milestone Celebration for Affordable Housing and Trauma-Informed Design
Brothers Redevelopment President Jeff Martinez (middle) cuts the ribbon for Valor on the Fax, our newest affordable housing community for people with acquired brain injury and related disability.
A cornerstone of our year was the May unveiling of Valor on the Fax where our dedicated team, community leaders and valued partners/supporters gathered to celebrate the opening of the community.
TV cameras swarmed the rooftop patio of Valor to document the incredible milestone in Colorado’s housing landscape as figures like Brothers President Jeff Martinez, Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado CEO Kate Kerkmans, and others took center stage, articulating the pressing need for this revolutionary affordable housing complex. Shortly after, crowds swarmed to the front of Valor where Martinez and others finally cut the ribbon to open the new, 72-unit building.
Valor on the Fax, located at 7900 E. Colfax Ave., is the result of a collaboration between Brothers and the Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado. The supportive housing community provides services to tenants, their families, and providers while employing trauma informed design — meaning the building was designed to reduce symptoms of brain injury.
Our tenants at the community receive comprehensive services from the Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado, like resource navigation, job training, and recreational and wellness activities. Tenants also receive housing resources from Brothers like rent and utility assistance, homebuyer classes, and much more.
Brothers Property Management Expands Affordable Housing Impact Across Colorado, Welcoming New Communities in 2023
In 2023, Brothers Property Management’s portfolio grew to offer more than 1,000 affordable units to families, youth experiencing homelessness, low-income older adults, and other Coloradans in need of affordable housing. Pictured is Greenway Flats at 31 W. Las Vegas St. in Colorado Springs which holds 65 units of permanent affordable housing for chronically homeless men and women. Brothers Property Management began overseeing Greenway Flats this year.
Our commitment to affordable housing reached new heights this year that extended beyond the opening of Valor on the Fax, thanks to our dedicated staff at Brothers Property Management.
This past year, Brothers Property Management’s portfolio has grown to offer more than 1,000 affordable units to families, youth experiencing homelessness, low-income older adults, and other Coloradans in need of affordable housing. In 2023, we were awarded new property management contracts to manage additional affordable housing communities in Aurora, Boulder, Denver, Lakewood, and Colorado Springs.
Notable new communities Brothers Property Management began overseeing this year include Alameda View Apartments, Greenway Flats, and SPARKwest.
Alameda View Apartments — located at 15501 E. Alameda Parkway in Aurora — is a 116-unit, Low Income Housing Tax Credit family community. Meanwhile, Greenway Flats at 31 W. Las Vegas St. in Colorado Springs holds 65 units of permanent affordable housing for chronically homeless men and women. And finally, SPARKwest in Boulder at 3215 Bluff St., boasts 45 units of permanent affordable housing.
Looking ahead, Brothers Redevelopment is preparing to bring a permanent supportive housing community to Arapahoe County that will provide housing and services to unhoused clients of the 18th judicial district problem solving courts, the Arapahoe County Pretrial Mental Health Program, Diversion clients of the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, the Probation Mental Health Program, Project SAFER, Veterans Treatment Court, jail re-entry, and defendants being restored to competency.
Paint-A-Thon and Home Modification and Repair Services Continue to Thrive
Brothers Redevelopment’s 45-year-old Paint-A-Thon Program painted 116 houses for older/disabled adults in 2023.
With every house we paint and every repair/modification we conduct, we’re not just enhancing physical spaces — we’re creating havens where families flourish and individuals thrive.
Thanks to the work of 2,621 volunteers, our Paint-A-Thon Program transformed 116 houses for low-income/disabled older adults in need. That is the most houses we have painted since 2019 when we also completed 116 projects through the service.
Simultaneously, our Home Modification and Repair Program expanded its reach into new jurisdictions, including Firestone, Boulder County, and beyond. This program, the longest of its kind in Colorado, is a vital force in preserving the homes of our older adults, allowing them to age gracefully. We completed 515 repairs/modifications in 2023, saving our clients more than $2 million.
CAPABLE consists of time-limited services in a series of visits from an occupational therapist, a registered nurse, and a technician from Brothers who work in collaboration with the program participant. Over a four-to-six-month period, these individuals visit the participant’s home.
A key component of this approach is having the participant drive the goal setting. The participant brainstorms strategies with team members to arrive at preferred ways to reach goals. Each action builds on the previous visits and focuses on the participants’ capacity to function at home.
A Colorado Housing Connects housing counselor teaches a homebuyer education workshop. Colorado Housing Connects offers several free housing classes to help residents understand how to find affordable housing, eviction prevention webinars, and homebuyer education workshops.
For many Coloradans, the thought of paying rent or mortgage brought anxiety and fear due to inflation, soaring housing prices, and the end of several pandemic-born assistance programs. But thankfully, our most vulnerable neighbors knew to turn to a valuable resource that has served the community through crisis after crisis.
Our statewide housing helpline, Colorado Housing Connects (1-844-926-6632), continued to show its value by serving 31,704 people in 2023. Our dedicated housing navigators and housing counselors connected clients to financial assistance, eviction/foreclosure prevention resources, and much more in 60 of Colorado’s 64 counties.
Through a variety of in-house resources, Colorado Housing Connects strived to advance housing stability throughout the state. We offered housing classes to help residents understand how to find affordable housing, eviction prevention webinars, and homebuyer education workshops. And we also provided tenant-landlord mediation assistance to nearly 600 households in Adams and Denver counties, helping to divert parties away from court-sanctioned eviction proceedings and to work toward mutually agreed alternatives between renters and landlords.
Outside of the incredible achievements by our Colorado Housing Connects team, our rental/mortgage assistance team worked tirelessly to distribute financial assistance to struggling Coloradans.
This year, Brothers provided nearly $9 million in rental, mortgage, and utility assistance to renters and homeowners throughout the state. We administered funds for several rental/mortgage assistance programs, including the City of Denver’s Temporary Rental and Utility Assistance Program and the City’s Foreclosure Financial Assistance Program. Additionally, our commitment extended statewide, contributing financial assistance to Coloradans offered through Colorado’s Emergency Rental Assistance and Emergency Mortgage Assistance programs.
We know rental/mortgage assistance is more than just that — we are assisting livelihoods and creating housing stability for all Coloradans.
Empowering Lives, Unlocking Savings: Brothers’ Aging in Place Program Redefines Well-being for Older Adult Households
Brothers Redevelopment’s Aging in Place Program orchestrated an impressive $1,481,725 in cost savings, redefining well-being for our older adult clients. This figure captures the monthly benefits and services provided to our clients.
This year, the Aging in Place Program has orchestrated an impressive $1,481,725 in cost savings, redefining well-being for our older adult clients. This figure captures the monthly benefits and services seamlessly provided to clients, resulting in a remarkable cumulative savings.
At the core of this service is the commitment to connect older adults with invaluable resources such as Medicaid, Social Security, food assistance, and rental/mortgage aid. These benefits and services, inherent rights for our clients, often eluded their grasp due to a lack of information. By bridging this knowledge gap, our program not only unlocks essential resources but more significantly, empowers older adults to claim the financial support they rightfully deserve. In doing so, Brothers’ Aging in Place Program stands as a beacon of empowerment, ushering in awareness, accessibility, and substantial savings for the older adults we proudly serve.
Brothers Redevelopment’s Visionary Path Forward: Unveiling the 2022-2027 Strategic Plan for Holistic Housing Solutions Across Colorado
To kickoff 2023, Brothers released its 2022-2027 Strategic Plan, outlining four strategic priorities and fulfilling our vision of employing a holistic approach to eliminating barriers to stable housing for low-income community members, older adults and people living with disabilities across Colorado.
The strategic priorities of the plan include:
Growing a strong and stable presence across Colorado by responding to housing needs along the I-25 corridor; working with state and local leaders to identify gaps in services across the state; and focusing on housing challenges that Brothers is positioned to address.
Serving our neighbors through reliable and innovative programs by expanding in the provision and development of affordable housing; expanding the number of units that Brothers Property Management oversees to maximize revenue and build out the department’s capacity to facilitate growth and complexity in the portfolio; identifying opportunities for Brothers program expansion that will lend to enhance service provision and spur new opportunities for future funding/revenue; continuing to build and maintain capacity for strong stewardship; and helping marginalized and excluded communities gain access to stable housing.
Broadening our funding base by focusing on self-sustaining programs and diversifying our grants base and other funding sources.
Investing in and recognizing our team by increasing unifying activities for our staff; providing flexibility to accommodate varying employee needs in a changing workplace; and committing to inclusivity.
This new plan takes into account and builds upon the tremendous organizational growth and trends we’ve experienced since 2017 to lead us into a new era of impact that will see Brothers help tens of thousands of Coloradans in the near future.
The planning process was the most comprehensive of its kind in Brothers Redevelopment’s 52-year history and was meant to incorporate the views of various stakeholders to guide the implementation of our mission. Each priority has individual goals and metrics to measure progress. Those metrics will be evaluated with our Board of Directors monthly to ensure we are on track to meet the priorities of the plan and identify any areas of improvement.
When Liz Zukowski started her role as policy and public affairs manager at Native Roots Cannabis Co., she had a goal to build new relationships with local nonprofit organizations like Brothers Redevelopment.
Zukowski saw the Denver metro area’s growing housing crisis and knew the topic was a focus that would resonate with Native Roots’ employees and the broader community. So three years ago, Zukowski and Native Roots locked into an agreement with Brothers 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.
Since then, Native Roots and Zukowski have volunteered for the Paint-A-Thon four times and sponsored our annual fundraiser, the Local Social. She has also even served on our Local Social committee where she has helped us plan the event for the past two years.
Zukowski’s dedication to the Paint-A-Thon and making a difference in affordable housing is inspiring and admirable. That’s why this year, Brothers is presenting the Roland Buteyn Heart of Service Award to Zukowski.
The award, named after Roland Buteyn, who helped to develop many core Brothers’ programs, is the highest honor a Paint-A-Thon volunteer can receive. Zukowski will receive the award in front of our supporters, funders, and staff at the Local Social on Sept. 8.
“Paint-A-Thon has served as a strong reminder that everyone can use a little help at different times throughout our lives. This is the first professional award I’ve received, and it is truly an honor,” said Zukowski.
Native Roots is dedicated to the Paint-A-Thon and affordable housing because its mission revolves around enhancing well-being and happiness in our communities. That starts with having a safe and secure place to live, Zukowski said.
During their Paint-A-Thon projects, Native Roots staff has shown up as their best selves, ready to work hard, share their passion, have fun, and support the community. Zukowski said the feeling she gets when she volunteers motivates her to come back and volunteer again and again. Her ultimate goal as a Paint-A-Thon volunteer is to spread awareness about the program and why it’s important, give employees an opportunity to engage outside the workplace, and to demonstrate Native Roots’ commitment to creating a positive social impact by showing up to do the work.
“Housing impacts all of us. Native Roots operates 11 different jurisdictions across the state,” Zukowski said. “Every employee, patient and customer has been affected in some sort of way by our state’s housing crisis and lack of affordable housing. Our homes are our sanctuaries — a safe place to recover and recuperate so we can show up as our best selves today, tomorrow and the next day.”
Brothers Redevelopment Director of Development Hannah Beltrone volunteers for the Paint-A-Thon in June. So far this year, the Paint-A-Thon has painted 51 homes.
Each Brothers Redevelopment staff member plays a different role in fulfilling our mission of providing and preserving affordable housing. But it’s rare when every staff member has a chance to go out into the community and use our hands to make a difference for our programs.
That rare opportunity came up in June when every Brothers employee was given the chance to participate in a paid volunteer day for our Paint-A-Thon Program. So, with paintbrushes in hand and hearts full of compassion, our team united to transform not just one, but two houses for deserving homeowners.
We spent the day cleaning up yards, trimming low branches, cleaning gutters, caulking, priming, and of course, painting. Each homeowner who benefited from the volunteer day has a disability and the event was that much more special because the homes were only minutes away from our Edgewater office.
“It was a really great experience to volunteer alongside my colleagues at Brothers Redevelopment for the Paint-A-Thon Program. It provided an opportunity to meet many of my colleagues who work remotely and gave us the chance to meet one of the wonderful homeowners involved with the program,” said Brothers Director of Development Hannah Beltrone. “Since the COVID pandemic, it has been hard to connect with coworkers in meaningful ways, and this was a fantastic way to reconnect, meet new people, change up the workday, and feel the tangible impact of the work we do every day at Brothers Redevelopment.”
So far this year, the Paint-A-Thon Program has painted 51 houses across the Denver metro area and in Colorado Springs. This year marks the 45th year of the service, and we can’t wait to continue to beautify homes for our most vulnerable neighbors.
“Our team’s commitment extends far beyond their professional roles, as they willingly gave their time and energy to our Paint-A-Thon Program. Their passion and willingness to volunteer their skills to help transform homes and uplift communities is truly inspiring,” said Brothers President Jeff Martinez. “Their efforts embody the spirit of unity and compassion that drives our organization, and we are grateful for their unwavering dedication.”
Brothers Redevelopment President Jeff Martinez takes a break from painting to pose for a photo. 2023 marks the 45th anniversary of the Paint-A-Thon Program.
City of Denver’s Department of Housing Stability volunteers at work for Brothers Redevelopment’s Paint-A-Thon Program.
Corinne Sanchez has faced challenges in maintaining her cherished Denver home ever since her husband’s passing in 1994.
The 92-year-old holds deep sentimental value for the house, as it was where she lovingly raised her four children. Despite her son’s ongoing support in ensuring her independence, she requires further aid in preserving the home’s exterior. That’s where volunteers from the City of Denver’s Department of Housing Stability (HOST) came in.
On a cloudy day in May, a group of enthusiastic HOST volunteers arrived armed with paintbrushes and ladders, ready to make a meaningful impact at Sanchez’s house. And because of HOST and Brothers Redevelopment’s shared dedication in preventing displacement, the volunteer match proved to be a perfect fit.
“I think the service goes a long way. Across the community there are limited resources to help people age in place,” said HOST Program Officer and Paint-A-Thon Volunteer Ian Cohn. “It’s a growing need with the boomer generation continuing to age and outpacing the number of services. The Paint-A-Thon has a huge impact on someone’s ability to receive maintenance on their home that they otherwise maybe couldn’t afford. And it revitalizes certain neighborhoods that are vulnerable to displacement — which is a commitment of ours.”
The paint job was unfortunately postponed halfway through HOST’s volunteer day because of weather — but the group didn’t let that stop them from still making a positive impact. As rain began to pour, HOST volunteers made their way to Brothers’ warehouse to help organize our garage, clean worksite trucks, organize paint inventory, and to clean our space to help support future projects.
“(The Paint-A-Thon) really served to reinforce what I personally view as the importance of volunteering and the importance of our department and our employees going out into the community. We contract so much of our direct services, so we don’t often get to be out in the community and be a part of tangible services,” said Cohn. “I think for a lot of us, it reinforces the opportunities to engage with each other and make a positive impact on the community.”
HOST invests resources, creates policies, and partners with organizations to keep people in the homes they already live in, to quickly resolve an experience of homelessness, and to connect people to affordable housing opportunities. The department accomplishes those feats by stabilizing people at risk of involuntary displacement and connecting them to housing resources; supporting people experiencing a crisis and connecting them to shelter services and short-term and permanent housing; creating and preserving affordable housing; and by connecting residents at any income level to new housing opportunities.
Brothers administers various housing assistance programs for the City and County of Denver, including the City’s Temporary Rental and Utility Assistance Program, and the Denver Emergency Rental Assistance Program.
Denver residents Delfinia Lujan and Maria Crespin had a front row seat to the early days of Brothers Redevelopment’s impact.
During the 1970’s, the two longtime friends were actively involved in community work, including at the Action Center — a Lakewood-based human services organization.
At the Action Center, Brothers co-founder Manny Martinez would regularly attend the organization’s board meetings. It was there where he met Crespin and Lujan.
“We just got to be real good friends. He was amazing — very friendly, very respectful, and sometimes he was funny,” said Lujan. “He was a pretty awesome guy.”
Little did Lujan and Crespin know that they would eventually benefit from the services Brothers offers.
Lujan clearly remembers being one of the first clients to purchase an affordable home that Brothers repaired in Denver in the 1970s. She says the house was beautiful and had features that her family fell in love with like its spiral staircase, and backyard.
On move in day, former Denver Mayor Federico Peña and others from Brothers joined the Lujan family where the group took a photo in front of the spiral staircase for the former Rocky Mountain News newspaper.
The house was the first home the family purchased and was needed at that time, because Lujan had recently given birth to her third child.
“It touched my heart that our house meant that much to so many people, and we were the lucky ones to buy that and live there. The name (Brothers Redevelopment) alone touches my heart, because they do so much for so many people,” said Lujan. “I’m just so happy that Brothers is still in business, because back when they first started, they were doing so much for so many people.”
Finishing an unfinished job
Crespin crossed paths with Brothers again in 2022 when she reached out to the organization during a time of desperate need.
In January 2020, Crespin, a recently widowed woman who lives directly on South Sheridan Boulevard, was laid off from her job of 26 years. To survive, Crespin lived off her Social Security to pay her mortgage, utilities, and other bills.
But after hiring a contractor to paint her house to be able to get a refinance approved so that she could afford to keep her home, the contractor left the property unfinished. Crespin said the contractor painted her home but swindled her out of money for the painting of her garage and shed that were left with “paint samples” roughly sprayed on them.
Thankfully for Crespin, she remembered Brothers’ Paint-A-Thon Program was a resource available to her. So, she applied, and in the summer of 2022, volunteers arrived with paint brushes, buckets, ladders, and other materials to finish painting her garage and shed.
“It’s difficult to have any extra money as far as with everything that has gone on not only with me, but so many thousands of people too,” said Crespin. “My intention was I would get back to work — but I’ve also been pretty sick. I’ve been in the hospital a couple of times. And it’s just been one thing after another. But when you get help, you appreciate it. I was always attracted to helping people, but now I need the help. It’s a blessing to have organizations like Brothers that are able to help.”
“The many ways that we’re able to help our clients at whatever point they find themselves on the housing continuum is part of the legacy of Brothers Redevelopment,” said Jeff Martinez, Brothers president. “Like Maria, they remember and, hopefully, treasure what we’ve been able to do on their behalf. They know we are able to help them at various points of their lives.”
The grant lends to Brothers’ ability to paint the exterior of homes for disabled/older Broomfield residents. For 44 years, the Paint-A-Thon Program has painted thousands of senior-owned houses across the metro area and in Colorado Springs for free with the help of more than 133,000 volunteers. The service allows income-eligible homeowners the chance to beautify their homes and save their income for necessities like groceries and medication.
In 2022, the Paint-A-Thon Program painted two houses in Broomfield. Thanks to funding from the Broomfield Community Foundation, Brothers expects to paint around four houses in Broomfield this year.
“We are thrilled to receive support from the Broomfield Community Foundation. This grant will help us transform houses for well deserving older adults in Broomfield,” said Brothers Volunteer Department Director Chad Nibbelink. “This program is designed to keep older adults in their homes for as long as they can, and thanks to this funding, we’ll be able to accomplish that.”
Outside of the Paint-A-Thon Program, Brothers also serves Broomfield residents with home modifications and repairs through the agency’s Home Modification and Repair Program. In 2022, the Home Modification and Repair Program received a $250,000 grant from the City of Broomfield to offer home projects like roof repairs, deferred maintenance, and aging home rehabilitation at no cost to income-eligible Broomfield homeowners. Since then, the program has served three households in the city and is in the process of completing five other projects.
For more information about Brothers’ services, visit brothersredevelopment.org. Broomfield homeowners interested in the Paint-A-Thon Program can apply by emailing chad@brothersredevelopment.org or by calling 720-339-5864.
Brothers Redevelopment is now accepting applications for its 45th annual Paint-A-Thon season.
The free program utilizes volunteers to paint the exterior of homes for low-income seniors and disabled residents. Homeowners who live in Colorado Springs and in the Denver metro area are encouraged to apply — particularly those who live in Commerce City, Lakewood, Arvada, Englewood, and other parts of Arapahoe County.
Residents who are interested in applying for the program must be 60 years or older and/or have a disability, must own, and reside in the Denver metro area or Colorado Springs, and plan to live in their home for at least two years. To apply, click here.
“So many community members need a few home maintenance items in order to stay in their home — which statistically helps them be safer, healthier, and live longer. Painting is a maintenance item that is impossible for our clients to do physically or financially,” said Brothers Volunteer Department Director Chad Nibbelink.
Painting the exterior of a home can cost up to $5,000 — but the Paint-A-Thon Program offers income-eligible homeowners the chance to save big and devote their savings to other important costs like medication or groceries.
Throughout the Paint-A-Thon’s 44-year history, Brothers Redevelopment has painted 7,729 homes. In 2022, the program painted 94 homes with the help of 1,945 volunteers, saving homeowners $566,250.
“The transformation that takes place on houses is incredible — but what’s priceless is what that work means to the homeowners. It makes volunteers see and feel their impact,” said Nibbelink. “The work this program does changes lives for the better.”
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 375households 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.
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 Redevelopment is now accepting applications for its 45th annual 
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.
Cost savings is by far the biggest success that Brothers’ Aging in Place senior services program has brought to older adult households.
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.
It’s amazing what a repair or home modification can do for low-income older adults — just ask Colorado Springs resident Dean Reedy.
There are a few reasons why the Paint-A-Thon has been so successful over the past 44 years.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis is no stranger to the impact Brothers has had on the affordable housing landscape in recent years.
A cause bigger than yourself 
Extending the life of homes for low-income, older adults 
