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RESIDENTIAL YOUTH AND
EMERGENCY SERVICES (RYES)
HOMELESSNESS AND CHILDREN’S SERVICES
HOMELESSNESS
The RYES program provides a continuum of services that help homeless
individuals and families transition into a stable
and independent living environment. With a number of
emergency and transitional housing programs,
Volunteers of America helps homeless youth, single
men, and women and families. These individuals find
themselves homeless for a variety of reasons
including escaping domestic violence, lack of
affordable housing and increased housing costs,
medical problems and disabilities, mental illness
and substance abuse.
Clients are provided the resources they need to begin rebuilding their
lives. Volunteers of America staff also connect
clients with all of the resources and networks that
ultimately restore them to self-reliance and
independence.
CHILDREN’S SERVICES
One of the greatest challenges in life for low-income children and
families is access to quality early childhood
education and childcare. The Volunteers of America
Head Start program provides economically
disadvantaged preschoolers with a caring, fun
and rich
environment that prepares
them for success in elementary school. There is a
focus on strong involvement by parents and regular
exposure to Denver’s cultural arts.
Children in this program often have special needs. An extraordinary team
of teachers, assistants, family service workers and
case managers
work with students’ families to provide support and
information.
Rainbow House is a special needs based
Family Motel |
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Head Start program which
includes children from families affected by
HIV/AIDS.
Volunteers of America provides loving childcare so that parents can focus
on sustainable employment and self-reliance. The
overarching goal is to help remove some of the major
obstacles in early childhood, so these children have
the best possible opportunity for success
in school and life.
Colorado’s definition of a
low-income
family family is: a family of four who
makes a maximum of $17,000 a year
Lupita’s Story
Four-year-old Lupita Lopez wanted to dance but her family couldn’t afford
the ballet lessons. Lupita’s parents approached one
of Volunteers of America’s family service workers
and asked for help. The concept of providing dance
lessons to the kids excited the Head Start teachers,
who incorporate cultural experiences and
opportunities into their preschool curriculum.
Within a few months, Volunteers of America
partnered with the Colorado Ballet to provide
affordable ballet lessons to the Head Start
students. Lupita’s love of dance
has grown and perhaps one day her dream will become
reality. Whether or not Lupita becomes a Prima
Ballerina – she’s been given the chance to pursue
her dream. That’s what Volunteers of America’s Head
Start Program strives to provide – fulfilling each
person’s full potential!
A Head Start ballerina |
