HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 2/4/2014 - Memorandum From Mary Atchison Re: Social Sustainability Gaps Analysis Presentation At Council Work Session On February 11, 20147
HOUSING
WHAT PROGRAMS ARE IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS NEEDS—AND WHAT’S MISSING?
● Fort Collins Housing Authority—154 public housing units (1,600 household waitlist) and 1,100 vouchers (waitlist closed)
● Other affordable housing organizations/developers—2,407 units (includes some FCHA vouchers) with 300+ households on waitlists
● A continuum of housing types—limited shelter space, transitional housing, accessible housing
● Local funding/programs—Affordable Housing Fund, development incentives, housing trust fund, land banking, proactive marketing
● Nonprofit organizations—financial services, affordable housing development/advocacy, foreclosure prevention, homeownership
programs, rental assistance, community development
HOUSING GAPS/INDICATORS OF NEED
28% of all Fort
Collins
homeowners are
cost-burdened
(8,425 households) 8% own their house free
and clear (no mortgage)
69% earn less than
$50,000/yr
19% are seniors
1,491 earn less than $5,000
1,980 earn $5,000-$10,000
1,955 earn $10,000-$15,000
2,258 earn $15,000-$20,000
1,154 earn $20,000-$25,000
*up to 4,600 of these could be students
8,838*
households in
need of rental
subsidies
HOMEOWNERSHIP
RENTALS
Median value, 2000 = $169,000
Median value, 2012 = $248,800
Difference = $79,800 (47% increase)
*Market is much less affordable for
would-be owners
Median rent, 2000 = $689/mo.
Median rent, 2012 = $1,002/mo.
Difference = $313 (45% increase)
*Renter incomes have not kept up
with rent increases
HOMEOWNERSHIP
RENTALS
8
PERSONS WHO ARE HOMELESS
Number of homeless residents at any point in time:
250-500
20% children
(50-100 children)
36% families
(90-180 people)
35% victims of
domestic violence
(90-175 people)
20% severely
mentally ill
~50% mentally ill
(50-250 need mental
health services)
Veterans
8% male (20-40)
1% female (3-5)
19% chronically
homeless
(50-100 people)
0.5% chronically
homeless families
(1-2 families)
6% unsheltered
(5-10 families)
87% of adults are
parolees/formerly
incarcerated
(175-350 adults)
Number of children
homeless during
the school year
~1,000
PERSONS WHO ARE HOMELESS
RESOURCES
WHAT DOES FORT COLLINS HAVE AND WHAT’S MISSING?
~1,000
Prevention Rapid Re-housing Supportive Housing
● Rental assistance
● Utilities assistance
● Financial counseling
● Rental deposit assistance
● Monthly rental assistance
● Financial counseling
● Housing and services for:
• Mental health
• Physical health
• Workforce training
• Case management
Coordinated multi-agency one-stop for assistance
Emergency Shelter
● Single men and women
● Families
● Domestic violence
● Youth
PREVENTION ASSISTANCE
Households receiving
prevention assistance
RAPID RE-HOUSING 80* Households re-housed
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING 60
Supportive housing units
under development
EMERGENCY SHELTER 115 beds ● Single men
● Single women
● Families
● Domestic violence
● Veterans
22 beds
12 beds
107 beds
12 beds
● Transitional housing
● Permanent supportive
housing
● Beds for families
● Youth shelter
● Onsite health services at
Resource Center
● Day shelter
*January to October 2013
10
PERSONS LIVING IN POVERTY
Fort Collins residents live in poverty
27,225
3,939
children
(14% of the poor)
7,444
are ages 25-64
(27% of the poor)
1,243
< age 5
CHARACTERISTICS
15,437
are ages 18-24
(56% of the poor)
405
are seniors
(1.5% of the poor)
2,696
ages 5-17
College students,
young workers or
unemployed
Working age
19% of Fort Collins residents are poor
9% of Fort Collins families are poor
Disability and poverty
Familial status
and poverty Educational
attainment
1,457 residents who
are poor are disabled
(5% of the poor)
Poverty rate of
persons with
disabilities = 15%
Poverty rate of
persons without a
disability = 20%
VS.
2,898 families are
poor
Poverty rate is:
8% for married
families with children
28% for single dads
36% for single moms
Persons living in poverty are generally educated and employed
Employment
status
POOR NON-POOR
55%
11%
34%
76%
4%
24%
Employed
Unemployed
PERSONS LIVING IN POVERTY
WHAT PROGRAMS ARE IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS NEEDS?
● Income support for those who
cannot work
● Housing subsidies
● Job training and skills development
● Economic development to support
living wage job creation
● Child care and before/after school
care for working families
● Education system that addresses
needs of students who are
academically challenged
● Variety of social service supports
● Comprehensive coordinated
approach to alleviating poverty
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Serious
mental
illness
INDICATORS OF NEED
WHAT DOES FORT COLLINS HAVE? AND WHAT’S MISSING?
Per 10,000 residents
22.5 suicides
6,500
adults
1,500
teens
Alcohol
abuse
26,000
residents
Drug
abuse
11,000
residents
Overweight/obese
18,400
adults (15%)
7,200
children (31%)
Per 10,000 residents
0.87 healthy
food outlets
Per 10,000 residents
8.27 fast
food outlets
600
untreated
adolescents
MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT
SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT
V.
Food insecure households 8,200
insecure
3,400
very insecure
~3,200
untreated
children
2,700
untreated
adults
26,000
abuse
alcohol
11,000
abuse
drugs
● Easy, 24/7 access to quality mental
health services
● Detox center
● Respite and residential mental health
care
● More sober living facilities for men
● Sober living facility for women
13
AT-RISK YOUTH AND EDUCATION
Children living in
poverty, 2012
(<$23,550 for a
family of four)
1,243
2,696
Children who are
homeless, 2010-11
PSD 3-10th
graders who
struggled academically
in 2013 (scored
unsatisfactory or
partially proficient on
standardized tests
INDICATORS OF NEED
WHAT PROGRAMS ARE IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS NEEDS?
● Early childhood education
● Before and after school programs
● Parent/caregiver support and education programs
● Youth safehouses
6,238
9,824
● Subsidized housing for low income and homeless families
● Therapy for abused, emotionally disturbed children
● Substance abuse treatment
WHAT DOES FORT COLLINS HAVE AND WHAT’S MISSING?
CHILDCARE SUBSIDIES
< 5 years old
5-19 years old
1,021
Math
10,475
Reading
Writing
PSD teens suspended
1,485 or expelled, 2012-13 PSD teens who drop
200/year out of school
Who become pregnant
60/year (average, 2008-2012)
Total 3,939
~60 In foster care, ages 16-21
NEED 1,243
AVAILABLE 1,032
GAP 211
ECE PROGRAMS
3-4 YEAR
OLDS 3,500
ENROLLED 2,700
POTENTIAL 800
GAP
PSD/Thompson students with
untreated severe mental illness,
2008-09
3,200
300/year Are neglected/abused
● Child care (~100) children on wait lists, mostly infants
● Before/after school, summer programs (50-75 families earning
DIVERSITY/EQUITY
RACIAL AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY
2010 Census
RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY
Evangelical Protestant 43%
Other religions 27%
Mainline Protestant 17%
Roman Catholic 4%
Latter-day Saint 3%
Jehovah’s Witnesses 3%
Jewish 2%
Orthodox Christian 1%
LANGUAGE DIVERSITY
Larimer County
INCLUSIVENESS/TOLERANCE
U.S. Total 286,010,550 6,222 2.18
Colorado 4,992,496 186 3.73
Fort Collins 146,494 6 4.10
Loveland 68,024 1 1.47
Greeley 94,507 10 10.58
Boulder 99,081 2 2.02
Total Number of
Reported Incidents,
per 100,000 People
Total
Number of
Incidents
State Population Reported
2011 Hate Crimes
DIVERSITY/EQUITY
WHAT DOES FORT COLLINS HAVE?
● Access to GLBT resources in high schools and CSU
● Access to counseling and other resources for the
GLBT community
● Access to languages other than English on city
and school websites
● Fort Collins International Center:
● Conversational English classes
● Cultural understanding programs
● Intercultural education programs
● Foreign student hospitality program
● Assorted cultural and heritage
organizations/associations
● Resources for immigrants
● Anti-hate crime community
organization
● Diverse places of worship
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Fort Collins residents have
one or more disabilities
10,000
4%
are children
CHARACTERISTICS
Average social security
amount received by
persons with disabilities
in 2013
Employment status
Most common:
learning and
ADHD disabilities
50%
are 18-64
years old
46%
are seniors
Most common:
ambulatory and
cognitive disabilities
Most common:
hearing and
ambulatory
disabilities
$1,129/mo.
or
$13,500/yr.
$21,334
Median earnings (2012 inflation-adjusted dollars)
Men without disabilities
Men with disabilities
$26,886
$12,040
Women without disabilities $16,922
Women with disabilities
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
WHAT PROGRAMS ARE IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS NEEDS?
● Affordable housing (rents < $300/mo.)
● Affordable, accessible housing, near transit
● Public transit with after-work, weekend hours
● Supported employment services (relationships with
employers)
WHAT IS IT MISSING?
● Respite care, adult day care
● Educational supports for children
● Adaptive recreation opportunities
● Knowledge among landlords, businesses about
reasonable accommodations
Affordable housing
(rents < $500/mo. and
housing choice
vouchers)
~200
New accessible units ~60
● Quick access to medical care when needed
(current wait = 6-8 weeks)
● Jobs for persons with disabilities who are unemployed
(~1,000 residents)
● Supported employment services
● Transit that is available after work hours (6-10 p.m.)
and on Sundays
● Accessibility improvements to existing homes/apartments
(2,000 need rehabilitation)
VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Estimated Fort Collins residents
who have ever experienced
domestic violence in their lifetime
20,000
WOMEN
In the past
12 months
Have long-term health
impacts from domestic
violence
INDICATORS OF NEED
WHAT PROGRAMS ARE IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS NEEDS?
● Emergency health care services
● Safehouse/emergency shelter for
women and men
● Transitional housing
● Job training and education
● Counseling and mental health support
WHAT DOES FORT COLLINS HAVE? AND WHAT’S MISSING?
81
E 6-week stay
MERGENCY BEDS 21
Up to 6-mo. stay
16,800
MEN
3,600
WOMEN
2,900
MEN
5,800
WOMEN
UNKOWN
MEN
25
T Units offsite
RANSITIONAL HOUSING 21
Beds onsite
● Faster access to mental
health services
● Permanent, affordable
housing for victims
19
SENIORS
Seniors in
Fort Collins,
2012
12,458
7,136
ages 65-74
1,735
ages 75+
INDICATORS OF NEED
3,587
ages 75-84
+10,000 more seniors, 2025
+12,500 more seniors, 2030 Most common types of disability:
1,800
Have a disability
(26% of age cohort)
~2,775
Have a disability
(51% of age cohort)
Hearing (1,800 seniors)
Ambulatory (1,500 seniors)
Independent living (1,200 seniors)
Cognitive (1,200 seniors)
live alone
are primary caregivers of their grandchildren,
many of whom have special needs
WHAT DOES FORT COLLINS HAVE AND WHAT’S MISSING?
● Aging and Disability Resource Center
● Family caregiver support
● Nutrition services
● Transportation assistance
● In-home day care and visiting nurses
● Respite care
● Household services—grocery shopping, small home repairs
● Emergency assistance with home repairs
● Housing options for low income grandparents caring
for grandchildren
● Accessibility improvements for low income seniors
● Visitable housing
● Stable funding for senior service provision
40%
~225
DRAFT REPORT
Social Sustainability
Gaps Analysis
City of Fort Collins
Draft Report
January 8, 2014
Social Sustainability Gaps Analysis
Prepared for
City of Fort Collins
Sustainability Services Area
321 West Maple Street
Fort Collins, Colorado 80521
Prepared by
BBC Research & Consulting
1999 Broadway, Suite 2200
Denver, Colorado 80202‐9750
303.321.2547 fax 303.399.0448
www.bbcresearch.com
bbc@bbcresearch.com
Table of Contents
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING i
ES. Executive Summary
What is social sustainability? ................................................................................................... ES–1
Methodology and Report Organization................................................................................... ES–2
Current State of Affairs ............................................................................................................ ES–3
Creating a Socially Sustainable Fort Collins ............................................................................. ES–4
I. Housing
Housing Needs ............................................................................................................................ I–1
Resources ................................................................................................................................... I–4
Housing Gaps .............................................................................................................................. I–9
II. Homelessness
Characteristics of Persons who are Homeless........................................................................... II–1
Resources .................................................................................................................................. II–8
III. Persons Living in Poverty
Poverty Levels and Trends ........................................................................................................ III–1
Resources ................................................................................................................................. III–9
IV. Health and Wellness
Physical and Mental Health ..................................................................................................... IV–1
Wellness and Recreation ....................................................................................................... IV–11
Food Provision ....................................................................................................................... IV–15
V. At‐Risk Youth and Education
At‐Risk Youth ............................................................................................................................ V–1
Education ................................................................................................................................ V–13
K‐12 Education ....................................................................................................................... V–14
Educational Supports ............................................................................................................. V–22
VI. Diversity and Equity
Measures of Diversity and Equity ............................................................................................ VI–1
Racial and Ethnic Diversity ...................................................................................................... VI–1
Economic Equity ...................................................................................................................... VI–5
Language Diversity .................................................................................................................. VI–6
Religious Diversity ................................................................................................................... VI–7
Table of Contents
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING ii
Inclusivity, Exclusivity, Tolerance and Perception of the City’s Diversity ................................ VI–9
Housing Equity ....................................................................................................................... VI–13
Resources .............................................................................................................................. VI–14
VII. Needs of Targeted Populations
Persons with Disabilities ......................................................................................................... VII–1
Seniors .................................................................................................................................... VII–9
Victims of Domestic Violence ............................................................................................... VII–14
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Fort Collins Social Sustainability Gaps Analysis
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, PAGE 1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Fort Collins Social Sustainability Gaps Analysis
This section summarizes the results of a Social Sustainability Gaps Analysis, conducted by BBC
Research & Consulting (BBC) for the City of Fort Collins. The City commissioned the gaps
analysis as part of its initiative to build a cohesive, coordinated approach to community
sustainability across City departments.
What is social sustainability?
Social sustainability focuses on the supportive services and networks that are needed by
residents to achieve and maintain quality of life and self sufficiency. Some of these might be
services to meet short‐term needs, such as temporary assistance making rent payments after a
job loss. Other services span longer periods—for example, education systems for the City’s
children.
This study complements a larger City Plan for Social Sustainability (Plan). The broad purpose of
the Plan is to determine the steps to be taken to move from a current state to a desired future
state of community‐ and organization‐wide social sustainability. Ultimately, the Plan will help
guide City Council and City staff in setting future work program and priorities.
The gaps analysis helps support the Social Sustainability Plan questions of:
1) Where are we? and
2) Where do we want to be?
by providing a quantitative and qualitative assessment of supportive service gaps in the City.
A unique effort. Local government investment in sustainability efforts—particularly social
sustainability—is very progressive. In 2010, the International City/County Management
Association (ICMA) conducted a local government survey on sustainability policies and
programs. Only a minority of local governments reported taking actions to support
sustainability. Where actions were taken, these mostly included environmental efforts such as
tree planting, conserving energy and water, and boosting recycling. The most common “social
inclusion” effort the survey measured was support and/or incentive for affordable housing—yet
just 33 percent of local governments said they have affordable housing programs.
Therefore, the results from the ICMA emphasize the uniqueness of Fort Collins’ sustainability
planning efforts—both environmental and social.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, PAGE 2
Methodology and Report Organization
The scope of work used in this study consisted of four primary tasks:
Collection of existing quantitative and secondary data on population levels and housing and
program inventories;
Interviews with providers of supportive services in the City and county to gather
information on client needs, organizational needs, service demand and wait lists;
A comparison of existing resources and capacity levels with needs; and
Preparation of this report documenting research findings.
This report is organized around the six areas of focus, the last of which encompasses six targeted
population groups. These areas of focus include:
Housing,
Homelessness,
Poverty,
Health and wellness,
Education and at‐risk youth,
Diversity and Equity, including racial/ethnic, religious and sexual orientation , and
Targeted Populations, including:
Persons with Disabilities,
Seniors,
Veterans (discussed in Homelessness section),
Victims of Domestic Violence,
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender residents (discussed in Diversity/Equity
section), and
At‐risk youth (discussed in Education section).
These targeted populations—as well as low income households in general—were chosen
because they often face some of the greatest challenges to accessing the housing and services
they need and may require public support and subsidies.
The gaps analysis for each area of focus is presented as a graphic depicting the gap in service
provision based on a comparison of need and resources. Since demand for services is fluid and
difficult to estimate precisely, a range of need is provided where available. The types of
indicators to measure need vary depending on the data available, area of focus and resident
population.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, PAGE 3
Challenges and limitations of the study. The reader should be aware of the challenges and
limitations of the social sustainability gaps analysis:
Some types of residents with needs are difficult to locate, which means their needs for
services and/or housing are underrepresented. For example, residents without a
permanent home may be temporarily living with friends or family and at‐risk of
homelessness, but not counted in annual surveys.
Disabilities and illnesses may be undiagnosed or unreported. Some categories of persons
with certain needs are underestimated due to their reluctance to undergo testing and
diagnosis and/or failure to disclose their health information.
Many individuals have overlapping needs, making it difficult to compartmentalize them into
one needs category. Because of overlapping needs, service providers’ housing facilities and
developments rarely serve a single population. As such, it is difficult to match available
resources with needs with a high degree of precision.
This study covered several issue areas and targeted population groups. It is by no means a
comprehensive study of the need of a specific group, but instead a broad assessment of
supportive service and housing needs.
This study incorporates the best data available at the time it was completed. Additional data that
become available, particularly from more specific studies of special needs groups, should be
taken into account along with the findings in this study.
Current State of Affairs
The City of Fort Collins and its many service providers have created a solid infrastructure for
social sustainability. The City has embraced many best practices for housing and service
programming and is recognized as a very valuable partner by providers.
Yet, gaps do exist in access to needed housing and services in Fort Collins. Some of these gaps are
market driven (e.g., high demand for housing), many are economic (e.g., budget cuts for
organization, job losses for residents), and some are driven by demographics.
The primary gaps include:
An estimated 8,800 renter households earning less than $25,000/year cannot find rentals
that meet their affordability needs and, as such, are cost burdened. As many as 1,500 are on
wait lists for housing assistance.
As many as 100 residents are chronically homeless and 1,000 children experience
homelessness during the school year. Emergency space is limited both in beds and types of
populations served. Individuals and families are turned away from shelters during peak
periods of demand.
More than half of residents who are poor and many who are homeless (an estimated 30‐
40%) are employed, but do not earn enough to afford housing costs and live above the
poverty line. Sixteen percent of persons with disabilities are unemployed.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, PAGE 4
The City has almost 10 times as many unhealthy food outlets as healthy food outlets. Fifteen
percent of adults and one‐third of the city’s children are obese.
An estimated 6,500 adults and 1,500 teens have serious mental illnesses, but just 60
percent seek treatment. 26,000 residents abuse alcohol; 11,000 abuse drugs. The county’s
suicide rate (22.5 per 10,000 residents) is higher than for the state overall.
Four thousand of the city’s children live below the poverty line. An estimated 3,000 have
untreated mental illness. And about 10,000 are not proficient in math or writing, as
measured by standardized tests.
Ten thousand residents have a disability. If unable to be employed and relying on Social
Security for income, these residents will earn $13,500 in 2014. One‐fifth, or 2,000 residents,
need accessibility improvements to their homes.
Approximately 3,600 women and 2,900 men experienced domestic violence in the past
year. 300 children are abused or neglected each year.
There is also a qualitative side to the gaps. Many service providers who offer critical services to
some of the most challenged residents in the City—e.g., those with substance abuse, severe
mental illness, who have suffered abuse—cannot offer the ideal depth of care due to funding
constraints.
Creating a Socially Sustainable Fort Collins
It is very important to clarify that creating social sustainability is not the same as eliminating
need. Rather, it is building a safety net that will adequately assist residents who have short‐term
needs and ensuring that residents with long‐term needs have access to ongoing social and
economic supports.
It is also important to note that needs are fluid. A numerical gap in resources only reflects needs
for a temporary point in time.
It is difficult, therefore to develop a single gaps, or shortage, number and manage to this target.
Instead, a socially sustainability community should have a flexible menu of supportive services
in place that residents are able to access as their needs fluctuate.
To that end, we offer the following characteristics of a socially sustainability community toward
which Fort Collins can aim:
Resources are in place to enable residents who are living below the poverty line to become
self sufficient to the extent possible.
Programs exist that allow residents to receive skills training, potentially through a
community college system, job searching and networking or employer mentoring/matching
services. Support services—e.g., affordable and immediate child care—are in place to
mitigate barriers to achievement.
Employers receive training and support to successfully retain employees coming out of
generational poverty.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, PAGE 5
The community provides access to services, health care, amenities, education and job
opportunities to all residents.
Funding is stabilized, as much as possible, so residents can receive consistent levels and
frequency of care. This is necessary because when faced with budget cuts, organizations
will first reduce the amount of services provided rather than remove current clients from
their programs. Clients may not receive the same depth of care or early intervention, which
can affect the pace of their recovery.
Persons with disabilities can easily move throughout the community, are valued and
accepted and are included in all aspects of the community. Lack of housing and transit to
not restrict persons with disabilities to certain parts of the community.
Residents are able to rapidly access and receive the depth of treatment needed for mental
health, physical health and substance abuse needs.
High quality health care is delivered across the continuum of care: therapy, outpatient care,
inpatient care, residential treatment for addictions, mental health care.
Jobs exist that pay living wages for all types of residents. Residents can access training
programs to build their skill sets and education. Persons with disabilities have employment
opportunities similar to their peers without disabilities.
The City maintains a flexible and comprehensive transit system to provide residents
without cars and non‐drivers (e.g., youth, persons with disabilities, persons with health
challenges) equal access to city services, health care facilities, amenities and commercial
establishments.
Programs are in place to increase sustainability for at‐risk youth and improve the educational
environment for youth.
The community has quality early intervention for at‐risk youth and quality early childhood
education programs—which have been proven to have large, long‐term payoffs—for all
children. Scholarships and reduced tuition are available to low income children.
Funding exists to ensure that staff of the organizations that work with the City’s youth are
paid livable wages and receive benefits, as staff consistency is important for children.
Before and after school, and summer care exists for any low income family who needs care
during work or job training. Immediate and alternative schedule child care is available to
families who have emergency care needs due to nontraditional work and job training
schedules.
Flexible and adequate transit systems allow children to access before and after school
programs and needed services (e.g., counseling, support programs for at‐risk children).
Affordable housing for families is available to mitigate frequent moves and disruption in
schooling.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, PAGE 6
The community has a supply of affordable housing, including shelters that residents can access
as their circumstances change.
The community has a housing continuum that enables residents to move from an
emergency shelter to transitional housing to permanent housing with delays or barriers.
This includes housing for special needs populations including youth transitioning out of
foster care, persons with disabilities who need accessible housing and families who have
experienced domestic violence, to prevent victims from returning to their perpetrators to
avoid homelessness.
This system includes adequate resources for emergency and utilities assistance for
households and families with short term financial needs and to prevent homelessness.
Social sustainability is viewed as a cooperative venture among the city, residents and service
providers.
The community fosters a collaborative, not competitive, environment of compatible
services among the many quality organizations that serve residents in need in Fort Collins.
Service providers have regularly scheduled, formal opportunities to share information
about their resources and challenges and form partnerships.
The community provides easy access to services. Referrals are accurate and timely.
The City fosters a sense of community and encourages residents to help the City’s most
vulnerable populations build and sustain supportive networks of friends, neighbors and
families.
Service providers have appropriate, adequate space to accommodate clients.
Nonprofits that provide critical supportive services are able to focus on service provision
rather than fundraising. For organizations that provide services that are difficult for the
community to talk about (e.g., child sexual abuse, HIV/AIDS), fundraising can be
particularly challenging.
SECTION I.
Housing
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION I, PAGE 1
SECTION I.
Housing
A housing market is considered to be socially sustainable if it is characterized by both equity and
diversity—that is, if it provides opportunities for all residents and offers housing options that
accommodate a diverse set of incomes, preferences and life stages. Common barriers to an
equitable, diverse, and therefore socially sustainable, housing community are market failures in
terms of affordability, accessibility and special needs housing resources.
This section discusses the housing needs specific to Fort Collins along with an inventory of
resources that are already in place to meet those needs. The section ends with a “gaps analysis”
designed to identify and quantify any potential gaps in the Fort Collins housing market where
the City may have an opportunity to improve service provision.
Throughout this section, the term “affordable housing” refers to housing that requires less than
30 percent of a household’s monthly income (consistent with federal definitions). Households
that spend 30 percent or more of their monthly income on housing expenses are considered
“cost burdened.”
Housing Needs
A number of thoughtful reports—including the City’s Affordable Housing Strategic Plan (2010),
the 2010‐2014 Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan, and the Fort Collins
Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (called an AI, done in 2012) along with county‐
level reports such as the Larimer County Needs Assessment (2009) and the Larimer County
Affordable Housing Report (2013)—document the state of housing in Fort Collins. The primary
needs identified by those reports can be summarized into the following categories:
Affordable housing (rental units and resources for potential home buyers); and
Housing for people with special needs, especially seniors and residents with disabilities.
Those two needs, which are reflected in the City’s current housing‐related priorities, are
consistent with the findings of this report and are the primary focus of the following discussion.
Affordability. Median housing costs—as measured by rent and home value—in Fort Collins are
higher than in Colorado as a whole, and higher than in surrounding communities of Loveland,
Laramie and Greeley. Yet the City’s median income is lower than in the state overall, partially
due to the student population. Communities with a large student presence have unique housing
challenges. These challenges are mostly manifested in the rental market, which generally
accommodates students’ preferences at the expense of low income renters who have longer term
affordability needs.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION I, PAGE 2
Rental market. The median rent, including utilities, for all rental units in Fort Collins was $1,002
per month in 2012. To afford the City’s median rent and average utilities and not be cost
burdened, a renter would need to earn $40,080 per year. Approximately 40 percent of the City’s
renters can afford to pay the median rent and utilities.
In 2000, Fort Collins’ median rent was $689. The median rent in 2012 was $313 per month
higher than in 2000. To afford this increase, renters in the City would need to earn $12,520 more
per year. Renter incomes did increase in the decade—but by just $4,337. Therefore, renters have
lost purchasing power in the City’s rental market during the past 12 years. Those renters who
cannot find affordably priced rentals are living in units that cost more than they can afford.
These households are “cost burdened.”
As might be expected with a decrease in purchasing power, the proportion of renters who are
cost burdened has increased. In 2000, about 47 percent of Fort Collins renters (9,187
individuals) were cost burdened, spending 30 percent or more of their income on rent. By 2012,
59 percent of Fort Collins renters (16,030 individuals) were cost burdened.
Rental vacancy rates are closely tied to affordability—low vacancies associated with a tight
rental market lead to increases in rent. In Fort Collins, rental vacancy rates in 2010, 2011 and
2012 were the lowest they had been since the early 2000s.1 Although the first two quarters of
2013 show a slight increase in the vacancy rate (from 2.5% in Q4 2012 to 5.5% in Q1 2013 and
7.0% in Q2 2013), the market remains tight and rents remain high. Figure I‐1 displays the
average annual vacancy rate for the City of Fort Collins (as a whole and by quadrant).
Figure I‐1.
Rental Vacancy Rates, Fort Collins, 2000 through 2013
Note: The Statewide Multifamily Vacancy and Rent Survey provides vacancy rates by quarter. Figures shown reflect the annual average. 2013
data includes only the first two quarters.
Source: Statewide Multifamily Vacancy and Rent Survey by Market Area and BBC Research & Consulting.
1 Statewide Multifamily Vacancy and Rent Survey by Market Area. Ron L. Throupe, Ph.D.. The Daniels College of Business at the
University of Denver. Available online at http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/DOLA‐Main/CBON/1251592890239.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION I, PAGE 3
A recent article in the Coloradoan reports that more than 5,000 apartments are either under
construction or in planning stages, which should help alleviate low vacancy rates. However, at
least several hundred of those are expected to be high‐end units and are unlikely to impact
demand for affordable units in the City.2
Ownership market. The median value of owner‐occupied homes in Fort Collins was $248,800 in
2012 according to the ACS.3 Between 2000 and 2012, the median home value increased by
$79,200. Homeowners would need to earn approximately $19,320 more per year in 2012 than in
2000 to afford that increase.4 And, median household income for Fort Collins homeowners did
increase by about that much ($19,384), which means owners’ purchasing power remained about
the same during the past 12 years. Just 44 percent of current owners could afford the median‐
priced home if they were buying today. In 2012, more than one quarter (28%) of all home‐
owners were cost burdened, living in homes that cost more than they can afford, up from 22
percent in 2000.
Figure I‐2.
Changes in
Affordability, Fort
Collins, 2000 to 2012
Note:
Affordable home price
assumes a 10 percent down
payment, 5.0 percent interest
and 20 percent of monthly
payment is used for property
taxes, utilities and insurance.
Source:
2000 Census, 2012 ACS and
BBC Research & Consulting.
2 http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20130512/BUSINESS/305120018/
3 According to Fort Collins Board of Realtors September 2013 monthly market report, the median sold price for homes in Fort
Collins was $245,750—only $3,050, or 1 percent, lower than the median value.
4 This assumes a 10 percent down payment, 5.0 percent interest and 20 percent of monthly payment is used for property taxes,
utilities and insurance.
$689
$26,977
2000
2010
Median rent
Median income
$1,002
$39,497
Median rent
Income required
to keep up with
increase in rent
$31,314
Actual median
income
RENTERS
$169,000
$61,532
2010
Median value
Median income
$248,800
$80,852
Median value
Income required
to keep up with
increase in value
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION I, PAGE 4
Accessibility. In 2011, about 14 percent of all Fort Collins households contained at least one
person with a disability and about 8 percent contained at least one person with an ambulatory
disability (2009‐2011 ACS). Among senior households, 42 percent included a person with a
disability. Accessible housing is already in demand and as the population continues to age, that
demand is likely to increase.
According to surveys conducted for the 2012 AI conducted in Fort Collins:
Stakeholders and residents believe there are not enough affordable, accessible housing
units in Fort Collins for persons with disabilities.
One‐third of resident survey respondents whose household includes a member with a
disability are living in housing units that do not meet their accessibility needs. The most
common accessibility improvements desired include grab bars, ramps, wider doorways,
and single‐level residences.
Improving housing options for special needs populations (the elderly, persons with disabilities,
at‐risk/endangered teens and young adults, victims of domestic violence, persons with mental
illness and/or substance abuse issues, and persons with HIV/AIDS and their families) has also
been identified as a top‐level housing need in Fort Collins. Population sizes and needs for those
special needs groups are discussed in subsequent sections of this report.
Resources
This section profiles the primary Fort Collins resources related to serving the City’s housing
needs. Those resources include City plans, government programs, and non‐profit organizations.
City plans. Fort Collins’ Comprehensive Plan, titled “City Plan,” contains overarching policy
statements that promote balanced and integrated living patterns. Topics addressed include the
goal of a mix of housing types in all City sectors. Additionally, affordable housing is encouraged
to be dispersed throughout the City.
The City also has an Affordable Housing Strategic Plan, which establishes priorities and
strategies for the City’s affordable housing programs and informs the Consolidated Plan and
Annual Action Plans required by HUD. The most recent plan (2010) identifies four ordered
priorities to address affordable housing needs:
Increase the inventory of affordable rental units (with units for those below 30% AMI as the
highest priority);
Preserve existing affordable housing units;
Increase housing and facilities for people with special needs; and
Provide financial assistance for first‐time homebuyers.
The City’s current funding streams that contribute to housing‐related goals include Federal
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Federal Home Investment Partnership (HOME)
grants, City General Fund Budget Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) and Private Activity Bonds
(PAB).
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION I, PAGE 5
The Fort Collins 2012 AI evaluated Fort Collins’ housing market and regulatory climate to assess
both public and private sector conditions that impact fair housing choice. The AI suggested a Fair
Housing Action Plan which was included in the City’s most recent Annual Action Plan: 1)
Improve the housing environment for people with disabilities; 2) Strengthen fair housing
information, educational and training opportunities; 3) Support efforts to improve residents’
creditworthiness; 4) Continue to pursue infrastructure and public amenity equity; 5) Continue
efforts to make community amenities accessible to all residents; and 6) Make improvements to
land use code.
In 2013, the City drafted a special report titled “Affordable Housing Redevelopment
Displacement Mitigation Strategy,” adopted by City Council, which discusses City policies and
responsibilities related to the preservation of affordable housing (with an emphasis on mobile
home parks) and displacement of low‐income people when redevelopment occurs. The report
outlines current City policies and presents recommendations and actions to help bolster the
preservation of affordable housing in the City and can be found on the City’s website.
City programs. To address its affordability needs, the City combines federal block grant and
local funding with a handful of progressive programs. These include developer incentives, a
housing trust fund, and a land banking program.
The Competitive Process. The City channels millions of dollars from four funding streams
through its semi‐annual Competitive Process, the fall cycle of which is almost exclusively focused
on housing‐related proposals. Housing funding proposals received are overlaid against the
Affordable Housing Strategic Plan priorities in assessing priority for potential funding. Types of
programs and proposals funded through the Competitive Process, using the City’s federal CDBG
and HOME monies—as well as the City’s Human Services Program and Affordable Housing Fund
dollars—includes:
Homebuyer Assistance program, providing loans to eligible households to cover
downpayment and closing costs up to a maximum of 6 percent of the sales price. The
assistance is in the form of a loan which is paid back when the house is either sold,
transferred out of the buyer’s name, rented, or if buyer seeks another second lien (like a
home equity loan) on the property.
Housing rehabilitation and accessibility improvements for nonprofit housing providers.
Land acquisition for affordable housing development.
Housing preservation through acquisition.
Tenant based rental assistance provided through the local housing authority for persons
with addiction and mental illness coming out of homelessness. (Fort Collins Housing
Authority and its programs are discussed in more detail later in this section).
Emergency rent assistance and first month’s rent assistance programs; funds for emergency
shelter operations for both the general population and domestic violence survivors; funds
to support case management and emergency assistance (including housing, utilities,
medication and other life needs) for agencies working with those who have a disability or
HIV/AIDS; and funds to assist programs which keep seniors living independently.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION I, PAGE 6
Funds for activities—such as childcare scholarships—that stabilize and assist households,
and indirectly contribute to job and housing stability.
Comprehensive self‐sufficiency programs for single parents, which address a housing
stability component as part of the case management assistance.
Development incentives. The City has established a number of development incentives to help
ease the financial and regulatory burden for developers constructing qualified affordable
housing projects.5 Those incentives include impact fee delay, development review fee waivers,
administrative construction fee waivers, priority processing and density bonuses. Although the
incentives were developed to help foster affordable housing development, the City has
acknowledged that the incentives are not sufficient in and of themselves and should be evaluated
for effectiveness and compared to best practices of other communities.
The City does not have an inclusionary zoning ordinance. The City considered adopting an
ordinance, but was dissuaded by Colorado’s prohibition from including rental units as part of
inclusionary zoning.
Housing trust fund. The City has a housing trust program (the “Affordable Housing Fund”) that is
funded through General Fund contributions. The City’s budgeted dollars are the trust’s sole
source of revenue. An ongoing, permanent source of revenue has not been identified. Currently,
because of budget cuts, the annual contributions have dropped from $875,000 to $285,000. The
trust fund dollars are used to supplement federal grants awarded (CDBG and HOME) for housing
programs and projects. The City dollars carry fewer regulatory restrictions, and there is more
flexibility for the types of activities that can be funded.
Land banking. Fort Collins established its land banking program with a general fund
contribution of $1 million. The City’s program is specifically designed to acquire property for
development of affordable housing units, basically a hedge against rising land costs. Under the
program, the City acquires property and holds it long‐term (a minimum of 5 years, but more
often 7‐10 years). After a holding period ends on a specific property, the next step is for the City
to issue an RFP for affordable housing project development on the site. However, the City is not
permitted to use the land bank as an investment vehicle (e.g., to generate monies to fund
affordable housing development).
Faces and Places of Affordable Housing campaign. One of the most successful examples of a
campaign to educate the public about affordable housing originated in Fort Collins. In 2002, the
City, in partnership with a leading developer of affordable and market rate housing, conceived
the Faces and Places of Affordable Housing poster campaign.6 The award‐winning campaign’s
purpose was to change residents’ attitudes about the types of people who live in affordable
housing and their impression of what affordable housing “projects” look like.
5 Qualified means that 10 percent of the projects units must be affordable to households earning 80 percent or less of AMI.
6 http://www.fcgov.com/socialsustainability/faces‐places‐posters.php?key=affordablehousing/faces‐places‐posters.php.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION I, PAGE 7
The original posters were designed to communicate the faces of residents who live in affordable
housing, their hourly wage and the gap between their earnings and the average rent in the
community. The 2004 versions of the Faces of Affordable Housing campaign featured actual
community residents with the message, “Can I be your neighbor?” and facts supporting the
economic benefits of having fire and health care professionals, administrative clerks and
teachers living in the community.
The second component of the campaign sought to change residents’ preconceived notions of
what affordable housing looks like. It is not uncommon for residents to perceive modern
affordable housing developments to have the look and feel of the “projects” developed in the
1960s and 1970s. This campaign has been adapted and implemented in 18 states.
Fort Collins Housing Authority. Fort Collins Housing Authority (FCHA) administers the City’s
public housing and Section 8 housing choice vouchers. The FCHA also offers resident services
designed to promote self‐sufficiency and homeownership.
Public housing units. The FCHA operates 154 scattered site public housing units ranging in size
from one to four bedrooms. The wait list for public housing units is approximately 1,500 and is
currently open. FCHA is currently applying to HUD for the disposition of 88 single‐family units,
which have become too costly to maintain. FCHA intends to reinvest the proceeds to maximize
impact and increase economies of scale for both new and existing affordable housing.
The FCHA is currently partnering on a mixed‐income community development (Redtail) that will
provide 40 units for formerly homeless individuals and 20 units for low income (less than 50%
AMI) households. The development is also designed to include on‐site supportive services.
Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers. FCHA administers approximately 1,100 Housing Choice
vouchers, including 115 Veterans Affordable Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers. The voucher
wait list is currently closed. FCHA recently briefly opened the list when it received 100 new
vouchers for people with disabilities and 50 family unification vouchers.
A portion of FCHA’s vouchers are project‐based vouchers, for use at specific units owned by
nonprofit landlords including CARE Housing, Neighbor to Neighbor, Villages, Ltd. and the owner
of the Northern Hotel. For its project‐based voucher program, FCHA gives preferences to people
working with Project Self‐Sufficiency and victims of domestic violence working with Crossroads
Safehouse.
According to a geographic analysis conducted for the AI, vouchers are well distributed in most
areas of the City and are not heavily concentrated in areas with ethnic or low income
concentrations. However, the tight rental market and relatively low fair market rent (FMR)
limit—the maximum amount that HUD will reimburse a renter receiving a subsidy—can make it
difficult for voucher holders to find units in today’s tight rental market.
Other affordable housing providers and advocacy organizations. A number of
nonprofit organizations provide additional housing resources for Fort Collins residents.
According to the City’s Consolidated Plan, there are 1,207 LIHTC rent‐assisted units in Fort
Collins (80 of which are accessible) and 1,200 other affordable housing units for a total of 2,407
affordable units in the City. (It should be noted that landlords accepting housing choice vouchers
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION I, PAGE 8
may be included in that total; it is not additive to the voucher and PHA unit count). Some of the
primary affordable housing organizations are discussed below, however, the following list
should not be considered exhaustive.
CARE Housing. CARE Housing develops and manages affordable housing communities in both
Fort Collins (six communities) and Windsor (one community). In Fort Collins, CARE operates a
total of 286 units designed for working families earning between 30 and 60 percent of AMI.7 The
waitlist for Care Housing communities is approximately 300 families.
Villages Affordable Housing. The Villages, ltd is an affordable housing nonprofit that owns
approximately 356 affordable units (all are Section 8 project based units) in eight locations
scattered throughout Fort Collins.8 Villages was created to extend the capabilities of the FCHA
and all village communities are managed by the FCHA. Collectively, the Villages communities
comprise the largest project‐based housing choice voucher program in Fort Collins.9
Neighbor to Neighbor (N2N). The mission of Neighbor to Neighbor is to “open doors and
advance lives by providing housing counseling, supportive services, and multi‐family affordable
housing.” N2N services include emergency rent assistance, first month’s rent assistance,
foreclosure prevention counseling, homebuyer education, housing choice voucher communities
and affordable housing communities. Neighbor to Neighbor has 108 multifamily units for
moderate to low income renters (earning 0‐60% of the AMI) in eight communities in Fort Collins
and another 14 units in two communities in Loveland. Altogether, N2N serves 295 people in its
communities, most of which are families.
As of November 2013, N2N had 60 households on the wait list for two bedroom units and 22 for
three bedroom units. Households generally wait for more than one year before a unit becomes
available. Most clients stay in N2N communities for between three and five years and leave
because they move from the City, rather than into market rate housing within Fort Collins.
Habitat for Humanity Fort Collins. Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit Christian
housing ministry that builds affordable homes in partnership with families earning less than 60
percent of AMI. Habitat provides a zero percent interest loan with affordable monthly payments
to homeowners who also contribute up to 500 hours of “sweat equity” in the building of their
home and a down payment. Fort Collins has built approximately 50 homes and has a goal of
building 50 more by 2020.10
Financial services. The following organizations provide a number of financial tools and
services related to affordable housing opportunities in Fort Collins.
Funding Partners for Housing Solutions is a community Development Financial Institution
(CDFI) based in Fort Collins that helps create access to capital in underserved markets and
among target populations throughout Colorado. Loan programs offered in Larimer County
7 http://www.carehousing.org/.
8 Fort Collins Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan: FY2010‐2014.
9 http://fchousing.com/housing‐programs/villages‐affordable‐housing.
10 http://www.fortcollinshabitat.org/.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION I, PAGE 9
include project financing, residential purchase assistance (home loans and down payment
assistance), energy efficiency improvement program for nonprofits and a modification
assistance program.11
GreenPath Debt Solutions (formerly Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Northern
Colorado).12 GreenPath is a local non‐profit agency specializing in consumer budgeting. It offers
residents a number of financial management tools including credit counseling, debt
management, financial education, housing counseling, and bankruptcy counseling and education
services.13
Foreclosure prevention hotline. The Colorado Foreclosure Hotline was created in 2006 to
provide a central point of contact for homeowners in danger of foreclosure. The hotline serves
homeowners facing potential foreclosure by connecting them to HUD‐approved counseling
resources. In Fort Collins, foreclosures peaked in 2009 but have been declining steadily since
that time.
Housing Gaps
To examine how well Fort Collins’s current housing market meets the needs of its residents—
and to determine how likely it is to accommodate demand of future residents and workers—BBC
conducted a modeling effort called a “gaps analysis.” The analysis compares the supply of
housing at various price points to the number of households who can afford such housing. If
there are more housing units than households, the market is “over‐supplying” housing at that
price range. Conversely, if there are too few units, the market is “under‐supplying” housing.
Gaps for current renters. Affordability for renters has two components: mismatches in the
rental market and ownership opportunities for renters wanting to buy. The gaps analysis
conducted for renters in Fort Collins addresses both rental affordability and ownership
opportunities.
Rental market. Figure I‐3 compares the number of renter households in the City in 2012, their
income levels, the maximum monthly rent they could afford without being cost‐burdened, and
the number of units in the market that were affordable to them.14 The “Rental Gap” column
shows the difference between the number of renter households and the number of rental units
affordable to them. Negative numbers (in parentheses) indicate a shortage of units at the specific
income level. Renters with too few affordable units to serve them are not homeless, but are
paying more for rental units than they can afford because of the shortage of units in their price
range.
11 http://www.fundingpartners.org/loan‐programs/county/Larimer.
12 Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Northern Colorado and Southeast Wyoming recently combined operations with
GreenPath Debt Solutions.
13 http://www.greenpath.com/cccs‐of‐nc.htm.
14 The ACS reports rent amounts as paid by the household (as opposed to the amount received by the landlord). As such, the
distribution of rental units in the figure does account for subsidized units.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION I, PAGE 10
Figure I‐3.
Rental Market Gaps
Note: HUD 2013 MFI for Fort Collins‐Loveland was $75,800.
Source: 2012 ACS & BBC Research & Consulting.
The gaps analysis in Figure I‐3 shows that:
Almost 3,700 renters earn less than $10,000 per year but there are only 220 rental units
priced at their affordability range (less than $250/month). This leaves a “gap,” or shortage,
of 3,471 units for these extremely low income households.
Rental unit shortages also exist for renters earning between $10,000 and $15,000 per year
(2,301 renters v. 345 units), renters earning between $15,000 and $20,000 per year (2,685
renters and 427 units) and those earning between $20,000 and $25,000 per year (2,713
renters and 1,559 units).
Altogether, the City has a shortage of rental units priced affordably for renters earning less
than $25,000 per year of 8,838 units. Some of these renters are students (discussed in more
detail below).15 These households are also working residents earning low wages, residents
15 Data limitations make it difficult to separate out renters who are students and may receive assistance paying rent from
parents, student loans and/or other non‐income sources. These students affect the rental market in a number of ways but their
true economic need for affordable units is unknown.
Income Range
Less than $5,000 $125 1,528 6% 38 0% (1,491)
$5,000 to $9,999 $250 2,162 8% 182 1% (1,980)
$10,000 to $14,999 $375 2,301 8% 345 1% (1,955)
$15,000 to $19,999 $500 2,685 10% 427 2% (2,258)
$20,000 to $24,999 $625 2,713 10% 1,559 6% (1,154)
$25,000 to $34,999 $875 3,814 14% 7,075 25% 3,261
$35,000 to $49,999 $1,250 4,205 15% 10,739 38% 6,533
$50,000 to $74,999 $1,875 4,549 16% 5,856 21% 1,306
$75,000 or more $1,875+ 3,705 13% 1,920 7% (1,785)
Total 27,664 100% 28,140 100%
AMI Range
0‐30% of AMI $569 10,164 37% 1,847 7% (8,317)
31‐50% of AMI $948 5,853 21% 9,856 35% 4,003
51‐80% of AMI $1,516 5,329 19% 11,154 40% 5,826
81‐100% of AMI $1,895 2,668 10% 3,551 13% 883
101‐120% of AMI $2,274 1,043 4% 1,038 4% (5)
More than 120% of AMI $2,275+ 2,607 9% 694 2% (1,913)
Total 27,664 100% 28,140 100%
Max Affordable
Rent, Including
Utilities
Rental Gap
Renters Rental Units
Number Percent Number Percent Rental Gap
Max Affordable
Rent, Including
Utilities Number Percent
Renters Rental Units
Number Percent
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION I, PAGE 11
who are unemployed and residents who are disabled and cannot work—in other words,
those residents who are truly living in poverty.16
Rental market gaps by AMI. The gaps in Figure I‐3 are also presented in terms of AMI, which is
consistent with many federally funded programs. The private rental market in Fort Collins
largely serves renters earning between 31 and 80 percent of AMI—75 percent of rental units are
priced within that group’s affordability range. There is a substantial mismatch in supply and
demand at the 0 to 30 percent of AMI category: 37 percent of all renters earn less than 30
percent of AMI but only 7 percent of rental units are affordable to them leaving a gap of 8,317
units.
A note about students. It is difficult, given data limitations, to easily separate out renters who are
students and may receive assistance paying rent from parents, student loans and/or other non‐
income sources. Recent data from CSU’s Institutional Research office estimate that there are
approximately 21,000 full‐time undergraduates studying at CSU during the academic year and
that approximately 5,200 live in university‐provided housing. This leaves about 16,000 students
living in private housing, primarily in the City limits. At an average household size of 3.5, as
many as 4,600 units could be occupied by current students. These students affect the rental
market in a number of ways but their true economic need for affordable units is unknown. The
off‐campus students may comprise a large part of the rental gap if they report their full‐time
residence as Fort Collins and have low earned incomes.17
These individuals may also be past
students, no longer in school but unemployed, and still in need of affordable housing.
Therefore, the rental gap shown above is an upper‐bound estimate of need. Adjusting for student
households could result in a reduced gap of approximately 4,200 non‐student households in
need of affordable housing.
Market options for renters wanting to buy. A similar gaps analysis was conducted to evaluate
the market options affordable to renters who may wish to purchase a home in Fort Collins.
Again, the model compared renters, renter income levels, the maximum monthly housing
payment they could afford, and the proportion of housing units with a value affordable to them.18
The maximum affordable home prices shown in Figure I‐4 assume a 30‐year mortgage with a 10
percent down payment and an interest rate of 5.00 percent. The estimates also incorporate
property taxes, insurance and utilities (assumed to collectively account for 20% of the monthly
payment).
The “Renter Purchase Gap” column in Figure I‐4 shows the difference between the proportion of
renter households and the proportion of homes affordable to them. Negative numbers (in
16 It is important that these renters are not homeless. Those renters who cannot find affordability priced rentals are living in
units that cost more than they can afford. These households are “cost burdened.”
17 The students would not be counted as Fort Collins residents if they report another place of residence—such as their parents’
address—on the Census survey.
18 Home value was used as a proxy for ownership market options. The median value of homes in Fort Collins ($248,800) is
very similar to the median sale price ($245,750); however, the distribution of home values may differ from the for‐sale market
offerings, particularly at the lower end of the value range. As such, the gaps analysis should be interpreted as a lower‐bound
estimate of affordable for‐sale housing need.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION I, PAGE 12
parentheses) indicate a shortage of units at the specific income level; positive units indicate an
excess of units.
The sale gaps analysis shows the Fort Collins market to be relatively affordable for renters
earning more than $50,000 per year, especially those earning $75,000 or more. About 30 percent
of homes are affordable to renters earning between $35,000 and $50,000 and an additional 41
percent of homes are affordable to renters earning between $50,000 and $75,000. Overall, 23
percent of all renters can afford the 2012 median home value of $248,800.
Figure I‐4.
Renter Purchase Gaps
Note: HUD 2013 MFI for Fort Collins‐Loveland was $75,800.
Source: 2012 ACS & BBC Research & Consulting.
Current homeowner equity and options. Between 2000 and 2012, owner purchasing
power stayed about the same in the City’s housing market (housing prices increased at about the
same rate as owner incomes). Overall, the market is relatively affordable to current
homeowners. Even if we assume owners would not use their current equity for the purchase of a
new home, the distribution of home values is similar to the income distribution of current
owners, except for a small gap for owners earning between $10,000 and $25,000 per year (10%
of renters compared to 2% of home values). In other words, there appears to be no substantial
mismatches between owner affordability and the for sale market. However, a traditional gaps
analysis does not provide a complete picture of homeowner needs given the complexities of the
recent mortgage crisis, changing interest rates, differences in equity, personal finances and
Income Range
Less than $5,000 $20,491 6% 2% 2% ‐3%
$5,000 to $9,999 $40,982 8% 2% 4% ‐6%
$10,000 to $14,999 $61,469 8% 1% 5% ‐8%
$15,000 to $19,999 $81,960 10% 0% 5% ‐10%
$20,000 to $24,999 $102,451 10% 2% 6% ‐8%
$25,000 to $34,999 $143,433 14% 5% 12% ‐9%
$35,000 to $49,999 $204,906 15% 18% 30% 3%
$50,000 to $74,999 $307,361 16% 41% 71% 24%
$75,000 or more $307,362+ 13% 29% 100% 16%
100% 100%
AMI Range
0‐30% of AMI $93,193 37% 5% 5% ‐31%
31‐50% of AMI $155,322 21% 9% 15% ‐12%
51‐80% of AMI $248,515 19% 35% 50% 16%
81‐100% of AMI $310,643 10% 21% 71% 12%
101‐120% of AMI $372,772 4% 10% 81% 6%
More than 120% of AMI $372,773+ 9% 19% 100% 10%
100% 100%
Renters Who Want
to Buy: Max
Affordable Home
Percent of
Renters
Percent of
Housing Stock
Cumulative
Percent of
Housing Stock
Renter
Purchase
Gap
Percent of
Renters
Percent of
Housing Stock
Cumulative
Percent of
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION I, PAGE 13
economic conditions. As such, cost burden may be a better measure for understanding current
homeowner needs.
Overall, there are 8,425 homeowners (28% of all owners) in Fort Collins that cannot afford their
monthly housing costs. Figure I‐5 shows the number and proportion of owners that are cost
burdened by mortgage status, age and income. Younger homeowners and those with lower
incomes are most likely to be cost‐burdened. Over two‐thirds of cost‐burdened owners earn less
than $50,000 per year.
Figure I‐5.
Cost‐Burdened Owners,
by Age and Income Level,
2012
Note:
Total excludes 78 owner‐occupied
households for which cost burden could
not be calculated.
Source:
2012 ACS and BBC Research &
Consulting.
All Owner‐Occupied Households 30,102 8,425 28%
By Mortgage Status
With a mortgage 23,804 7,774 33%
Owned free and clear 6,298 651 10%
By Age of Homeowner
Householder 15 to 24 years 880 684 78%
Householder 25 to 34 years 4,164 938 23%
Householder 35 to 64 years 19,107 5,178 27%
Householder 65 years and over 5,951 1,625 27%
By Income of Household
Income Less than $20,000 2,480 1,958 79%
Income $20,000 to $49,999 5,979 3,824 64%
Income $50,000 to $74,999 5,027 1,526 30%
Income $75,000 to $99,999 5,614 787 14%
Income $100,000 or more 11,002 330 3%
Total* Number Percent
Cost‐Burdened
SECTION II.
Homelessness
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION II, PAGE 1
SECTION II.
Homelessness
This section discusses homelessness in Fort Collins and explores the diverse needs of persons
and families experiencing homelessness and the resources available in the community.
Characteristics of Persons who are Homeless
This section provides HUD’s definitions of homelessness and characterizes the homeless
population in Fort Collins based on Point‐In‐Time (PIT) surveys and a Vulnerability Index survey
conducted in 2010.
Definitions. In 2011, in response to provisions of the 2009 Homeless Emergency Assistance
and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act, HUD issued new definitions of homelessness.
These definitions are used for eligibility determination for homeless program funding. HUD
broadly classifies four categories of homeless: literally homeless; imminent risk of
homelessness; homeless under other federal statutes; and fleeing/attempting to flee domestic
violence.1
Literally homeless. HUD defines the literally homeless as an “individual or family who lacks a
fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, meaning:
Has a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not meant for human
habitation;
Is living in a publicly or privately operated shelter designated to provide temporary living
arrangements (including congregate shelters, transitional housing, and hotels and motels
paid for by charitable organizations or by federal, state and local government programs); or
Is exiting an institution where (s)he has resided for 90 days or less and who resided in an
emergency shelter or place not meant for human habitation immediately before entering
that institution.”2
Imminent risk of homelessness. Those who are at imminent risk of homelessness are an
“individual or family who will imminently lose their primary nighttime residence, provided that:
Residence will be lost within 14 days of the date of application for homeless assistance;
No subsequent residence has been identified; and
The individual or family lacks the resources or support networks needed to obtain other
permanent housing.”3
1 https://www.onecpd.info/resources/documents/HomelessDefinition_RecordkeepingRequirementsandCriteria.pdf.
2 Ibid.
3 Ibid.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION II, PAGE 2
Homeless under other federal statutes. Under other federal statutes, HUD considers persons to
be homeless if they are “unaccompanied youth under 25 years of age, or families with children
and youth who do not otherwise qualify as homeless under this definition, but who:
Are defined as homeless under the other listed federal statutes;
Have not had a lease, ownership interest or occupancy agreement in permanent housing
during the 60 days prior to the homeless assistance application;
Have experienced persistent instability as measured by two moves or more during the
preceding 60 days; and
Can be expected to continue in such status for an extended period of time due to special
needs or barriers.”4
Fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence. Any individual or family is considered
homeless who:
“Is fleeing, or is attempting to flee domestic violence;
Has no other residence; and
Lacks the resources or support networks to obtain other permanent housing.”5
Characteristics of the homeless in Fort Collins. Figure II‐1 presents the results of a PIT
survey of the homeless conducted in Fort Collins 2013. In 2013, about one‐third of the homeless
counted in the PIT were children and youth (under age 24).
Figure II‐1.
Observed Homelessness in Fort Collins,
2013
Source:
2013 PIT surveys, Homeward 2020.
The 2013 PIT survey measured additional characteristics of persons experiencing homelessness
in Fort Collins. Slightly more than one in three persons reported being victims of domestic
violence. One in five was determined as severely mentally ill.
4 Ibid.
5 Ibid.
Under age 18 49 20 %
18 to 24 28 11 %
24 and older 173 69 %
Total 250 100 %
2013
Number
of People Percent
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION II, PAGE 3
Figure II‐2.
Characteristics of Persons Experiencing
Homelessness, Fort Collins, 2013
Note:
Percentages add to greater than 100 percent because an
individual may be represented by more than one characteristic.
Source:
2013 PIT survey, Homeward 2020.
In 2010, Homeward 2020 led a Registry Week in partnership with the 100,000 Homes
Campaign. During the Registry Week, staff and volunteers met with and surveyed 229 homeless
persons in Fort Collins; these surveys were used for a Vulnerability Index. The 100,000 Homes
Vulnerability Index serves to identify and prioritize persons experiencing homelessness based
on their health and markers that increase the risk of mortality.
Figure II‐3 presents some of the results from the 2010 Fort Collins Registry Week surveys. Note
that the questions posed in the Vulnerability Index are different from those in the PIT survey, so
the responses are not directly comparable. Based on the Vulnerability Index, the vast majority of
homeless individuals had been incarcerated; almost half of the individuals interviewed have a
mental illness and two in five are vulnerable to dying on the streets due to health problems.6
Health problems associated with a heightened risk of mortality as measured by the Vulnerability
Index include: “three or more hospitalizations or emergency room visits per year; more than
three emergency room visits in the past three months; age 60 or older; cirrhosis of the liver;
history of frostbite immersion foot or hypothermia; HIV/AIDS; and tri‐morbidity, co‐occurring
psychiatric, substance abuse and chronic medical condition.”7
Figure II‐3.
Findings from the 2010 Registry Week Vulnerability Index Survey, Fort Collins
Note: n=229 unduplicated Vulnerability Index surveys with persons experiencing homelessness in Fort Collins.
Source: Homeward 2020, 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness, August 2011.
6 http://100khomes.org/sites/default/files/About%20the%20Vulnerability%20Index.pdf
7 Ibid.
Victims of Domestic Violence 88 35 %
Severely Mentally Ill 51 20 %
Chronically Homeless Individuals 47 19 %
Chronic Substance Abuse 40 16 %
Veterans (2 female) 21 8 %
Persons with HIV/AIDS 3 1 %
Chronically Homeless Families 1 0 %
Number
of people
Percent of all
homeless
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION II, PAGE 4
Chronic homelessness. HUD classifies individuals as chronically homeless if they have
experienced homelessness for a year or longer, or if they have experienced four or more
episodes of homelessness in the past three years, and have a disability. In the 2012 Annual
Homeless Assessment Report, HUD estimates that 15.8 percent of the homeless population
nationally is chronically homeless.8 The 2013 Fort Collins PIT estimate of 19 percent is similar to
the national estimate.
The National Alliance to End Homelessness reports that the chronically homeless are among the
most vulnerable of persons experiencing homelessness. Chronic homelessness is strongly
correlated with high rates of severe mental illness, substance abuse disorders and other physical
illnesses. The Homeward 2020 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness characterizes the chronically
homeless as “the most visible, vulnerable and costly form of homelessness in the community.”
The Plan also notes that more than half of the dollars dedicated to homelessness in Fort Collins
target the chronically homeless. This relatively small proportion of the total homeless population
is also overrepresented in hospitalizations, emergency services, substance detoxification and
corrections facilities.
Permanent housing with supportive services is considered a successful and cost‐effective
intervention for the chronically homeless. Supportive services are critical to addressing the non‐
housing vulnerabilities of this population, including treatment for substance use disorders,
mental illness and other health difficulties.
Families. In 2012, persons in families comprised 38 percent of persons experiencing
homelessness nationally. Colorado had the second highest rate of unsheltered homeless families
(62% of all homeless families)9. In the 2013 Fort Collins PIT, 36 percent of persons experiencing
homelessness were in family households, similar to the national share. Unlike the finding for
Colorado that 62 percent of homeless families are unsheltered, in Fort Collins, only 6 percent of
homeless family households included in the PIT survey were unsheltered.
In contrast to the relatively low numbers of homeless families identified in City PIT counts, the
Poudre School District estimated that more than 1,000 students in the 2010‐2011 school year
were homeless, and this number has been growing annually.10 Part of the difference between the
number of homeless families in the PIT and that reported by the school district can be attributed
to a difference in how each population is defined—the PIT has a very strict definition.
The National Coalition for the Homeless reports that poverty and the lack of affordable housing
are the primary causes of family homelessness. Unlike the chronically homeless, family
homelessness tends to be shorter term—ending a single episode of homelessness within three to
six months. 11 Typically, families become homeless after a period of housing instability
characterized by eviction or moving from a housing unit due to inability to pay, doubling up with
8 Volume 1 of the 2012 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress, HUD, Office of Community Planning and
Development.
9 Ibid.
10 See Section V. Education for more detail on homeless children in the Poudre School District.
11 http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/families.html
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION II, PAGE 5
other households, couch surfing, and finally living in cars or motels before entering a shelter
system. Many are fleeing domestic violence. Most homeless families are single mothers, under
age 30, with two young children.12 Families experiencing shorter term, single episode
homelessness comprise about 70 percent of homeless families.13
Most families who experience homelessness are very similar to other families in poverty who
remain housed. Both groups have limited education and employment opportunities and both are
more likely than other populations to have experienced physical or sexual violence, mental
illness and post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Given these similarities, researchers have
examined the factors that may tip one family into homelessness while another remains housed.
Several key differences among homeless families differentiate them from others in poverty:
Weak or “thin” social networks of family or friends—sometimes the difference between
becoming homeless or not is being able to borrow money to make rent. Social supports in
the form of informal child care, sharing transportation or other tangible resources and the
companionship of friends and family helps those living in poverty weave together the
tapestry of formal and informal resources that keep them housed. Those without these
supports can tip into homelessness. One study found that 27 percent of parents in homeless
families were formerly in the foster care system, suggesting even weaker or nonexistent
family ties.14
Homeless families also have lower participation rates in TANF, one of the primary
programs designed to assist families in poverty.15
Rapid re‐housing has been demonstrated as one of the most successful strategies to remove
families from homelessness and help them remain permanently housed. Many need no
additional assistance after the initial supports for re‐housing.16 Families successfully assisted by
rapid re‐housing are very similar to those placed in transitional housing; research suggests that
more families could be assisted by shifting funds away from transitional housing programs for
families and into rapid re‐housing.17
A low proportion of homeless families—approximately 5 to 16 percent—have repeated
instances of episodic homelessness18. Strategies to help these families are usually more intensive
due to the high likelihood of severe mental illness or substance use disorder by the parent(s).
For these families, children are often removed from the household so that the parent(s) can
receive the intensive treatment needed to provide a stable and healthy home. Strategies to help
12 Ending Family Homelessness: National Trends and Local System Responses, October 2012.
13 Ibid.
14 Ibid.
15 Ibid.
16 http://www.endhomelessness.org/pages/families.
17 Ending Family Homelessness: National Trends and Local System Responses, October 2012.
18 Ibid.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION II, PAGE 6
these families often involve intensive housing and service supports in the form of permanent
supportive housing.19
Unaccompanied youth. Nationally, each year, about 1.6 million youth (age 24 and younger)
join other runaways and homeless youth on the streets. In Fort Collins, three in ten homeless
persons are age 24 or younger. Unlike youth and children who are homeless with a family,
unaccompanied youth are on their own. These unaccompanied youth typically fall into one of
three classes:
“Runaway‐homeless youths, who stayed away at least one night without parents’ or
guardians’ permission;
So‐called ‘throw‐away’ youths who left home because parents encouraged them to leave or
locked them out of the home; and
Independent youths who feel they have no home to return to due to irreconcilable familial
conflicts or have lost contact with their families.”20 Homeless independent youths may
include those who age out of the foster care system.
Unaccompanied youth runaways tend to be female and Caucasian. Native American and African
American youth are also overrepresented compared to their population proportion in all three
classes of unaccompanied homeless youth, as are lesbian and gay youth. Between 20 and 40
percent of unaccompanied homeless youth consider themselves to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or
transgendered (LGBT).21
Violence in the home (including emotional/mental, physical and sexual) is one of the primary
factors contributing to runaway youth. Another predictor of youth homelessness is behavioral
problems, mental illness such as depression and substance use disorders prior to the episode of
homelessness. Unaccompanied homeless youth tend to have weaker social networks and
supports than those of homeless families, further compounding their isolation and
vulnerabilities.22 A large share become homeless after aging out of the foster care system.
Providers estimate that about 60 youth between the ages of 16 and 21 are currently in the foster
care system in Larimer County.
Once on the streets, unaccompanied youth are much more vulnerable to physical and sexual
violence as well as engaging in survival sex for food, shelter or money. Among unaccompanied
homeless youth, LGBT youth experience physical and sexual violence at a higher rate than their
non‐LGBT peers—59 percent compared to 33 percent overall.23
19 Ibid.
20 Homeless Children and Youth: Causes and Consequences, National Center for Children in Poverty, 2009.
21 Ibid.
22 Ibid.
23 Ibid.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION II, PAGE 7
Placing unaccompanied homeless youth into youth‐focused stable housing with supportive
services geared toward restoring physical and mental health, life skills training and job training
is seen as an effective practice for stopping homeless episodes in this population.
Veterans. The 2012 American Community Survey (ACS) estimates that there are 8,378
veterans living in Fort Collins. In 2012, veterans comprised about 10 percent of the nation’s
homeless population in the PIT count.24 This is down from 16 percent in 2009, the year the
Veterans Administration announced a 5 Year Plan to End Veteran Homelessness.
Veterans represented 8 percent of the homeless population in the 2013 Fort Collins PIT count,
slightly lower than the national proportion. The National Alliance to End Homelessness
estimated that the number of homeless veterans in Colorado decreased by 27 percent from 2011
to 2012.25
In 2012, the Department of Veterans Affairs released the first comprehensive longitudinal study
of homelessness among veterans, with a focus on veterans who served in Operation Enduring
Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and separated from the military between
July 2005 and September 2006. The study tracked these veterans for a period of five years and
compared them to demographically similar veterans who separated from the military in the
same period.26 The findings are striking for all veterans, as well as those who served in OEF/OIF.
Based on the 2012 number of persons experiencing homelessness nationally and the U.S.
population, about 0.002 percent of Americans are homeless. Among veterans, 3.7 percent of
those who served in OEF/OIF have an initial episode of homelessness within five years of leaving
the military27. The percentage of non‐OEF/OIF veterans experiencing an initial episode of
homelessness within five years of military separation is 3.2 percent and 4.0 percent for female
veterans.28 The median timing of the first homelessness episode is three years after discharge.
Veterans who experience homelessness after separating from the military are more likely than
veterans who do not experience homelessness to have been29:
Under the age of 35 at the time of discharge (79 to 84% of homeless veterans);
Enlisted and in the lower pay grades (E1‐E4) (70 to 78% of homeless veterans);
Diagnosed with mental disorders, including substance abuse (50% or more of homeless
veterans), and most received this diagnosis prior to discharge;
24 Volume 1 of the 2012 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress, HUD, Office of Community Planning and
Development.
25 The State of Homelessness in America, National Alliance to End Homelessness, Homelessness Research Institute, 2013.
26 Homeless Incidence and Risk Factors for Becoming Homeless in Veterans, Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the
Inspector General, May 2012.
27 Ibid.
28 Ibid.
29 Ibid.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION II, PAGE 8
Diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI) at a rate two to three times higher than non‐
homeless veterans; and
Treated for military sexual trauma, particularly female homeless veterans.
The 2012 ACS estimates that there are 969 male veterans and 88 female veterans under the age
of 35 in Fort Collins. If the estimate that 3.7 percent of veterans become homeless within five
years of separating from the service, applying this rate to the veterans under age 35 suggests
that approximately 40 veterans are or will become homeless in Fort Collins.
The study authors recommended that the VA focus its homelessness prevention efforts on those
recently separated veterans with the risk factors noted above. Other studies suggest that rapid
re‐housing is an effective strategy for most homeless veterans, however those with the most
severe difficulties (e.g., physical and mental health disabilities, including substance use
disorders) are best served by permanent housing with supportive services provided by experts
in veteran care.30
Resources
The Fort Collins Housing Authority and other area organizations provide public housing units,
project based Section 8 units and administer housing vouchers. These affordable housing
opportunities were described in Section I. This section describes the resources available to
homeless individuals and families in Fort Collins.
Coordination and day services. The Sister Mary Alice Murphy Center for Hope (Murphy
Center) serves as a single point of access for persons who are experiencing homelessness or are
nearly homeless to connect to community resources. Resource specialists meet with people
seeking assistance and connect them with needed services. Services include employment
assistance, housing assistance, financial counseling, transportation assistance, job training and
education opportunities, and mental health and substance abuse counseling. In addition, the
Murphy Center provides showers, lockers, phone and computer access and laundry facilities.
Demand for showers and laundry is so high that a lottery is conducted each morning for each.
A total of 23 different agencies and organizations are accessible to clients of the Murphy Center
during the week. Examples of some of the organizations that participate in service provision or
resource referrals at the Murphy Center include: Salud‐Health Care performs health checks;
Touchstone Health Partners offers therapy groups, medication assistance, and referrals to the
housing authority; Neighbor2Neighbor provides housing search assistance as well as housing
counseling and emergency assistance; the Homelessness Prevention Initiative screens applicants
for emergency rental assistance; Hand‐Up Cooperative helps with employment training and
searches; Navigators—a volunteer program—helps individuals and families access state
benefits; and Homeless Gear distributes clothing, equipment and non‐perishable food items.
30 http://www.endhomelessness.org/pages/veterans.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION II, PAGE 9
Homelessness prevention. One of the key homelessness prevention strategies is providing
one‐time rental assistance to households at risk of losing their housing. Assistance with paying
utility bills is also important.
Homelessness Prevention Initiative. The Homelessness Prevention Initiative (HPI) works to
prevent families in its service area— the Poudre School District—from becoming homeless.
Their primary prevention activities include providing rental assistance and financial literacy
classes. In the 2011‐2012 program year, HPI prevented 855 families from becoming homeless by
distributing more than $240,000 in rental assistance dollars. HPI also refers families to other
agencies for additional assistance. HPI offers rental assistance intake at the Sister Mary Alice
Murphy Center for Hope on Tuesdays and at five churches across the City.31 Residents can also
call 211 to be directed to intake screening by phone. HPI’s support to qualified families is on a
first‐come first‐serve basis as funding allows.
Neighbor to Neighbor rent assistance. Neighbor to Neighbor (N2N) provides up to $350 in
rental assistance to qualified households. Households can receive assistance one time per year,
up to three times in their lifetime. Between January and October 2013, 102 Fort Collins families
have been assisted with emergency rent assistance.
N2N also offers qualified homeless and near homeless the opportunity to apply for as much as
$500 towards first month’s rent. This is a one‐time assistance. Between January and October
2013, 80 households were assisted with first month’s rent.
N2N housing counselors are available on Mondays and Wednesdays at the Sister Mary Alice
Murphy Center for Hope from the hours of 8:30am‐12:00pm and 12:30pm‐3:30pm and on
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30pm‐3:30pm.
Salvation Army of Fort Collins rent and utilities assistance. Residents with eviction or shutoff
notices can contact the Salvation Army of Fort Collins for assistance. Funds are allocated on a
first come first serve basis.
Catholic Charities utilities assistance. Qualified Larimer County residents can receive emergency
assistance with utility shutoff notices from Catholic Charities. Appointments can be scheduled by
phone Monday through Friday from 8:30am‐10:00am. In the most recent fiscal year, Catholic
Charities Northern provided 839 families with utilities assistance.
Disabled Resource Services financial assistance for emergency needs. As funding allows,
Disabled Resource Services (DRS) can provide limited financial assistance to low income
residents with disability conditions for emergency needs, such as eviction or utility shutoff
prevention, prescriptions and transportation. In the 2011‐2012 program year, DRS provided
housing assistance services to 925 people.
Rapid re‐housing. Through the development of affordable housing and offering limited
financial assistance (e.g., deposit, first month’s rent), the purpose of rapid re‐housing is to house
homeless individuals and families as quickly as possible and then address other factors or
31 http://homelessnessprevention.net/contact‐us.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION II, PAGE 10
conditions that contributed to their episode of homelessness. The City’s efforts to develop and
support affordable housing were detailed in Section I. Strategies for increasing affordable
housing in the City should include rapid re‐housing, as this tool best serves the needs of
particular vulnerable populations.
Permanent supportive housing. The Fort Collins Housing Authority is developing the City’s
first permanent supportive housing—Redtail Ponds. This development will have 40 units for
formerly homeless individuals and 20 units for individuals earning 30 to 50 percent of the Area
Median Income. Redtail Ponds will offer a variety of supportive services, including case
management, counseling and life skills training. Construction is anticipated to commence in early
2014.
Emergency shelter and transitional housing. Figure II‐4 summarizes the emergency
shelter beds and selected transitional housing programs in Fort Collins. As shown, the Fort
Collins Rescue Mission has the greatest number of unrestricted beds for men and women (75
total). Overall, Crossroads Safehouse has the greatest number of emergency shelter beds, but
these are reserved for men, women and children fleeing from domestic violence. At any point in
time, there is capacity to shelter eight families in emergency housing (excluding those served by
Crossroads Safehouse). Catholic Charities operates a transitional housing program for up to 16
male veterans. Through the Fort Collins Housing Authority, Crossroads Safehouse operates 25
transitional housing units and an additional six housing units onsite for those who cannot safely
live in the community.
The Corbett House provides the only transitional housing with supportive services for youth age
17 to 20. Since it’s opening, the Corbett House has been full. The average length of stay is six
months. Youth are referred to the program by the Colorado Department of Human Services and
the Colorado Department of Youth Corrections.
It is important to note that these shelters are all night shelters; the City does not have a day
shelter where individuals and families may stay during daylight hours (the Murphy Center is a
resource, not a day, shelter). Although there is no dedicated day shelter, the City does have a
cooperative partnership between the Murphy Center and Catholic Charities to provide day
center services. Day shelter services are available in the mornings at the Murphy Center and in
the afternoons at Catholic Charities. In addition to these services, Faith Family Hospitality has a
day center three days per week for their families and families on their wait list.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION II, PAGE 11
Figure II‐4.
Emergency Shelter Beds and Transitional Housing Programs
Source: BBC Research & Consulting from provider websites and interviews.
Gaps. The gaps in housing for residents who have experienced homelessness are summarized in
the following graphic.
The factors underlying homelessness are complicated and many, and addressing homelessness
requires a comprehensive approach for both housing and services. As the graphic demonstrates,
Fort Collins has many resources in place to prevent and address homelessness—yet gaps remain
in some areas. The primary gaps in providing a more sustainable network for persons who are
homeless include:
Expanding shelter options for families and youth including a day shelter;
Permanent supportive housing to keep residents from falling back into homelessness;
Transitional housing, especially in periods when subsidized housing supply is
oversubscribed32;
A shelter for youth who are homeless; and
Expanded onsite and mobile resources, particularly rapid access to mental health care for
persons who are homeless.
32 Note that transitional housing is the best option for very specific populations (e.g., youth exiting from foster care, survivors
of intimate partner violence).
Shelter Beds
Catholic Charities Mission Shelter 18 beds 6 beds 4 rooms
Catholic Charities Emergency Overflow 24 beds 6 beds 4 beds
Fort Collins Rescue Mission 59 beds 10 beds
Faith Family Hospitality 4 families
Crossroads Safehouse Emergency Shelter 107 beds
Transitional housing with supportive services
Catholic Charities Veteran's Program 12 beds
Fort Collins Rescue Mission New Life Program 14 beds
Crossroads Safehouse Housing Opportunities and
Mentoring Enrichment (HOME)
25 housing
units w/ FCHA
Crossroads Safehouse Housing Opportunities and
Mentoring Enrichment (HOME)
6 housing units
onsite
Corbett House 8 beds
Men Women Family Youth
SECTION III.
Persons Living in Poverty
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION III, PAGE 1
SECTION III.
Persons Living in Poverty
This section addresses poverty in Fort Collins. It begins with trends in poverty and then
discusses some of the underlying causes of poverty. The section also profiles resources in the
City that are dedicated to mitigating poverty and building self sufficiency of those who are poor.
Poverty Levels and Trends
Poverty is defined at the federal level and, except for Alaska and Hawaii, does not vary based on
state or municipality. For 2013, the poverty level by family size was:
$11,490 for a single person,
$15,510 for a two-person household,
$19,530 for a three-person household, and
$23,550 for a four-person household,
Which equates to $4,020 for each additional household member.
The Census’ ACS estimates that in 2012, 8.9 percent of Fort Collins families and 19.3 percent of
individuals lived in poverty. This equates to 2,898 families and 27,225 individuals.
The large difference between the family and individual poverty rate in the City is partially due to
the student presence. As shown in Figure III-1, Fort Collins residents between the ages of 18 and
24 report a very high poverty rate (57.5% live below the poverty level). If 18-24 year olds are
factored out of the number of persons living in poverty, the overall rate drops to 10.3 percent.
Figure III-1.
Poverty by Age, 2012
Source:
American Community Survey, 2012.
Families 32,542 2,898 8.9%
Individuals 141,227 27,225 19.3%
Under 5 years 8,912 1,243 13.9%
5 years 1,958 59 3.0%
6 to 11 years 9,581 1,217 12.7%
12 to 14 years 3,732 608 16.3%
15 years 1,278 115 9.0%
16 and 17 years 2,775 697 25.1%
Child poverty rate 14.0%
18 to 24 years 26,837 15,437 57.5%
25 to 34 years 25,258 3,751 14.9%
35 to 44 years 16,308 997 6.1%
45 to 54 years 18,433 1,591 8.6%
55 to 64 years 14,093 1,105 7.8%
65 to 74 years 6,979 145 2.1%
75 years and over 5,083 260 5.1%
Totals 114,390 11,788 10.3%
Total In Poverty Poverty Rate
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION III, PAGE 2
Recent trends. In 2010, nearly 25,000 Fort Collins residents were living in poverty—about 18.2 percent of all residents. The 2012 ACS data
indicate that the number of residents living in poverty has increased slightly, to 27,225, or 19.3 percent of residents. The 2000 Census counted
15,835 individuals living in poverty in the City in 1999, for a poverty rate of 14.0 percent.
Family poverty has increased more dramatically than individual poverty on a percentage basis. Between 1999 and 2012, the number of poverty-
level families doubled, whereas persons living in poverty grew by 72 percent.
Figure III-2 shows trends in both individual and poverty family rates.
Figure III-2.
Poverty Trends, 1999-2012
Source: 2000 Census, 2005 ACS, 2008 ACS, 2011 ACS, and 2012 ACS.
1999 2008 2010 2011 2012
Families living in poverty 1,417 2,737 1,794 2,317 2,434 2,898 1,320 93% 900 64% 1,481 105%
Family poverty rate 5% 10% 6% 8% 8% 9%
Individuals living in poverty 15,835 21,705 21,356 24,988 26,322 27,225 5,870 37% 9,153 58% 11,390 72%
Individual poverty rate 14% 18% 16% 18% 19% 19%
%
increas
1999-2012 change
2005
1999-2005 change
No.
increase
%
increase
No.
increase
%
increase
1999-2010 change
No.
increase
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION III, PAGE 3
Student effect. Enrollment at CSU explains some, but not all, of the high individual poverty
rate for several reasons. First, students claiming another place of residence than Fort Collins
(e.g., their parent’s home) would not be captured in the Census’ poverty numbers. Second, not all
students are poor; some earn enough to be above the poverty line. And the recent increase in the
number of individuals living in poverty cannot be fully explained by increases in student
numbers, as discussed below.
The number of undergraduate students at CSU increased by just 1,734, or 8 percent, between
2003 and 2012. The increase in all resident-instruction students (those taking classes on
campus, including graduate students) was only 1,727. Fort Collins residents living in poverty, by
comparison, rose by 5,520 between 2005 and 2012. Figure III-3 shows current and historical
enrollment at CSU, according to the CSU Fact Book.1
Figure III-3.
CSU Enrollment, Fall 2003 – Fall2012
Note: Only includes students who receive instruction in person on campus. Numbers reflect fall enrollment.
Source: CSU Fact Book, http://www.ir.colostate.edu/pdf/fbk/1213/2012_13_Fact_Book.pdf.
Peer communities. Figure III-4 compares poverty rates in Fort Collins with peer
communities—those in surrounding states with large university presences and not located in a
larger urban setting. As the figure demonstrates, Fort Collins’ poverty rate is relatively low for a
college community.
1 http://www.ir.colostate.edu/pdf/fbk/1213/2012_13_Fact_Book.pdf.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION III, PAGE 4
Figure III-4.
Family and Individual Poverty Rate in Peer Communities, 2008-2011 ACS
Source: American Community Survey, 2008-2011 3-year estimates.
Poverty and race/ethnicity. Figure III-5 shows poverty by resident race and ethnicity. Rates
are highest for African Americans, persons reporting Some Other Race (often Hispanics who do
not consider their race as White) and residents of Hispanic descent. The poverty rates of these
groups far exceed those of residents in the City overall.
Figure III-5.
Poverty by Race/Ethnicity,
City of Fort Collins, 2006-
2010
Source:
American Community Survey 2006-2010
5-year estimate.
Geographic concentration. Figure III-6 shows concentrations of poverty in Fort Collins using
2006-2010 ACS data. Residents in poverty are mostly located in the northern part of the City.
This is true of both individual and family poverty.2
2 The At-Risk Youth and Education section uses maps by family poverty to examine correlations between poverty and
educational achievement, as well as location of ECE and before and after school programs.
Fort Collins, CO 30,962 2,486 8% 137,650 25,632 19%
Boulder, CO 17,711 1,466 8% 89,740 20,413 23%
Laramie, WY 5,772 585 10% 28,625 7,554 26%
Logan, UT 10,263 2,194 21% 44,519 13,816 31%
Las Cruces, NM 23,072 3,808 17% 94,708 21,461 23%
Total
Families Individuals
In Poverty Poverty Rate Total In Poverty Poverty Rate
Total Population 133,374 23,960 18%
Race
American Indian and Alaska Native 938 120 13%
Asian 3,948 823 21%
Black or African American 1,379 526 38%
White 119,266 20,313 17%
Some other race 3,474 1,185 34%
Two or more races 4,282 937 22%
Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino origin 13,109 3,546 27%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino 111,425 18,495 17%
Total
Below
Poverty
Percent
Below
Poverty
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION III, PAGE 5
Figure III-6.
Percent of Persons Living in Poverty, by Census Tract, City of Fort Collins, 2006-2010
Note: According to the 2006-2010 ACS, 18% of Fort Collins residents are living in poverty.
Source: American Community Survey 2006-2010 5-year estimate.
Household structure and poverty. In Fort Collins, as in most cities, the family type with the
highest poverty rate is single female headed households with children. In Fort Collins, 36 percent
of single mothers live in poverty, or 1,074 families. Single fathers, with a poverty rate of 28
percent, also have poverty rates much higher than the rate for all families with children (15%).
Figure III-7 shows the poverty rate by family type in Fort Collins.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION III, PAGE 6
Figure III-7.
Poverty by Household Type
Source: American Community Survey, 2012.
Disability and likelihood of being in poverty. Curiously, in Fort Collins, persons with a
disability have lower poverty rates than those without a disability. Overall, the individual
poverty rate in Fort Collins is 19 percent. Persons with one or more disabilities—a total of 9,940
in Fort Collins in 2012—have a poverty rate of 15 percent. This equates to 1,450 persons with
disabilities in the City who are living below the poverty level. It is important to note that the
poverty level for those disabled persons who have never worked is extremely low and that these
vulnerable residents have very little opportunity to ever reach self-sufficiency.
There are two reasons for this phenomenon. First, as discussed above, residents between the
ages of 18 and24 comprise 57 percent of all persons in poverty. Few of these residents are
disabled. The prevalence of disability increases with age, so the City’s seniors, who have a very
low poverty rate, are the largest share of persons with disabilities.
Employment and poverty. Although persons in poverty are less likely to be educated and
employed than those residents not living in poverty, many residents in Fort Collins could be
classified as the “working poor.” The majority of persons living in poverty in Fort Collins have
attended college. A slight majority (55%) of persons living in poverty work. These statistics,
shown in Figure III-8, suggest that some of the solutions for alleviating poverty lie in economic
development.
Families 32,542 2,898 9%
Married-couple family 26,425 1,316 5%
with children 11,944 1,000 8%
Male householder, no wife present 1,522 281 18%
with children 1,002 281 28%
Female householder, no husband present 4,595 1,301 28%
with children 2,982 1,074 36%
Among all families with children living in poverty…
Percent that are married couples 42%
Percent that are single fathers 12%
Percent that are single mothers 46%
Total In Poverty Poverty Rate
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION III, PAGE 7
Figure III-8.
Educational Attainment and Employment Status of Persons in Poverty, 2012
Source: American Community Survey, 2012.
Local poverty research. In a 2008 paper, Dr. Martin Shields of CSU and colleagues examined
trends in poverty in Larimer County and Fort Collins.3 Findings of the research paper are based
on data from 1999 through 2006 and, as such, do not reflect the impact of the recent recession.
Yet many of the findings remain current according to 2012 data. These include the following.
Growth in poverty in the past decade was strongest for the City’s youngest residents. More
recent data (2000 through 2010) show that the number of children under age 5 living in
poverty rose by 126 percent. It should be noted that the number of younger seniors living in
poverty more than doubled, yet the actual number of seniors who are poor is small relative
to children.
Poverty rates of children in single parent household is very high. 2012 ACS estimates the
poverty rate for single-parent female households at 36 percent.
A high school diploma is an important, but not sure, pathway past poverty. For adults 25+
years of age poverty rates are highest for those with less than a high school degree (20% in
2012)—yet poverty still persists for those with higher educational attainment. In the
context of current economic conditions, findings suggest that individuals with a high school
education or less are the most vulnerable to falling into poverty.
3http://www.bridgesnoco.org/images/What_Explains_Recent_Increases_in_Poverty_in_Larimer_County_DrMartin_Shields_Stu
dy.pdf.
Poverty Status by Employment Status
Civilial population 16 and over
(for whom poverty status is
determined)
115,589 23,983 91,606
In labor force: 85,377 15,897 69,480 66% 76%
Employed 78,993 13,284 65,709 55% 72%
Unemployed 6,384 2,613 3,771 11% 4%
Not in labor force 30,212 8,086 22,126 34% 24%
100% 100%
Population 25 years and over
(for whom poverty status is
determined)
86,154 7,849 78,305
Less than high school graduate 3,424 673 2,751 9% 4%
High school graduate (includes equivalency) 11,702 1,402 10,300 18% 13%
Some college, associate's degree 24,822 2,842 21,980 36% 28%
Bachelor's degree or higher 46,206 2,932 43,274 37% 55%
100% 100%
Not in Poverty
Poverty Status by Highest Level of
Eduational Attainment Total In Poverty Not in Poverty In Poverty
Total In Poverty Not in Poverty In Poverty Not in Poverty
Percent
Percent
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION III, PAGE 8
Unemployment rates are highest for those without a high school degree. Wages increase
with education.
Households where at least one adult is employed full-time are much less likely to be
impoverished.
The study also concluded, based on an analysis of poverty relative to local economic variables
that regional economic development, as measured by wage and employment growth, can reduce
poverty, but it takes dramatic growth to make large differences. Regions where a higher
percentage of individuals have finished high school or college tend to have lower poverty rates.
Base line education rates, however, have little effect on changing poverty.
What leads to poverty?
As suggested in Dr. Martin’s findings—and as documented in other research—the causes of
poverty are not completely understood. Macroeconomic indicators, such as growth in per capita
income, no longer demonstrate a strong statistical relationship with proportion of the
population living in poverty.4 That is, poverty can persist and even increase in spite of growth in
a local economy.
It is important to note that there are some residents in every community who are not capable of
being gainfully employed and may long-term require public assistance. Persons with debilitating
diseases, some persons with disabilities, and persons who are elderly with infirmities often
cannot generate household income through employment. Income assistance—in the form of Old
Age Pension (OAP), Aid to Needy Disabled (AND), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social
Security Disability Income (SSDI), Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, Medicare or Medicaid, food
stamps, and a “preference” for existing public housing and Section 8 vouchers—are the most
realistic strategies for maintaining household income and limiting the effects of extreme poverty
in these situations.
Historically, the most successful anti-poverty program in the U.S. has been the Social Security
program, an income supplement program. Social Security has reduced poverty significantly—as
evidenced in the low poverty rates of seniors—by providing regular monthly income to elderly
persons.
It is also important to draw a distinction between generational poverty (a child raised in
poverty) and situational poverty (poverty related to job losses, significant illness, etc.).
Generational poverty is usually defined as poverty lasting two generations or longer. These very
different circumstances require different approaches. For situational poverty, the solution is
usually found in a temporary safety net (e.g., rent or mortgage assistance, shelter, child care
subsidies) and access to programs to help an individual or family regain self sufficiency.
Generational poverty, in contrast, is a more difficult situation to change. Families living in
generational poverty need a broader and ongoing arrangement of supportive services.
4 Hoynes, Hilary, et. al. 2005. “Poverty in America: Trends and Explanation.” National Bureau of Economic Research. Paper No.
11681.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION III, PAGE 9
Resources
Poverty is a complex problem that, as discussed previously, could be related to many different
factors, some generational and some situational. As such, addressing poverty requires a diversity
of resources. This section profiles the primary resources that are in place in Fort Collins to assist
residents living in poverty.
City Anti-Poverty Plan. As a recipient of federal housing and community development block
grants, Fort Collins is required by HUD to have an anti-poverty plan in place. The City of Fort
Collins first adopted a formal anti-poverty strategy as part in 1993. This strategy seeks to
integrate and coordinate local housing and support services for households that are below the
poverty levels. To accomplish this, City staff participate on many community-wide task forces,
and promote programs that provide skills development, education, and job training for low-
income persons, as well as integrate public housing residents with programs that focus on self
sufficiency.
Housing and emergency assistance programs. For most people, the most expensive
household cost is their monthly rent or mortgage payment.5 As such, reducing housing cost
burden is one of the most effective tools to mitigating the impact of poverty. For example, a
household receiving assistance with housing costs may better be able to afford the cost of child
care, which is necessary for work or job training. Housing supports can also determine if
residents living in poverty have shelter or fall into homelessness.
Section I discusses housing gaps in Fort Collins and lists the largest providers of housing
assistance in Fort Collins. These housing providers—particularly those that serve clients at the
lowest income levels—are a very important part of improving the self sufficiency of those living
in poverty, as well as preventing homelessness.
The Murphy Center, described in more detail in the Homelessness report section, provides
services to persons living in poverty, both those housed and experiencing homelessness. The
Navigators program assists guests of the Murphy Center in applying for state and federal
benefits such as food stamps and Temporary Aid to Needy Families. The Murphy Center also
offers an emergency assistance program that helps residents pay utilities, prescriptions and
transportation. The Homelessness Prevention Initiative provides rent assistance to community
members facing the loss of housing due to an unforeseen emergency.
Employment and job training services. The Aspen Institute recently released several
research reports that focus on addressing the needs of the unemployed and raising self
sufficiency of low income households, particularly in the wake of the current recession. The
Institute’s research has found that collaboration across multiple institutions is imperative to
build the academic, supportive-service and employment needs of low income workers. The
Institute recommends the following strategies:
5 This is not always true of seniors. Those without a mortgage payment or who are living rent-free (e.g., with family) may have
very low monthly housing costs. And for some, health care costs may exceed housing costs.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION III, PAGE 10
Target a specific industry or cluster of occupations on which to focus job training and skills
development services, especially those industries with predicted growth and livable wages.
Support students’ efforts to improve workforce skills by providing counseling, child care,
and in some cases, basis skills development.
Connect with area businesses and provide labor market navigation services to students to
help them find jobs and improve their job hunting and communication skills.
Combine the strengths of community colleges and local workforce nonprofits. Students are
served more effectively by a joint effort than by the organizations alone.
Involve residents in the development of these programs and make them the agents of
change. Top down government programs have been found to be less effective than resident-
involved programs.
Many of these recommended strategies are already in place at the Fort Collins organizations
dedicated to employment and job training for low income households. These organizations are
profiled below.
Project Self-Sufficiency (PS-S). This organization assists low income, single parents in the
greater Fort Collins-Loveland build self sufficiency. The majority of clients earn less than 30
percent of the AMI (86%) and many are female heads of household. Some have physical
disabilities and mental illness, with potential for full time employment, and 60 percent are
victims of domestic violence.
PS-S focuses on improving employment-readiness of its clients with career planning and job
search assistance through the Education and Life Training Center in Fort Collins. (see profile
below) Scholarships and child care assistance to help parents attend school is funded by service
clubs. The organization also provides tutoring services for parents, particularly in math and
science, and access to computers. PS-S partners with local housing authorities to find their
clients assisted housing and maintains a services-sharing agreement with Crossroads Safehouse.
Education and Life Training Center (ELTC). The ELTC provides employment readiness and job
training to adults in Northern Colorado. The center offers classes in computer software and
general job readiness.
ELTC partners with area nonprofits that serve clients with education and training needs, many of
which are profiled elsewhere in this section and report.
ELTC is also the lead agency of the Larimer County Circles initiative, which engages residents of
all socioeconomic levels into a discussion about poverty and to build awareness of the needs of
persons in poverty. The goal of the initiative is to create a community-based, ally-oriented
approach to assisting persons in poverty. Larimer County is one of five Circles sites in Colorado.
Nationally, the success rate for the program is 42 percent and, although lower than ideal, has the
potential to move a large number of people out of poverty and into self-sufficiency.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION III, PAGE 11
Larimer County Workforce Center. The Larimer County Workforce Center’s mission is to
“improve the quality of life for individuals, families and communities through employment and
workforce development services.” The Center provides a wide variety of services from job
postings to resume building toolkits to networking opportunities. Some of their services target
specific populations including youth and veterans. For example, the Center offers youth
professionalism workshops, tours of potential employers and an online list of “youth-friendly”
employers with minimum hiring age.
Emerging practices to break the cycle of poverty. Two organization in Fort Collins have
focused in recent years on identifying the underlying causes of poverty and developing
strategies, as well as community awareness, to address the many challenges of poverty.
Bridges out of Poverty (Bohemian Foundation). The Bohemian Foundation’s two-year pilot
initiative, Bridges out of Poverty Northern Colorado, is an effort to bring together public, private,
faith-based and nonprofit organizations to build partnerships related to addressing poverty. The
Foundation provides training to area businesses, nonprofits, educators and community members
to increase awareness of poverty and provide them with tools to address community poverty
and their own organizational or individual economic challenges.
Pathways Past Poverty. The Pathways Past Poverty (PPP) initiative is a program in collaboration
with Colorado State University, the Northern Colorado Economic Development Council (NCEDC),
The Coloradoan, and several nonprofit organizations. The program was started in response to
the increase in poverty in the City and Larimer County.
PPP developed a “Prioritized Goals Master Document” to guide the United Way’s and partners’
efforts in addressing poverty. This strategic plan has not yet been implemented; some of the
goals may need updating to reflect the current economic environment in the City. Yet many of
the goals hit on the underlying needs—and solutions—for addressing poverty in the City and
county. In sum, these include:
Highest priority
Child care. Ensure families in Larimer County have access to quality child care.
Job and skills development. Significantly increase the availability of, access to and quality of
job training, critical life skills and education opportunities.
Housing. Develop and implement a multi-dimensional approach to low income housing to
ensure that no persons or families lack access to adequate housing.
Community networks. Ensure that families facing poverty have the opportunity to take part
in a community supported process that enhances their own individual and family resources.
Increase awareness of diversity and poverty.
Health and wellness. Develop and implement a multifaceted integrated health care, wellness
and preventative system.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION III, PAGE 12
Secondary priority
Transportation. Develop and implement a seamless, affordable, integrated multi-modal
transportation system.
Education. Increase the academic success of all youth in Larimer County.
Financial justice. Level the playing field for those in poverty (create countywide systemic
change).
Financial stability. Increase the level of financial literacy and stability in the community.
SECTION IV.
Health and Wellness
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION IV, PAGE 1
SECTION IV.
Health and Wellness
This section discusses the physical and mental health of Fort Collins residents and their access to
wellness and recreation options and healthy food.
Physical and Mental Health
The characteristics of Fort Collins residents who are vulnerable to physical and mental health
difficulties and the resources available to these populations follow. The types of health risks
discussed include:
Obesity,
Sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS,
Mental illness and suicides, and
Substance abuse.
Prevalence. This section estimates the number of Fort Collins residents with physical and
mental health difficulties, based on available prevalence rates.
Obesity. Based on rates calculated from the 2011‐2012 Colorado Behavioral Risk Factor
Surveillance System, more than 38,000 Fort Collins residents age 18 and older are overweight
and more than 18,000 are obese.
Obesity rates are highest for middle age adults, as shown in Figure IV‐1, and lowest for young
adults. A 2013 report on child well‐being in Colorado (Kids Count in Colorado!) places Larimer
County toward the bottom of counties for low rates of child obesity, suggesting that the low rate
for 18‐24 year olds reflects that of young adults moving to the City to attend college. The obesity
measure is a departure from other statistics, in which the county scored near the top. Kids Count
reports that 31 percent of children in Larimer County are overweight or obese, higher than for
the state overall (28%).
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION IV, PAGE 2
Figure IV‐1.
Overweight and Obese Residents by Age Group, Fort Collins, 2011‐2012
Note: Overweight is defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25.0 and less than 30.0. Obese is defined as a BMI of 30.0 or higher.
Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Colorado Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Statistics, Larimer County,
2011‐2012 and 2012 ACS.
Sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HIV/AIDS. The Colorado Department of Public Health
and Environment’s STI/HIV surveillance program reports the number of new STI and HIV cases
in each county. Larimer County’s statistics for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV are shown
from 2008 to 2012 in Figure IV‐2. From 2011 to 2012, the rate of chlamydia cases increased by
20 percent, gonorrhea by 34 percent, syphilis a four‐fold increase and new HIV cases increased
by 26 percent. Despite these increases, the 2012 STI/HIV rate per 100,000 population for each is
much lower in Larimer County than found statewide.
Figure IV‐2.
New STI/HIV Cases, Larimer County, 2008‐2012
Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, STI/HIV Surveillance Program Larimer County Five‐Year Trend Tables, August 2013.
Mental illness. Figure IV‐3 presents estimates of the Fort Collins population with serious mental
illness and any mental illness, including mild disorders. Approximately 6,500 adults have serious
mental illness. The National Institute on Mental Health reports that 58.7 percent of adults with
serious mental illness seek treatment.1 Applying that statistic to Fort Collins adults with serious
mental illness suggests that approximately 2,700 adults have not sought treatment. Untreated
serious mental illness has both personal and social costs, including unemployment, disability,
risk of suicide, substance use disorders, homelessness, and can strain law enforcement and
emergency response services.
1 http://www.nimh.nih.gov/statistics/3USE_MT_ADULT.shtml
Age Group
18‐24 20% 6,408 5% 1,766
25‐34 33% 8,558 17% 4,421
35‐44 37% 6,099 18% 2,909
45‐54 41% 7,636 21% 3,837
55‐64 39% 5,572 20% 2,765
65+ 35% 4,335 22% 2,703
% Overweight # Overweight % Obese # Obese
2008 771 263.7 74 25.3 8 2.7 12 4.1
2009 120 242.0 41 13.8 3 1 7 2.4
2010 741 247.3 33 11.0 2 0.7 11 3.7
2011 885 279.8 33 10.8 1 0.3 7 2.3
2012 1,039 334.6 45 14.5 4 1.3 9 2.9
Colorado 2012 21,631 471 2,822 54.4 208 4 390 7.5
Rate per
100,000 Cases
Rate per
100,000
Chlamydia Gonorrhea Syphilis Newly Diagnosed HIV
Rate per
Cases 100,000 Cases
Rate per
100,000 Cases
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION IV, PAGE 3
According to the Institute on Mental Health data, mental illness among adolescents is much
higher, for both serious mental illnesses and any mental illness. According to the data, as many
as 1,500 adolescents have a serious mental illness (8% of adolescents) and 8,000 have any type
of mental illness (43%).
Figure IV‐3.
Prevalence of Mental Illness Among Fort Collins Adults and Adolescents
Note: Adults are residents ages 20 and older. Adolescents are residents ages 10 to 19.
Source: BBC Research & Consulting from 2012 ACS and “Prevalence of Mental Illness in the United States: Data Sources and Estimates,”
Congressional Research Service, April 24, 2013.
Suicide. In its most severe state, mental illness can lead to residents taking their own lives. Figure
IV‐4 presents trends in suicide attempts and suicide mortality rates for Larimer County from
2002 through 2012.As shown, rates of suicide attempts have been declining annually since the
peak year 2009. And, according to the Alliance for Suicide Prevention, youth suicides have
decreased dramatically, declining by 50 percent since 2005.
Overall suicide mortality rates fluctuate annually, and reached a new peak in 2012 of 22.5
suicides per 100,000 residents, compared to 20.3 statewide. For Fort Collins, this means that
approximately 35 residents die each year due to suicide.
The Alliance for Suicide Prevention reports that just 29 percent of county residents who
committed suicide in 2012 were receiving mental health treatment; this is based on data from
the Larimer County Coroner’s 2012 Annual Report. The individuals who died by suicide in 2012
ranged from 16 to 91 years old and the average age was 49 years old.
Serious mental illness ‐ adults 5.8% 6,501
Serious mental illness ‐ adolescents 8% 1,509
Any mental illness,
including mild disorders ‐ adults 25% 27,799
Any mental illness,
including mild disorders ‐ adolescents 43% 8,034
Prevalence
# of Individuals
in Fort Collins
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION IV, PAGE 4
Figure IV‐4.
Trends in Suicide Attempts and Suicide Mortality Rates, Larimer County, 2002‐2012
Source: COMPASS of Larimer County and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Colorado Health Information Dataset.
Substance use disorders. The number of Fort Collins residents with alcohol and drug use
disorders is based on prevalence rates found in the Archive of General Psychiatry.
The difference between abuse and dependence is based on criteria outlined in the Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM‐IV).2 Broadly, alcohol or drug abuse is
characterized by alcohol‐related or drug‐related absences from work or school, driving while
impaired, substance use‐related legal problems, and negative social interactions caused by
substance use. Dependence characteristics include high tolerance for alcohol or drugs,
withdrawal symptoms, managing withdrawal symptoms by continued alcohol or drug use,
reduced social or work activities due to substance use, devoting time to use a substance or
recover from its effects, continued substance use despite other physical or psychological
problems.
Based on these criteria, about 26,000 Fort Collins residents abuse alcohol and more than 11,000
abuse drugs. There is likely overlap between these numbers and those in Figure IV‐3, as
substance use disorders are often correlated with mental illness and physical health problems.
2 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK44358/
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION IV, PAGE 5
Figure IV‐5.
Estimates of Fort Collins Residents with Substance Use Abuse and Dependence
Note: The prevalence rates are age‐adjusted lifetime rates.
Source: BBC Research & Consulting from 2012 ACS and “Prevalence, correlates, disability, and comorbidity of DSM‐IV alcohol abuse and
dependence in the United States: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions,” Archive of General
Psychiatry, Volume 64, Number 7, July 2007 and “Prevalence, correlates, disability and comorbidity of DSM‐IV drug abuse and dependence
in the United States: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions,” Archive of General Psychiatry,
Volume 64, Number 5, May 2007.
Resources. This section provides an overview of the organizations and services in Fort Collins
that assist residents with maintaining and improving their physical and mental health. It is not
comprehensive, but provides an overview of organizations working on these challenging issues.
Some organizations have a broad health and wellness mission, while others are dedicated to
serving specific subpopulations in Fort Collins or Larimer County.
The section is organized around three broad categories:
Programs to reduce the costs of health care,
Affordable health care clinics and providers,
Mental health providers, and
Wellness focused providers.
Programs to reduce the costs of health care.
Reduced fee health care. Discounted health care services are provided to low income Colorado
residents through the Colorado Indigent Care Program (CICP) by participating providers. While
not a health insurance program, CICP subsidizes patient care by compensating providers with
federal and state dollars. Qualifying residents are either uninsured or underinsured and have
incomes at or below 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
Figure IV‐6 presents trends in the number of Larimer County CICP admissions and patient visits
to participating health care providers. Three Larimer County clinics and six hospitals
participated in CICP in the 2011‐2012 fiscal year. From 2000 to 2012, the number of admissions
and patient visits to health care providers subsidized by the CICP increased by 237 percent, from
15,950 CICP admissions and visits to 53,776.
Lifetime alcohol abuse 17.8% 26,457
Lifetime alcohol dependence 12.5% 18,579
Lifetime drug abuse 7.7% 11,445
Lifetime drug dependence 2.6% 3,864
Prevalence
# of Fort Collins
Individuals
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION IV, PAGE 6
Figure IV‐6.
Colorado Indigent Care Program Admissions and Visits by Larimer County Residents, 2000‐2012
Note: Numbers reflect admissions and visits by Larimer County residents, not unduplicated patients.
Source: Colorado Health Institute from the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.
Health insurance. According to the 2012 ACS, nearly 9 in10 Fort Collins residents have health
insurance. Among these, the majority is covered by private insurance, but 28,914 residents also
have some form of public coverage, such as Medicaid or Medicare. At the time of this writing
(November 2013), it is premature to speculate as to how implementation of the Affordable Care
Act will impact health insurance coverage rates in Fort Collins. The Act’s aim is to incentivize the
16,809 Fort Collins residents who have no health insurance coverage to become insured.
Figure IV‐7.
Health Insurance Coverage Status, Fort Collins Residents, 2012
Source: 2012 ACS.
Medicaid enrollment. Figure IV‐8 presents the Larimer County Medicaid enrollment from 2010
through September 2013. Qualified residents under age 21 participate in Medicaid’s Early and
Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program. Since 2010, the number of
children and adolescents in Larimer County on Medicaid grew by 36 percent and adult
participation grew by 53 percent. As part of Colorado’s implementation of the Affordable Care
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION IV, PAGE 7
Act, Medicaid eligibility was expanded to additional populations; as such, growth in Medicaid
enrollment is likely.
Figure IV‐8.
Average Monthly Medicaid Enrollment, Larimer County 2010‐2013
Note: Data for 2013 are the September 2013 caseload.
Source: Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.
Eligible for Medicaid/CHP+ but not enrolled. Figure IV‐9 presents the percentage and number of
Larimer County children (under age 18) who were eligible for coverage under Medicaid or CHP+
but were not enrolled from 2008 to 2010. In 2010, the Colorado Health Institute estimated that
1,158 Larimer County adults were eligible for Medicaid but not enrolled—about 22 percent of
the eligible population. With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the expansion of
Medicaid eligibility in Colorado, continued outreach to these populations will be important.
Figure IV‐9.
Percentage of and Number of Children Eligible for Medicaid or CHP+ But Not Enrolled, Larimer
County, 2008‐2010
Source: Colorado Health Institute.
2008 17% 26% 1,903 1,164
2009 18% 36% 2,400 1,845
2010 7% 28% 901 1,270
Medicaid CHP+ Medicaid CHP+
% of Children Eligible
But Not Enrolled
# of Children Eligible
But Not Enrolled
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION IV, PAGE 8
Affordable health care clinics and providers.
Providers accepting new Medicaid clients. According to Larimer County, in October 2013, 11
providers in Fort Collins were accepting new Medicaid patients for non‐emergency care. Figure
IV‐10 maps and names these providers, shown in reference to poverty rates. Three of the 11
providers are located in high poverty areas.
Figure IV‐10.
Location and Name of Providers Accepting New Medicaid Patients, 2013
Note: This map shows only those providers indicated by Larimer County as accepting new Medicaid patients as of October 3, 2013. Other
providers may accept new Medicaid patients.
Source: http://larimer.org/health/chs/medicaid_health.pdf.
Health District of Northern Larimer County. The Health District of Northern Colorado serves the
City of Fort Collins and other Northern Colorado communities. As a special tax district created by
voters in 1960, the Health District is funded by property taxes. Health District programs include
blood pressure and cholesterol screening, community impact team, dental connections, mental
health connections, family dental clinic, and prescription assistance. Through its Mental Health
Connections program (a partnership with Touchstone Health Partners), the Health District
connects residents in need of mental health care services to local providers, affordable
prescriptions, and support and advice. The Health District also partners with other Fort Collins
and Larimer County health care providers and governments to address health care needs.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION IV, PAGE 9
Fort Collins Salud Family Health Center. The Fort Collins Salud Family Health Center provides
primary care and preventive care services for families and children, and accepts Medicaid,
Medicare, CHP+ and private insurance. Staff are bilingual and the Center caters in large part to
the Hispanic community in Fort Collins. Salud also has a mobile clinic to serve the migrant
farmworker population in Larimer County. The Fort Collins clinic also provides Medicaid and
CHP+ enrollment services. Salud serves more than 12,000 patients per year. Overall, 41 percent
are uninsured, and the majority qualifies for Medicaid. As implementation of the Affordable Care
Act continues, they anticipate that the share of patients covered by Medicaid may increase by as
much as 20 percent.
Women’s Resource Center. The Women’s Resource Center provides health education and outreach
and preventive care services to women living on incomes below the poverty line in Fort Collins.
Services include cancer and diabetes prevention screening, dental care, breast and cervical care,
and outreach and education. In partnership with Larimer County Community Corrections, the
Women’s Resource Center has developed a new program—Help for Incarcerated Women—to
educate incarcerated women about preventive health care and to work with these women on
their mental and physical health.
Mental health providers.
Touchstone Health Partners (formerly Larimer Center for Mental Health). Touchstone Health
Partners (THP) provides outpatient mental health and addiction services at five locations in Fort
Collins. THP has programs that serve children, adolescents, adults, and families across the
spectrum of behavioral and mental health and substance use disorders. In addition to providing
direct services at the Fort Collins clinics, THP also partners with other organizations and
agencies in a resource and referral capacity. Touchstone is the primary mental health and
substance use disorder treatment provider for low income residents of Fort Collins. In 2012,
Touchstone served more than 6,100 patients in Larimer County of whom 90 percent were on
Medicaid. One‐third of their clients are youth between the ages of 0 and 18. Clients can usually
be seen for an initial evaluation in two to four days. Appointments to see a psychiatrist or
psychologist can take four to six weeks; there is a waitlist for these services.
Alliance for Suicide Prevention of Larimer County. The Alliance for Suicide Prevention of Larimer
County provides outreach, education and resource referrals to Larimer County adolescents and
adults with the mission of suicide prevention. School and community based education programs
are delivered by trained volunteers in area middle and high schools as part of required health
classes. The Alliance offers support groups for families and friends of individuals who committed
suicide (two groups per month) and support groups for persons living with depression and
bipolar disorder. The organization also works as a “broker” to family members and friends who
identify someone at risk of suicide by connecting them with the appropriate resources.
Residential treatment facilities and sober living housing. Figure IV‐11 summarizes the results of
searches to identify residential treatment facilities and sober living houses. Three residential
treatment facilities provide intensive treatment for adolescents with serious mental illness or
substance use disorders.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION IV, PAGE 10
Only Mountain Crest Behavioral Healthcare Center Inpatient Hospitalization offers adult
inpatient treatment for serious mental illness stabilization or substance use detoxification.
Average stays are four to five days and are not a substitute for longer term residential treatment
for adults. The study team identified one sober living facility for men in Fort Collins—the
Lighthouse—and could identify no others.
Figure IV‐11.
Residential Treatment Centers and Sober Living Facilities/Homes in Fort Collins
Source: BBC Research & Consulting from provider websites and interviews.
Wellness‐focused providers.
Coalition for Activity and Nutrition to Defeat Obesity (CanDo). CanDo Fort Collins is a coalition of
community members, both individuals and organizations, who work to improve health and
wellness of Fort Collins residents. CanDo has several subcommittees focusing on: the food
environment, the built environment, community gardens, school wellness, and worksite
wellness. CanDo staff also facilitate the “Vida Sana Coalition” to promote health equity for
Hispanic/Latino and low‐income residents. The coalition meets quarterly as a whole to review
progress and share successes.
The overall mission of CanDo is to “improve the health of Larimer County communities by
increasing physical activity and healthy eating to reduce and prevent obesity.” Specifically,
CanDo works to:
Reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity among citizens,
Increase the percent of citizens who engage in regular physical activity,
Increase the percent of citizens who practice healthy eating habits, and
Create environments and policies that support healthy eating, active living, and healthy
weights.
University of Colorado Health (formerly Poudre Valley Health System). Through a network of
community clinics, the Poudre Valley Hospital, Harmony Urgent Care, and the Mountain Crest
Behavioral Health Care Center, University of Colorado Health (UCH) provides evidence‐based
health care services in Fort Collins. UCH is a partner in the CanDo coalition to reduce obesity in
Fort Collins.
Inpatient / Residential Treatment Center
Jacob Center Remington House RTC 20 Ages 10 to 18 6 months
Turning Point RTC for Boys 20 Ages 12 to 21 ?
Turning Point RTC for Girls 14 Ages 12 to 21 ?
Mountain Crest Behavioral Healthcare Center
Adolescent Residential Program Adolescents 3 months
Mountain Crest Behavioral Healthcare Center
Inpatient Hospitalization All 4 to 5 days
Sober Living Facilities
The Lighthouse Men
Number
of Beds
Average Length
of Stay
Populations
Served
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION IV, PAGE 11
Wellness Council of America (WELCOA). WELCOA is a national organization dedicated to
promoting healthy workplaces. The council provides resources, tools, and training to achieve
wellness goals. The city of Fort Collins is designed as a Well City and has 24 different businesses
currently participating in the program, including Poudre Valley Health System, Anheuser‐Busch,
and Miramont Sport Center. Each year WELCOA gives Well Workplace awards that recognize
quality and excellence in worksite health promotion. The awards are determined based upon a
pre‐defined set of criteria. United Way of Larimer County was a Gold winner in 2012, and in
2011 Larimer County Government was a Gold winner.
Gaps. Gaps in health care services, especially mental health care, are difficult to estimate
because it is difficult to identify those who have needs but are unaware and undiagnosed.
Another complicating factor is those residents who need treatment but desire not to obtain it,
even if available. Efforts to mitigate gaps in health care provision should involve easy access to
care, especially for residents who are low income and transit dependent, and for residents who
have severe mental illnesses and substance abuse and are incapable of planning in advance to
receive care, but instead need walk‐in or emergency access to clinics.
To that end, the graphic attached to this section aims to identify the most significant, identifiable
gaps in health care provision. Quantitative gaps are difficult to quantify without a more in‐depth
study. The most significant gaps, based on service provider inventory and agency interviews,
include the following:
Lack of capacity for the provision of mental health and substance use disorder treatment
(e.g., walk in sites), particularly for low income residents lacking private insurance.
No long‐term residential treatment programs for women with either mental health
difficulties or substance use disorders. Only one facility for men.
No residential treatment facilities for children under age 10 with behavioral or mental
illness.
For mental health and substance abuse services, consistency and depth of care is critical for
treatment and recovery. Cost‐constrained organizations may not be able to adequately treat
residents due to large caseloads or restrictions on insurance reimbursements.
Wellness and Recreation
Colorado communities often lead the nation in measures of residents who are active and fit. For
example, Denver Metropolitan Area (MSA) is ranked fifth out of 50 MSAs in the U.S. by ACSM
American Fitness Index.3 Like Colorado as a whole, Larimer County has an active population,
which continues to grow. According to Larimer County Compass, the number of active adults in
the county 18 and older climbed from 52 percent in 2005 to 65 percent in 2011. 4 The
percentages represent residents who practice regular, moderate physical activity at least 5 times
per week for a minimum of 30 minutes, or residents who performed vigorous exercise three or
3 http://americanfitnessindex.org/docs/reports/2013_afi_report_final.pdf
4 United Way of Larimer County and Larimer County Human Services Department, 2013 Community Indicators Report,
Larimer County, Colorado
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION IV, PAGE 12
more times per week for at least 20 minutes. In sum, the majority of Larimer County residents
are exercising regularly.
Similarly, the Colorado Child Well‐Being Index, created by the Colorado Children’s Campaign,
ranked Larimer County as the fifth highest (in terms of child well‐being) of the state’s 25 largest
counties. The index uses 12 indicators measuring health, family and economic circumstances,
and educational achievement.
Part of the reason for the high rankings is that the county and City make it easy for residents to
recreate.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) reports that 86 percent of
residents in Larimer County have sidewalks or shoulders in their neighborhood that are
“sufficient to safely walk, run, or bike.” Seventy percent have access to a public exercise facility in
their neighborhood.
The City of Fort Collins offers a broad array of recreation opportunities for its residents. In the
City alone, there are 600 acres of parks, approximately 40,000 acres of natural areas, 20 miles of
off‐street hiking and biking trails, three golf courses, a racquet center, three swimming pools, an
ice rink and a community center. Other resources include a cultural arts center, a senior center,
and a discovery center for children. The City offers reduced fees for these programs for low
income residents and City or school district residency.
Figure IV‐12 lists the recreational and community facilities maintained by the City.
Figure IV‐12.
City of Fort Collins Parks and Recreation Facilities
Source: BBC Research & Consulting.
The City of Fort Collins maintains more than 50 parks. The City parks website provides detailed
information as to recreation and services that each park offers.5 Nineteen of the parks provide at
least 10 different recreational services or amenities. At least half of the parks offer basketball
courts, playground (38 parks), water fountain, restrooms, shelter and turf fields. The City’s three
5 http://www.fcgov.com/parks/map/
Facility Description Type of Facility Street Address
City Park Pool Outdoor pool 1599 City Park Ave
Club Tico Community gathering place, for rent 1599 City Park Ave
Edora Pool & Ice Center (EPIC) Indoor pool, ice center, workout facilities 1801 Riverside Ave
The Farm at Lee Martinez Park Farm animals, museum, family fun 600 N Sherwood St
Mulberry Pool Indoor pool 424 W Mulberry St
Northside Aztlan Community Center Full service recreation center 112 E Willow St
Pottery Studio Community pottery studio 1541 W Oak St
Fort Collins Senior Center Full service recreation center for seniors 1200 Raintree Dr
Rolland Moore Racquet Complex Community tennis and racquet ball courts 2201 N Shields St
Youth Activity Center Full court gym 415 E Monroe Dr
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION IV, PAGE 13
golf courses include one 9‐hole course and two 18‐hole courses. According to Golfsmith6 the
median cost for 18 holes of golf at a public course in the U.S. is $36. At the Collindale golf course
in Fort Collins, the cost is $20.
Figure IV‐13 shows all park locations within the City, overlaid with areas of poverty
concentration. As can be seen from the Figure, poverty does not appear to be a barrier in terms
of access to neighborhood parks. In fact, one of the City’s most highly rated parks, City Park and
City Park Pool, is located on West Mulberry Street near a high poverty level concentration area.
Figure IV‐13.
Park Locations and Poverty Concentrations
Source: BBC Research & Consulting. Park locations from City of Fort Collins web page.
There are also 42 natural areas that the City maintains and 23 natural areas that are wheelchair
accessible. The information about the areas is easy to find on the City’s website via the natural
areas finder.7 By clicking on the wheelchair icon on the site, all of the accessible natural areas are
presented for easy viewing.
6 http://golftips.golfsmith.com/average‐cost‐round‐golf‐20670.html
7 http://www.fcgov.com/naturalareas/finder
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION IV, PAGE 14
Gaps. In the case of wellness and recreation, the gap is not necessarily in service provision or
lack of infrastructure, but in participation and adoption of a healthy lifestyle. That is, Fort Collins
has many opportunities for its residents, including children, to improve their fitness level and
overall health. But not all residents take advantage of these, as evidenced in the following
statistics for Larimer County from the CDPHE data.
Figure IV‐14.
Child and Teen Healthy Lifestyle Indicators, Larimer County
Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Healthy Indicators, Larimer County.
According to CanDo, watching television has been associated with an increased Body Mass Index,
one measure of obesity.
Resources to improve health overall. Fort Collins has several programs and initiatives to
provide opportunities for residents to engage in healthy activities.
Healthy Kids Club. Healthy Kids Club is a community outreach program, sponsored by Poudre
Valley Health System, to promote health and wellness in local elementary school students.
Healthy Kids Club partners with schools and agencies that serve youth in Fort Collins, Loveland,
and Windsor and provides in‐school healthy lifestyle education programs.
Safe Routes to School is a national program seeking to increase the number of students and
parents safely walking and bicycling to school. Fort Collins’ program is administered by the City.
The City organizes adult leaders to oversee groups of children walking and biking to school. Fort
Collins was also recently awarded a grant from the Colorado Department of Transportation
through the state’s Safe Routes to School program to develop walking and biking paths to a local
elementary.
There are several programs and organizations that focus on encouraging wellness among the
City’s most at‐risk populations—with the ultimate goal of reducing child obesity.
Recreational resources targeted to at‐risk youth. Children who are considered at‐risk
(Section V of this report discusses at‐risk youth in detail) have opportunities in the Fort Collins
area to participate in healthy activities and receive a healthy meal at least once daily.
Healthy Lifestyle Indicators
Children age 1‐14 years spending two hours per day or less in front of a screen
(e.g., TV, computer, video games etc.) on weekdays in 2010
81%
Children age 5‐14 years are physically active for 60 minutes seven days per
week in 2009‐2010
33%
Teens in grades 9‐12 are physically active for 60 minutes seven days per week
in 2011
29%
Teens in grades 9‐12 spend two hours per day or less watching TV on
weekdays in 2011
79%
Teens in grades 9‐12 spend two hours per day or less playing video or
computer games on weekdays in 2011
76%
Percent
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION IV, PAGE 15
North Aztlan Community Center. The North Aztlan Community Center offers wellness and
recreation for at‐risk youth. Two such programs are Kids Café and Youth Nights.
Kids Cafe. The Food Bank of Larimer County Kids Café program provides children between the
ages of 3 and 18 who are at risk of hunger access to a free, nutritious meal. The meals are offered
weeknights; an accompanying parent may receive a $2.00 meal.
Youth Nights. Every Thursday from 3 to 9 p.m., the North Aztlan Community Center offers youth
activities for free. Activities include arena football, dodgeball, indoor soccer, ping pong
tournaments, teen weights, field trips, dance, fitness, food, prizes, and more.
Steve’s Club Battle Ready. Steve’s Club provides cross‐fit programs for at‐risk youth at
participating gyms. The organization, based in Northern Colorado, provides fitness programs
with some school tutoring to at‐risk youth. Program participants pay a small fee or may receive a
scholarship. Fort Collins is the site of the organization’s annual fundraising event benefiting at‐
risk youth called “Beat the Streets.”
Boys & Girls Club. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County provides after school programs for
youth, from 2:30 to 7 p.m. during the school year. When school is not in session (summer and
holiday breaks), programs are available for full days. The Clubs are proven programs for at‐risk
youth that are built on five core program areas: the arts; character and leadership development;
education, technology and career development; health and life skills; and sports, fitness, and
recreational opportunities.
Miramont Lifestyle Fitness. Miramont offers limited free summer memberships to youth ages
14‐17.
Food Provision
This section discusses access to health food, for residents overall in Fort Collins and those who
are food insecure.
Definition—access to healthy food retailers. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
developed the Modified Retail Food Environment Index (mRFEI) to measure the “number of
health and less health food retailers within census tracts across each state as defined by typical
food offerings in specific types of retail stores (e.g., supermarkets, convenience stores, or fast
food restaurants). Out of the total number of food retailers considered healthy or less healthy,
the mRFEI represents the percentage that are healthy.”8
Figure IV‐15 presents the mRFEI for census tracts in Fort Collins. As shown, only one census
tract has no healthy food outlets, but there are many census tracts where up to 11 out of 100
food outlets are healthy, and the remainders are unhealthy—convenience stores, small grocery
stores (fewer than 4 employees) or fast food outlets.
Figure IV‐15.
8 http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/resources/reports.html.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION IV, PAGE 16
Modified Retail Food Environment Index
Note: The index increases as number of healthy food outlets in a Census tract increases.
Source: BBC Research & Consulting from the MRFEI dataset complied by the Centers for Disease Control, 2011.
CDPHE’s Health Indicators for Larimer County estimates that there are 8.24 fast food restaurants
in Larimer County per 10,000 residents, compared to 0.87 healthy food outlets per 10,000
residents—or about 9.5 times as many fast food restaurants as health food outlets. Yet the vast
majority of residents say that healthy food is somewhat or very available in their neighborhoods.
Figure IV‐16.
Access to Healthy Food Indicators,
Larimer County
Source:
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment,
Health Indicators, Larimer County.
Healthy Food Indicators
Rate of fast food restaurants per 10,000 residents 8.24
Rate of healthy food outlets per 10,000 residents 0.87
Percent who say fresh fruits, vegetables, and other
healthful foods (such as whole grain breads or low fat
dairy products) are somewhat or very available in
their neighborhood
95%
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION IV, PAGE 17
As mentioned above, about one‐third of the City’s children are considered obese. As Figure IV‐17
suggests, the eating habits of children and teens in Larimer County contribute to this statistic.
Children, in particular, are much more likely to consume fast food rather than fruits or
vegetables.
Figure IV‐17.
Healthy Eating Indicators—Larimer County Children and Teens
Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Health Indicators, Larimer County.
Definition—food insecurity. According to COMPASS, “food insecurity” refers to the lack of
access to enough food to fully meet basic needs at all times due to lack of financial resources.9
The inverse, “food security,” means access by all people at all times to enough food for an active,
healthy life. At a minimum, this includes the ready availability of nutritionally adequate and safe
foods and the assured ability to acquire personally acceptable foods in a socially acceptable
way.10
Fort Collins population. Estimates from the USDA suggest that 14 percent of Colorado household
have “low or very low” food security, with 5.8 percent having very low security.11 This is based
on a 2010‐12 survey of food security supplements. Applying this prevalence rate to Fort Collins
households suggests that as many as 8,200 households are food insecure, with 3,400 being very
insecure.
National data on food insecurity show that the households most likely to be food insecure are
single parents with children, African American and Hispanic and living at 185 percent below the
poverty level ($44,000) or less. As discussed in the at‐risk youth section, this is similar to the
qualifying threshold for reduced lunches in public schools.
9 United States Department of Agriculture, http://www.frac.org/html/hunger_in_the_us/hunger_index.html.
http://www.frac.org/html/hunger_in_the_us/hunger_index.html .
10 http://www.larimer.org/compass/household_food_supply_report.pdf.
11 http://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food‐nutrition‐assistance/food‐security‐in‐the‐us/key‐statistics‐graphics.aspx#map.
Healthy Eating Indicators
Children age 1‐14 years ate fruit two or more times per day and
vegetables three or more times per day in 2008‐2010
13.3%
Children age 1‐14 years ate fast food one or more times per week
in 2009‐2010
64.6%
Children age 1‐14 years consumed one or more sweetened drinks
per day in 2009‐2010
15.5%
Teens in grades 9‐12 have tried to lose weight in 2011 39.6%
Teens in grades 9‐12 ate fruit two or more times per day in 2011 32.5%
Teens in grades 9‐12 ate vegetables two or more times per day in
2011
28.1%
Teens in grades 9‐12 consumed one or more sodas per day in
2011
23.0%
Percent
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION IV, PAGE 18
Vida Sana, a community coalition addressing health disparities among Hispanic and low income
households in North Fort Collins, reports that 65 percent of Hispanics are overweight in
Colorado and 25 percent are obese—rates much higher than for the state overall (55% and
18%). 12
Resources. As discussed above, CanDo Fort Collins works to improve health indicators,
including access to healthy food. This section instead discusses the core programs that address
food insecurity.
Sales tax rebate program. The City offers a rebate to low income residents for sales tax paid on
food. Qualification for the rebate is based on annual household income. The maximum amount
received through the rebate program is currently $54 per household member. Applications for
the rebate can be downloaded from the City’s website at http://www.fcgov.com/rebate/
Food stamps. Figure IV‐18 presents the increased reliance on the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP or food stamps) by Larimer County residents from 2006 through
2011. During that period, participation in the program increased by 81 percent. This is due to
both increased need as well as expansion of benefit eligibility qualifications. It is important to
note that qualification for SNAP and food stamp benefits are changing, due to federal budget
cuts. It is likely that fewer Larimer County households will have food stamp benefits in 2014.
Figure IV‐18.
Total Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participants, Larimer County, 2006‐2011
Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, 2013.
Free and reduced lunch (FRL). According to Compass of Larimer County, 27,121 children in the
Poudre School District (PSD), or 29 percent of all children in the district, were enrolled in the
FRL program during the 2012‐13 school year. Two elementary schools also provide free
breakfast to all classes.
The number of students enrolled in the program has steadily increased during the past 10 years,
rising by 2,840, or 12 percent, since the 2003‐04 school year. The largest increase occurred in
12 http://www.candoonline.org/sites/default/files/Vida_Sana_Powerpoint.pdf
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION IV, PAGE 19
2009, when 1,200 more children enrolled in the program; this was followed by a slight decline
the following year, as shown in Figure IV‐19.
Figure IV‐19.
Free and Reduced Lunch
Enrollment and Eligibility,
Poudre School District,
2003‐04 to 2012‐13
Source:
Larimer County Compass,
http://www.larimer.org/compass/schooll
unch_ec_inc.htm.
Food banks. Fort Collins has two soup kitchens, 17 food pantries, and 13 residential/day
programs that serve meals.
The largest provider, the Food Bank of Larimer County, provides free food to nearly 13,000
people every month. In fiscal year ending in June 2013, the Food Bank provided 28,652
individuals with food at their food pantries. The Food Bank partners with many nonprofits in the
county to deliver food supplements at pantries, shelters, through childcare programs, and to
persons who are frail and elderly and have disabilities. The Food Bank also has a program for
children called Kids Café, which provides children ages 3 to 18 who are at risk of hunger with
meals after school and during the summer months. They served more than 70,000 meals per
year through this program. The program focuses on providing nutritious, healthy meals to low
income children, whose rates of obesity are higher than others. The Food Bank’s goal is for 50
percent of its food to be fresh produce and fresh healthy foods. They currently have a dietician
on staff who works to create healthy recipes for families using the food pantry. In the future, the
Food Bank hopes to have a great focus on healthy eating and obesity prevention.
Gaps. Access to food, except for the economic ability to purchase healthy food, appears to be
less of a gap in food provision in Fort Collins than in adopting and maintaining healthy eating
habits. This may change in the next year, however, when the food stamp program’s funding is
reduced and fewer Fort Collins’ residents quality. Food pantries may find increased demand for
food supplements from both low and moderate income households.
SECTION V.
At‐Risk Youth and Education
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION V, PAGE 1
SECTION V.
At‐Risk Youth and Education
This section discusses the sustainability of the City’s youth. A significant portion of the section is
dedicated to educational opportunities and challenges since educational systems are an integral
part of improving outcomes for youth. It should be noted that this section is not all inclusive of
children with needs but instead focus on children who are at‐risk of poor educational outcomes
and economic difficulties. Other types of children with special needs—e.g., children with
disabilities—are covered in other sections. The section begins by defining and discussing the
youth most vulnerable in Fort Collins, those who are considered “at‐risk.”
At‐Risk Youth
Definition. Statistics on at‐risk youth can be difficult to obtain due to the protection of
information about children, as well as varying definitions of “at‐risk.” The National Center for
Educational Statistics focuses on students who are at‐risk of “educational failure” and has
documented the relationship between at‐youth at‐risk and family socioeconomic status.
As such, poverty and/or low economic status is one of the most common variables used to
indicate at‐risk youth. It is an imperfect measure in some ways—e.g., the poverty threshold is
fixed and does not accurately represent differences in cost of living among cities—but is easy to
obtain, track, and use in research.
Children eligible for free and reduced lunch (FRL) is another economic indicator of risk that is
used by educational departments to identify at‐risk youth and target educational reform
programs. Similar to the federal poverty threshold, the FRL threshold is fixed and does not vary
by state or jurisdiction. Currently, children are eligible to receive free lunches if their families
earn less than 130 percent of the federal poverty threshold and reduced lunch prices if earning
between 130 and 185 of the poverty threshold. This translates into income levels of roughly
$30,600 for free lunch eligibility and $30,600 to $43,600 for reduced lunch eligibility, both for a
family of four.1
1 Paul Tough, in his recent book “How Children Succeed,” argues that FRL is a weak measure of children in need because of the
wide eligibility income range, an argument that could be applied to many definitions of low income and socioeconomic status.
Children living in families earning $10,000, for example, likely have much greater needs and potentially higher risks of
academic failure than those living in households at the higher end of the threshold ($44,000). These higher risk factors,
according to Tough, include no adult in the household who is consistently employed, mental health, substance abuse in the
household, and potential child abuse and neglect.
Tough further argues that children living in high poverty households also have psychological challenges, many related to poor
parenting, that make the learning environment very challenging. The experience of stress and trauma as a child can lead to
poor executive functioning, difficulty handling stressful situations, poor concentration, difficulty following directions, and
social impairment. These children, therefore, require different interventions and reforms than those at the “middle class” end
of the FRL spectrum.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION V, PAGE 2
Statistics on educational challenges of youth abound and many can also be used to identify
children at‐risk. These data include high school drop‐out rates, mobility and stability rates
(children remaining in school during the entire year), suspension and expulsion, and
standardized test scores.
Another category of youth at‐risk is children left at home alone because their parents cannot find
the care they need. The number of children left at home alone on a regular basis is unknown.
Providers believe these children include children from low as well as moderate income families,
who don’t qualify for subsidies and can’t afford market rate afterschool and/or summer camp
costs.
Finally, some health statistics—teen pregnancies, children who have been abused and
neglected—are available to the public and can be used to identify the number and proportion of
children with high risk.
Fort Collins population. This section uses a variety of available data to assess the range and
types of at‐risk children in Fort Collins. The data are summarized with estimates of the at‐risk
youth population in the Youth and Education graphic.
Youth with economic challenges. Youth who live in families facing economic challenges can be
identified through data on families living below the poverty level, children living in single parent
households who are also poor, and children enrolled and/or eligible for free and reduced
lunches and child cares subsidies.
Living in poverty. The 2010 ACS reported 1,881 young children (under age 5) and another 1,825
children ages 5 to 17 living in poverty in Fort Collins—a total of 3,700 children or 13 percent of
all children.
The 2012 ACS reported a slightly higher number of total children living in poverty (3,939) but
about the same proportion, 14 percent. Yet there is a big difference between the 2010 and 2012
estimates in age distribution: In 2012, far less young children lived in poverty (1,243 young
children or 14%, compared with 1,881 and 23% in 2010).
Figure V‐1 shows the level and trends in child poverty in Fort Collins. The data suggest that the
increase in poverty was initially due to babies born into families living in poverty in the middle
part of the last decade, who are now reflected in the 5 to 17 age range of child poverty numbers
and rate.
Figure V‐1.
Child Poverty Trends, Fort Collins, 2000, 2010, and 2012
Source: U.S. Census Bureau and BBC Research & Consulting.
Age Range
< 5 years 830 12% 1,881 23% 1,243 14% 1,051 413
5‐17 years 1,386 8% 1,825 9% 2,696 16% 439 1,310
Total children 2,216 9% 3,706 13% 3,939 14% 1,490 1,723
2000‐
2010
change
2000‐
2012
change
# of Children
Below Poverty
% of All
Children
2000
# of Children
Below Poverty
% of All
Children
2010
# of Children
Below Poverty
% of All
Children
2012
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION V, PAGE 3
Children in single parent households. Although living in single parent home, per se, isn’t a
contributor to risk status, single parent households—especially those that are female‐headed—
have disproportionately high poverty rates.
The 2012 ACS estimates that 12 percent of the City’s families are single parents with children, a
total of 3,984 single‐parent families. This is up from 7 percent in 2012. The vast majority of these
households (2,982 or 75%) were female‐headed, with the balance male‐headed (1,002 or 25%).
Of these households, 1,355 or 34 percent were living in poverty in Fort Collins. This compares to
just 8 percent of married couple households with children. Poverty rates were much higher for
female‐ (36%) than male‐headed (28%) households.
Analysis conducted for the recent Fort Collins’ Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice
(AI) found just one block group in the City with a concentration of female single parents. This
block group, located on the northern border of Fort Collins just west of 287, is also an area of
concentrated poverty and thus, likely an indication of an area with at‐risk youth.
Children enrolled in Free and Reduced Lunch program. According to Compass of Larimer County,
27,121 children in the Poudre School District (PSD) were enrolled in the FRL program during the
2012‐13 school year. This represented 29 percent of all children in the district.
The number of students enrolled in the program has steadily increased during the past 10 years,
rising by 2,840, or 12 percent, since the 2003‐04 school year. The largest increase occurred in
2009, when 1,200 more children enrolled in the program; this was followed by a slight decline
the following year. These trends are shown in Figure V‐2.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION V, PAGE 4
Figure V‐2.
Free and Reduced Lunch
Enrollment and Eligibility,
Poudre School District,
2003‐04 to 2012‐13
Source:
Larimer County Compass,
http://www.larimer.org/compass/schooll
unch_ec_inc.htm.
Even with these increases, FRL enrollment in PSD is lower than other districts in the county
(37% of children for Thompson and 35% for Park) and the state (42%).
Figure V‐3 shows the location of schools by FRL enrollment overlaid with family poverty.
Schools with the highest FRL enrollment are located in the northeast portion of the City, some
just beyond City boundaries. Some, but not all of these schools, have low academic proficiency
rates (discussed below in the education section)—yet it does not appear that FRL and low
performance are highly correlated.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION V, PAGE 5
Figure V‐3.
Children Enrolled in Free and Reduced Lunch Program and Poverty Concentrations, 2010 and
2012‐13
Source: 2010 Census, Larimer County Compass, BBC Research & Consulting.
Children receiving child care subsidies. The number of families enrolled and/or eligible in the State
of Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), administered in Larimer County by the
Department of Human Services, is another indicator of young children whose families have
limited resources. The program subsidizes child care cost for qualifying families who are
working, searching for a job (30 days/year) or teen parents enrolled in school or a job training
program. The current CCAP qualifying income limit for a family of four is $34,572—roughly in
between the federal poverty level and the upper bound for the FRL program. Like the FRL,
qualifying income limits are tied to the poverty threshold.
According to Larimer County, the CCAP program currently provides subsidized care to 1,032
children in Larimer County—about 80 percent of the number of young children living in poverty
in Fort Collins during 2012. This is down from a decade high of 1,480 children in 2004. It is
important to note that trends in the use of the CCAP are not always suggestive of changing
demand for need because they incorporate changes in eligibility thresholds (e.g., the eligibility
threshold varied from between 140% and 185% of the poverty level in the past decade).
The Colorado Preschool Program (CPP) is a state program that subsidizes early childhood
education services, including those delivered through public schools and Head Start. The
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION V, PAGE 6
program focuses on children who have identified risk factors that could impair their success in
school. In 2012, 370 children in PSD received assistance. The number of children who receive
subsidies is determined through the state’s school finance formula.
Children with educational challenges. This section discusses the educational data available to
identify at‐risk students in Fort Collins, including drop‐out rates, suspension/expulsion statistics
and low performance on standardized tests.
Dropped out of school. The Colorado Department of Education’s (CDE) statistics report that 191
7th
‐12th
graders in PSD dropped out of school during the 2011‐12 school year, for a drop‐out rate
of 1.4 percent. According to Compass, drop‐out rates have declined substantially since the 2006‐
07 and 2007‐08 years, when there were 2.5 and 2.6 percent, respectively. The 2011‐12 drop‐out
rate was slightly higher for the Thompson School District (1.8%) and about the same for Park
(1.5%).
Figure V‐4 shows drop‐out rates by gender and race/ethnicity. Although still mostly low, the
drop‐out rates are highest for African American females and American Indian/Alaskan Native
and Hispanic females and males.
Figure V‐4.
School Drop Out Rates by Gender and Student Race or Ethnicity, Poudre School District,
2011‐12 School Year
Source: Colorado Department of Education.
Suspended or expelled. CDE also tracks school suspensions and expulsions by district. During the
2012‐13 school year, PSD had 398 classroom suspensions, 1,258 in‐school suspensions, 1,408
out‐of‐school suspensions and 27 expulsions. Ninety children were referred to law enforcement.
The unduplicated count of actions was 1,498 and the total number was 4,666, which means that,
on average, each child had three infractions which led to a suspension or expulsion.
Low performance. Data from state standardized tests report the numbers and proportions of
children who have unsatisfactory knowledge of a subject area or are partially, but not fully,
proficient. In PSD, the number of students with unsatisfactory performance in 2013 ranged from
1,161 (writing) to 3,290 (mathematics). Students scoring partially proficient ranged from 4,352
(reading) to 9,314 (writing). The portion of this section discussing education provides more
detail on school performance, particularly in relation to poverty concentrations.
Female Male
Total 90 101 1.4 % 1.5 %
African American 3 1 3.5 % 0.9 %
American Indian/Alaskan Native 1 3 2.5 % 7.3 %
Asian 1 4 0.5 % 1.9 %
Hispanic/Latino 36 42 3.4 % 3.9 %
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 0 0 0 % 0 %
White 46 47 0.9 % 0.9 %
Two or More Races 3 4 1.5 % 1.9 %
Female Male
# of Children Dropping Out % of All Children
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION V, PAGE 7
Youth with challenges to stability. Household stability—particularly as it relates to consistency
in schools—has been shown to be an important factor in educational achievement. In a recent
brief, the Center for Housing Policy reports on the two different types of moves that research has
shown affect a children’s education: residential mobility (moving to a new house, with or
without changing schools) and school mobility (changing schools with or without changing
residences).2 Research has consistently demonstrated that children who change schools often or
at critical points in their education experience (kindergarten and high school) show declines in
educational achievement.3 Research has shown that schools also suffer from children
experiencing “hyper‐mobility” due to the diversion of school and teacher resources.
This section discusses Fort Collins youth who are experiencing instability as measured by
homelessness, educational statistics on mobility, and those living with someone other than their
parent.
Homeless youth. Under the McKinney‐Vento Act, school districts are required to report the
number of students age 21 and younger who “lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime
residence.” Students meeting this definition are considered homeless.
In the 2010‐2011 school year, PSD reported 1,021 homeless students. Figure V‐5 demonstrates
that the number of homeless students in PSD schools has increased significantly in recent years.
The number of homeless youth reported by PSD greatly exceeds the number of homeless youth
observed in the Fort Collins Point‐in‐Time Homeless Count. In that study, 49 persons under the
age of 18 were counted as homeless—33 found in emergency shelters, 12 in transitional housing
and four unsheltered. This suggests that many of the homeless youth observed by PSD may be
“couch surfing,” temporarily staying with relatives, or “doubling up” with other families.
Figure V‐5.
Number of Homeless Students Enrolled
in Poudre School District, 2010‐2011
School Year
Source:
http://www.psdschools.org/student‐support/federal‐
programs/homeless‐students.
Youth changing schools. During the 2011‐12 school year, 4,808 students moved into or out of
PSD, for an overall student mobility rate of 16.6 percent. This is much lower than the mobility
2 As discussed in the brief, availability of affordable housing may increase student stability.
3 http://www.nhc.org/media/files/Insights_HousingAndEducationBrief.pdf
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION V, PAGE 8
rate for the state of 24.7 percent. Approximately 668 students moved in and out of the district
more than once, as indicated by the duplicated number of moves of 5,476.4
The student mobility rate differed by race and ethnicity, with African American students having
the highest mobility rate and White and Hispanic students with the highest number of more than
one move, as shown in Figure V‐6.
Figure V‐6.
School Mobility by Student Race or Ethnicity, Poudre School District, 2011‐12 School Year
Source: Colorado Department of Education.
Grandparents caring for children. The 2010 Census reported that 224 children in Fort Collins had
grandparents as their primary caregivers.5 These children live with their grandparents without a
parent present and represent about 1 percent of all children in Fort Collins. Another 567
children, or 2 percent of all children, live with their grandparents with a parent present.
The City’s Grand Families organization estimates the number of grandparents caring for their
grandchildren at a much higher 3,000.
This statistic is not always an indicator of being at‐risk, but may suggest prior parental difficulty
or trauma, which is the reason that the children are not being cared for by their parents. The
Colorado Department of Health reports that in 2010, just 0.5 percent of children in the county
experienced maltreatment—about 144 children if applied to Fort Collins’ child population.6
Children who experience neglect or abuse. Statewide, in 2012, 5,064 children were served by child
advocacy centers that assist abused children. According to the National Children’s Alliance, the
umbrella organization for child advocacy centers, 67 percent of children were female; 33 percent
were male.
4 5,476 duplicated moves – 4,808 unduplicated moves = 668.
5 About 900 grandparents have grandchildren living in their homes, but most have parents present.
6 P:\13047 Fort Collins Sustainability\Health‐Wellness\Larimer County Health Indicators from CDPHE.xlsx.
Total 4,808 17 % 5,476 668
African American 107 26 % 128 21
American Indian/Alaskan Native 38 23 % 50 12
Asian 217 22 % 254 37
Hispanic/Latino 996 20 % 1,199 203
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 6 17 % 6 0
White 3,269 15 % 3,637 368
Two or More Races 175 19 % 202 27
# of Children
Moving In/Out
of PSD
% of All
Children # of Moves
# of Children
with More than
One Move
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION V, PAGE 9
The number of alleged offenders (3,693) was less than the number of children abused, indicating
that offenders often victimized more than one child. Offenders were most likely to be an “other
known person” or relative (both 26% of cases), followed by a parent (22%).
The most common type of abuse was sexual (73% of all abuse types). Children who are
minorities were disproportionately victims of abuse.
The child advocacy center in Larimer County serves 300 children annually—about 1 percent of
all children in the county.
Childsafe—a nonprofit in Larimer County that provides therapy to children who have been
victims of sexual abuse—serves about 600 victims annually, 68 percent of whom reside in Fort
Collins. The organization accepts private health insurance and Victim Compensation. A sliding
fee scale based on income is used.
Teen pregnancies. Health care statistics on sexual activity can also be used to indicate at‐risk
status among older youth. Teens that become pregnant are much more likely to drop out of high
school and face long‐term educational and employment challenges.
Teen births in Larimer County have been declining since 2009, as has the teen fertility rate.
Larimer County’s 2012 teen fertility rate, 8.8 per 1,000 women ages 15 to 17, is lower than
Colorado’s rate of 11.9.
Figure V‐7.
Teen Births and Fertility Rate, Larimer
County, 2008‐2012
Source:
Colorado Department of Health
Teens with mental health challenges. According to the Institute on Mental Health data, mental
illness among adolescents is much higher, for both serious mental illnesses and any mental
illness. According to the data, as many as 1,500 adolescents have a serious mental illness (8% of
adolescents) and 8,000 have any type of mental illness (43%).
The Alliance for Suicide Prevention in Fort Collins reports that, during 2012, 273 adolescents
referred friends to the organization for help or sought help themselves for mental illnesses that
were severe enough to warrant concerns about suicide.
Resources. This section provides an overview of the organizations in Fort Collins which assist
at‐risk youth and/or families with children at risk. This discussion is not meant to be all inclusive
of the City’s program; instead, it highlights organizations which specialize in working with at‐
risk youth. These are often the “go to” or frontline organizations that youth and families contact
or are referred to when in need.
Year
2008 71 12.9 21.6
2009 72 13.2 20.1
2010 66 12.3 17.4
2011 53 9.9 14.0
2012 47 8.8 11.9
# of Births
to Teens,
Larimer County Colorado
Teens ages 15 to 17 Teen Fertility Rate (per 1,000)
Larimer
County
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION V, PAGE 10
CASA and Harmony House. CASA, or Court Appointed Special Advocates, provides advocacy for
children who have been abused and neglected as their cases move through the court process.
CASA volunteers are appointed by a juvenile judge. CASA of Larimer County is part of a national
network of CASA organizations.
According to CASA, the majority of their clients are low income, with 50‐60 percent earning less
than 30 percent of the area median income (AMI). Mental illness and substance abuse is
common. During 2012, CASA served 228 children and Harmony House served 585 children.
The Harmony House, a program of CASA, is a visitation center that allows supervised visits of
family members and children. Some, but not all, of these meetings are court‐ordered. The house
also operates as a safe exchange site for families/guardians.
Child Advocacy Center. The Child Advocacy Center (CAC) works with children who have been
abused to provide them and their non‐offending family members access to needed supports and
services. CAC is part of the National Children’s Alliance. The organization provides “forensic
interviews” of children after allegations of abuse to assist the county human services department
and law enforcement in child abuse investigations. Non‐offending parents/caregivers receive
counseling and support referrals. The organization also conducts education and outreach to
teach children how not to become vulnerable in situations that could lead to more sexual abuse.
CAC serves approximately 300 children per year. All income levels are served. The organization
notes that children are 46 times more likely to be abused if they are below the poverty line.
Mental illness and domestic violence are also common.
Childsafe. Childsafe assists children who have experienced sexual abuse. Services provided
include therapy (group, individual, family), parenting classes, and referral to supplemental
programs. Bilingual services are available. The organization was founded initially to provide
services to group of teens who were being treated through individual therapists and has
expanded to serve more than 600 children annually.
The organization’s Child Sexual Abuse Treatment program was, in the organization’s words,
“developed to repair the damage done to young victims and their families.” The outpatient
program serves victims ages 2 to 18 in a combination of individual, group, and family therapy.
Most clients have very low incomes.
Crossroads Safehouse. The Safehouse, which is discussed in more depth in the section on
Victims of Domestic Violence, offers a youth program that helps children and teens increase self‐
esteem, develop and practice coping and communication skills, and learn alternatives to
aggressive behaviors.
Programs offered to children in the broader community include: 1) Youth Advocacy, which
provides therapy to children and teens affected by domestic violence (one‐on‐one sessions as
well as meeting with family members); 2) The Elementary Education program to help 4th
and 5th
grade PSD students cultivate healthy relationships as part of their character development; and 3)
The Teen Dating Violence Institute, which is a peer‐education approach to teaching young people
about dating violence (presented by high school seniors to PSD middle and high school
students).
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION V, PAGE 11
LaFamilia/Family Center. This organization’s mission is to provide affordable, accessible, high
quality early childhood education (ECE) and family strengthening services. These services are
delivered through the organization’s licensed ECE program; home visitations; youth programs;
health and wellness initiatives; and adult education/ESL/computer services.
Larimer County Workforce Center. The Workforce Center offers youth services, has a website
dedicated to programs for youth and maintains a Facebook presence to connect with youth
looking for job training and employment. The YouthLINK Fast Track Scholarship and
Employment Program for High School Seniors helps seniors transition from high school to
gainful employment or continuing education through job search assistance, internships and
scholarships. Seniors must be eligible to work in the U.S., live in a low income household or have
a disability or be living in foster care and have an active interest in pursuing employment
following graduation.
Realities for Children. This nonprofit provides emergency services, organizational support,
community awareness and youth activities to abused and neglected children in Larimer County.
Emergency funding is available on a case‐by‐case basis for children who have no other resources
to meet their needs. The goal of the youth activities program is to enable children to “enjoy being
a child,” as well as to provide creative outlets to work through the difficulties experienced by the
children in the program.
The Center for Family Outreach. The Center for Family Outreach serves youth and families
struggling with substance abuse, disruptive or high‐risk behaviors, and/or family conflict. The
organization offers a 90‐day voluntary program to assist youth and families with substance
abuse challenges and/or disruptive or high‐risk behaviors. Services offered include counseling
and therapy, FED and academic tutoring, art enrichment, community service, and substance
abuse monitoring. Parent classes to strengthen parenting skills are also offered. The Center also
runs a diversion program and more intense intervention programs for teens who have received
a legal summons.
The Matthews House. The Matthews House is a youth empowerment program that assists youth
between the ages of 16 and 21 with life skills. Many of the youth assisted by the organization
have been part of the human resources, foster care, or juvenile/justice system, live below the
poverty level, and have experienced abuse; some are homeless. Youth are referred to the
Matthews House by county human services, the school district, the justice system, and other
nonprofits that work with at‐risk youth. The Matthews House reports a very high success rate
for juvenile offenders who are referred to them: 92 percent of the youth who have completed
their program have not re‐offended. The programs at the Matthews House have also been shown
to reduce the number of youth receiving residential treatment and, instead, living independently
with supportive services.
The Matthews House programs assist youth in finding safe and affordable housing; obtaining
needed physical and mental health care; finding employment or receiving job training; pursuing
their education; and development independent living and social skills.
Touchstone Health—Namaqua Center. The Namaqua Center within Touchstone Health, a
mental health provider, assists children who have experienced trauma, have severe behavioral
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION V, PAGE 12
challenges, and/or have a diagnosed emotional disturbance. Programs include a Family Support
Program for families with children who are severally behaviorally challenged; support to
grandfamilies in the form of classes, networking and family events; Wondercamp, a skill building
program for children with severe emotional disturbances who need structure and support
during school holidays; a mentor program for court‐appointed family clients; and respite care
for families.
Turning Point. The Turning Point Center for Youth and Family Development provides
therapeutic services to youth and families through individual therapy sessions or in a residential
treatment facility. The organization utilizes “evidence based practices”—those for which
research has proven their effectiveness—in its programs. Services include therapeutic coaching;
therapy; a 45‐day substance abuse recovery program; crisis intervention; a DUI/DWAI class; and
special community courses (e.g., CPR).
Children are referred to their program by schools, the Larimer County Department of Human
Services, and similar state departments. Health insurance covers many of the services provided
by Turning Point; the organization also accepts Medicaid.
Turning Point’s education programs include schooling alternatives for at‐risk and expelled
students. The goal of the educational programs is to prepare youth for return to the public school
system or a post‐secondary education. Career exploration—helping students find a career path
that will motivate them to stay in school and continue on to secondary education—is a key focus.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION V, PAGE 13
Education
A quality and supportive learning environment is not only important to at‐risk youth. A robust
body of research shows that quality education, including early learning, leads to better long‐term
outcomes for all children.
The vast majority of Larimer County children attend public school (92%).7 And for those who
graduate from high school, economic outcomes are much better than for those who do not. As
shown in Figure V‐8, Fort Collins’ residents with a high school degree have much lower poverty
rates than those who do not. As to be expected, poverty rates are lowest for those who have
graduated from college.
Figure V‐8.
Poverty Rate for the
Population 25+ Years, by
Educational Attainment
Level, 2012
Source:
American Community Survey, 2012.
Therefore, delivery of a quality public education program is a very important component of the
community’s sustainability. This section provides an overview of the educational environment in
Fort Collins, beginning with ECE, a critical component in the system.
Early Childhood Education (ECE). How to improve educational outcomes for very low
income children is a subject of much research and debate and the answer remains unclear,
except for the impact of ECE programs. A growing and robust body of research shows very
strong outcomes of early childhood education programs, especially for disadvantaged youth.
Some of the more convincing arguments for funding ECE programs are put forth by economists.
The prominent economist James Heckman has found that the Perry Preschool program—a pilot
ECE program in Michigan targeted to low income children—produced between $7 and $12 of
“tangible benefit to the American economy” for every $1 invested.8
Studies of similar programs—the Abecedarian Project in North Carolina and the Child‐Parent
Center program in Chicago—have found very large, positive returns for taxpayers. Benefits
across programs included increased tax revenue from program participants (who are more
likely to attain full employment), reduced costs to the criminal justice system, reduced costs to
school systems for special programs, and reduced welfare costs. For example, a startling finding
7About 7 percent attend independent (private) schools, .8 percent are home schooled and .4 percent take classes online,
according to Larimer County Compass.
8 Paul Tough, “How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character,” Mariner Press, 2012.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION V, PAGE 14
from the Chicago program was a 70 percent reduction in the risk that a child would be arrested
for violent crime in their teens for those participating in the program.9
Similarly, Jack Shonkoff of Harvard argues that an effective program of support for parents of
low income children while their kids are young would be much less expensive than our current
approach of paying for remedial education and job training.10 Similarly, Gabriella Conti and
James Heckman state in a recent paper, The Economics of Child Well‐Being, that “prevention is
more cost effective than remediation…most adolescent and adult remediation programs are
ineffective and have much lower returns than early childhood programs that prevent problems
before they occur.”11
Demand. The 2012 ACS reports that there are 28,450 children in Fort Collins. One‐third, or 8,900
children, are under the age of 5 years and an estimated 3,500 are ages 3 and 4—preschool‐aged.
The Census estimates that 2,700 children in the City are enrolled in a preschool program. This
represents 77 percent of all preschool‐aged children, an impressive proportion.12 The vast
majority of these children (82%) attend a private preschool program, leaving about 500 children
enrolled in public early learning programs.
It is unclear if the 23 percent of preschool‐aged children in the City are not enrolled in a formal
program because of costs, wait lists, or parental preferences and if these children would take
advantage of preschool programs if the programs they desired were available. The Census
estimates that 1,284 children under the age of 12 live in households with parents who work full
time and earn less than 50 percent of the AMI. These families likely need child care.
K‐12 Education
As mentioned above, most children in Fort Collins attend public school. Many of the public
schools in the City are strong, based on standardized reading and math proficiency test scores. In
a handful of schools, proficiency rates are quite low.
Specifically, a little more than half (56%) of public schools in the City have 2013 4th
grade
student reading proficiency rates exceeding PSD’s overall (79%). In three schools, 4th
grade
reading proficiency rates are less than 50 percent.
Reading proficiency rates in the nine middle schools located in the City are much better in 7th
grade, with just three reporting rates below PSD’s overall rate (two of these exceed 70%; one is
53%). Four of the nine high schools in the City have 10th
grade reading proficiency rates higher
than 79 percent; two have rates that barely exceed 50 percent.
High school math proficiency scores show a wide variance. For example, just one high school in
the City has math proficiency above 70 percent (and this school is a high performer at nearly
9 The Minneapolis Federal Reserve has dedicated an entire webpage to the topic:
http://www.minneapolisfed.org/publications_papers/studies/earlychild/
10 Ibid.
11 National Bureau of Economic Research, working paper 18466.
12 Census data suggest Denver’s preschool enrollment, by comparison, is about 70 percent.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION V, PAGE 15
97% proficiency). In some high schools, proficiency rates are in the single digits and most are
below 50 percent. Beginning with middle school, math proficiency rates begin to lag reading
proficiency for many schools: For example, the median 10th
grade math proficiency score for
Fort Collins high schools is just 41 percent, compared to a median reading score of 78 percent.
Figure V‐9 shows the number of 3rd
through 10th
grade students in PSD (not just Fort Collins)
who scored unsatisfactory or partially proficient on the 2013 state standardized tests for math,
reading and writing. Based on standardized test scores, the numbers of students who struggle
academically total 9,800 in math, 6,200 in reading, and 10,500 in writing.
Figure V‐9.
Number of 3
rd
‐10
th
Grade PSD Students
Scoring Unsatisfactory
or Partially Proficient
on State Standardized
Testing, 2013
Source:
Colorado Department of Education.
Figures V‐10 through V‐15 show reading and math proficiency rates by school overlaid on family
poverty rates. As the maps demonstrate, some, but not all, of the lower performing schools are
located in neighborhoods with higher rates of poverty.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION V, PAGE 16
Figure V‐10.
Percent 4
th
Graders Scoring Proficient and Advanced in Math and Poverty Concentrations, 2010
and 2013
Source: 2010 Census, Colorado Department of Education.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION V, PAGE 17
Figure V‐11.
Percent 4
th
Graders Scoring Proficient and Advanced in Reading and Poverty Concentrations,
2010 and 2013
Source: 2010 Census, Colorado Department of Education.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION V, PAGE 18
Figure V‐12.
Percent 7
th
Graders Scoring Proficient and Advanced in Math and Poverty Concentrations, 2010
and 2013
Source: 2010 Census, Colorado Department of Education.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION V, PAGE 19
Figure V‐13.
Percent 7
th
Graders Scoring Proficient and Advanced in Reading and Poverty Concentrations,
2010 and 2013
Source: 2010 Census, Colorado Department of Education.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION V, PAGE 20
Figure V‐14.
Percent 10
th
Graders Scoring Proficient and Advanced in Math and Poverty Concentrations, 2010
and 2013
Source: 2010 Census, Colorado Department of Education.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION V, PAGE 21
Figure V‐15.
Percent 10
th
Graders Scoring Proficient and Advanced in Reading and Poverty Concentrations,
2010 and 2013
Source: 2010 Census, Colorado Department of Education.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION V, PAGE 22
Educational Supports
Child care and ECE subsidies.
Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). As discussed in the at‐risk section above, the CCAP is a
child care assistance program administered through the Larimer County Department of Human
Services and funded by the state. According to Larimer County Human Services, the CCAP
program currently serves 1,032 children in Larimer County during 2012—about 80 percent of
the number of young children living in poverty in Fort Collins during 2012.
Because of high demand for the program, enrollment was stopped in March 2010 and the wait
list capped in December 2011. Future budget cuts will require that the program lower eligibility
from 150 percent of the poverty level to 130 percent, meaning that families earning more than
130 percent of the poverty level will no longer quality. The City of Fort Collins Consolidated Plan
estimated that $1.3 million of supplemental funding is needed to support the program.
Colorado Preschool Program (CPP). CPP is another state program that subsidies early childhood
education services (v. child care, the focus of CCAP), including those delivered through public
schools and Head Start. The program focuses on children who have identified risk factors that
could impair their success in school. In 2012, 370 children in PSD received assistance. The
number of children who receive subsidies is determined through the state’s school finance
formula.
Early Childhood Council of Larimer County (ECCLC). The ECCLC is one of 30 early childhood
councils that work to improve early learning and care services for Colorado children and
families. This includes improving availability and quality of early care and education; health
care; parenting; and social and emotional health of families and children.
The ECCLC has recently conducted a number of studies demonstrating need for services in the
county, including a decline in the number of centers that accept CCAP payments (from almost
300 in 2007 to 200 in 2012) and a drop in the centers who offer temporary/emergency care, 24
hour care, evening care, and care for children on rotating schedules. Just 12 centers are open
before 6 a.m.; 24 are open until 10 p.m.; and nine offer care 24 hours/day. The centers that are
open late have limited acceptance of CCAP. Fewer than 20 centers are open on weekends. The
vast majority of centers have traditional hours—opening at 7:30 a.m. and closing at 5:30 p.m.—
which do not accommodate families who work alternative schedules or are in service
occupations.
LaFamilia/Family Center. This organization, also discussed in the at‐risk youth section, provides
child care for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. The child care provider is unique in that it
offers a sliding scale tuition, is bilingual, and offers parent support services. Capacity at the
center is 65, with about 70 percent of children participating in the sliding scale tuition program.
At the time this report was being repaired, about 120 families were on the wait list for care.
In September 2013, LaFamilia conducted a survey of their families to determine the greatest
challenges they currently face, understand which resources they value most at the Center and
identify what else they would like offered. The two top challenges reported were lack of time
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION V, PAGE 23
management and not knowing or having the ability to learn English. The most utilized program
at the Center is the parenting support program.
Teaching Tree. The Teaching Tree Childhood Early Learning Center provides child care, early
leaning and school readiness for children 6 weeks to 8 years old. Teaching Tree serves about 185
children in a year, and has the capacity to serve 101 at any time. As of November 2013, there
were 103 children on the wait list for care; the majority were young children (54 children were
on the wait list for spots serving infants, 6 weeks to 1 year old). About 40 percent of their
families are low income. Teaching tree serves an unlimited number of CCAP families and offers
sliding fees for families who don’t quality for CCAP.
Teaching Tree reports high demand for “immediate” or “emergency” care—e.g., when a parent
gets a job and needs care in few days. Often low income parents, these families cannot afford to
keep their children in care while job hunting. The organization would like to be able to offer an
“emergency” rotating spots for 1‐2 children in each class, which would require independent
funding.
PSD ECE. Fort Collins has ECE and parental support programs available to the public through
elementary schools in PSD. These range from Early Head Start qualifying families (serving
children birth to age 3) to subsidized preschool programs.
Twenty‐one schools in PSD offer early learning programs; six schools do not. These programs
are available citywide, except for three schools just west of CSU, which are adjacent to
neighborhoods with relatively high family poverty rates.
ECE location can be a barrier to access, especially for families who rely on public transit. Figure
V‐16 shows the location of PSD ECE programs overlaid with residents who are Hispanic.
Locations overlaid with families living in poverty appear in Figure V‐17. This map suggests a
need for early learning programs in closer proximity to areas of high poverty.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION V, PAGE 24
Figure V‐16.
ECE Program and Before and After School Enrichment (BASE) Program Locations with Hispanic
Concentrations, 2010 and 2012‐13
Source: 2010 Census, Colorado Department of Education.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION V, PAGE 25
Figure V‐17.
ECE Program and Before and After School Enrichment (BASE) Program Locations with Poverty
Concentrations, 2010 and 2012‐13
Source: 2010 Census, Colorado Department of Education.
Before and afterschool programs. In Fort Collins, two organizations provide much of the
before and after school care serving low income children: B.A.S.E. and the Boys & Girls Club.
Before and After School Enrichment Camp (B.A.S.E.). B.A.S.E. provides before and after school
care, summer camps, and out of school care. The program includes homework assistance, arts
and crafts, sports, science, and music activities. Staff are expected to coordinate with their host
school to reinforce classroom learning.
The organization mainly serves Fort Collins, although children from surrounding areas also
participate in the program. B.A.S.E. has programs in 32 elementary schools in the Fort Collins
area. The City serves about 3,000 children ages 3 through 14. The majority of client‐families in
summer months are low income, as these families have the fewest resources for care during the
summer (market rate camps are cost prohibitive). During the school year, about one‐third of
families are low income. Families pay tuition on a sliding scale program that varies with income
levels; these families are assisted through some federal assistance and donations.
The organization aims to help all children who need the program. B.A.S.E. has a goal to take any
children during the school year and summer who need care.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION V, PAGE 26
As shown in Figure V‐17 above, B.A.S.E. is available in most of the PSD schools in Fort Collins
except for those west of CSU (areas of higher poverty) and in South Fort Collins.
Boys & Girls Club. The Boys & Girls Club in Larimer County has three dedicated clubhouses open
daily afterschool until 7 p.m. and during the summer from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Club has three
main goals for the children it serves: 1) Academic Success, 2) Making sure the children have
good character and citizenship, and 3) Making sure the children lead a healthy lifestyle. Seventy
percent of children served receive FRL; most of the children live below or are on the edge of
poverty. The organization would like to have more resources to serve additional children who
could benefit from their programs.
Gaps. The gaps in services for at‐risk youth and education can be separated into two, broad
categories: 1) Unmet demand, or the inability to provide services to all who need them; and 2)
Gaps in delivery of quality services, or the inability to deliver the right amount or type of
supports needed. This section discusses both.
Unmet demand. Unmet demand is the gap between needs and resources that can be measured
quantitatively. Unmet demand is evident in wait lists, extensive delays in accessing needed
services, and residents who are unserved or unaware of services.
The At‐Risk and Education Graphic attached to the end of this section summarizes the needs,
resources and gaps in provision of services to at‐risk youth, as well as delivery of educational
services, particularly to low income children—all of which are discussed above. This graphic
represents the unmet demand for at‐risk youth and educational programming in Fort Collins.
Service delivery. Service delivery means making sure that the right types and amount of services
reach residents in need in a timely manner. Evaluating the delivery of services by the
organizations that youth in Fort Collins was beyond the scope of this study. However, interviews
with providers elicited information on gaps in service delivery and recommendations for
improvement. These include the following:
Youth and families cannot always access programs because of limited transit. For example,
some children receive bussing to access the Boys & Girls Club through PSD, but others, who
live in Fort Collins and don’t attend certain schools, do not have buses provided.
New or expanded facilities and programs are needed to reduce unmet demand. Many
service providers are limited in their current spaces and need to expand to reduce wait lists
and/or serve more youth in need. For child care, “immediate” or “emergency” care is
needed, especially for infants, for parents who find jobs without much notice.
Low salaries for staff who work with at‐risk youth—combined with the challenges of the
job—can cause high turnover, which can adversely affect at‐risk youth.
SECTION VI.
Diversity and Equity
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VI, PAGE 1
SECTION VI.
Diversity and Equity
This section discusses the sustainability of diversity and equity in the City by exploring a wide
variety of indicators in the community, including those related to race/ethnicity, gender,
religion, culture, and sexual orientation. It should be noted that this section is not all inclusive of
all types of diversity and equity, but rather examines where discrimination can be the most
common.
Measures of Diversity and Equity
Definition. The City’s Diversity Plan, which was first adopted in 1992, serves as a guide for the
City’s efforts, goals, and actions in the area of diversity. In the plan, the City Council committed
the City to the “eradication of prejudice and harmful discrimination against any person because
of race, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, ancestry or disabilities. The City is also
committed to the establishment of a community that fosters, promotes and enforces an
environment of mutual respect for all people, regardless of individual differences.”1
Indicators of diversity can be difficult to find, other than racial and ethnic diversity, which is
reported by the Census. This section discusses a variety of measures including the availability
and accessibility of information in native tongues other than English; the availability and
locations of different types of religious institutions; equitable provision of assisted housing; and
the availability of resources to foster diversity and inclusiveness.
Additionally, data from the Hate Crime Statistics Program includes annual statistics for hate
crimes in the following categories: race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and disability. The
hate crime data is compared to neighboring communities of similar size in Colorado.
Racial and Ethnic Diversity
The vast majority of Fort Collins residents identify their race as white (89%) and ethnicity as
non‐Hispanic (90%), as shown below. The largest minority group in Fort Collins is persons of
Hispanic descent at 10 percent of the City population. This compares to 11 percent for Larimer
County and 21 percent for the state as a whole. Figures VI‐1 and VI‐2 present the race and
ethnicity composition of the Fort Collins population in both 2000 and 2010.
1 City of Fort Collins Diversity Plan, Resolution Number 134.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VI, PAGE 2
Figure VI‐1.
Race and Ethnicity in Fort Collins, 2000
Source: 2000 Census.
Between 2000 and 2010 the fastest growing minority groups were African Americans (43%
increase), Asians (43% increase), those identifying as two or more races (47% increase), and
Hispanics (40% increase). The number of non‐Hispanic white residents increased by 18 percent
over the same period. Despite these high growth rates for many minority populations the City’s
overall diversity changed little between 2000 and 2010, as shown in the graphics above. This is
because the minority populations are very small in numbers relative to the City’s white
population.
Figure VI‐2.
Race and Ethnicity in Fort Collins, 2010
Source: 2010 Census.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VI, PAGE 3
Figure VI‐3 shows the racial and ethnic distribution of Fort Collins in 2000 and 2010 along with
growth rates between 2000 and 2010.
Figure VI‐3.
Race and Ethnicity, City of Fort Collins, 2000 and 2010
Source: 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census.
CSU attracts a student body from all over the U.S. and abroad, although its racial and ethnic
diversity is similar to that of the City overall. Figure VI‐4 presents the racial and ethnic
proportions of CSU students from 2010 to 2013. The data are not directly comparable to those in
the above table, which considers ethnicity separate from race and does not classify international
students (following the Census classification).
Figure VI‐4.
Total University Enrollment, by Race and Ethnicity, Fall 2010‐2013
Source: Colorado State University Institutional Research, Census Date Enrollment.
Total population 118,652 143,986 21%
Race
American Indian and Alaska Native 715 1% 933 1% 30%
Asian 2,948 2% 4,222 3% 43%
Black or African American 1,213 1% 1,740 1% 43%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 143 0% 128 0% ‐10%
White 106,347 90% 128,211 89% 21%
Some other race 4,281 4% 4,339 3% 1%
Two or more races 3,005 3% 4,413 3% 47%
Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino 10,402 9% 14,572 10% 40%
Non‐Hispanic White 101,384 85% 119,695 83% 18%
2000‐2010
Percent
Number Percent Number Percent Change
2000 2010
Total Student Population 24,982 100% 25,167 100% 25,116 100% 25,501 100%
Hispanic/Latino 1,881 8% 2,066 8% 2,254 9% 2,401 9%
Non‐Hispanic/Latino
Asian 481 2% 468 2% 468 2% 528 2%
Black 457 2% 508 2% 515 2% 511 2%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 46 0% 42 0% 36 0% 22 0%
Multi‐Racial 656 3% 718 3% 808 3% 873 3%
Native American 110 0% 108 0% 104 0% 96 0%
White 20,311 81% 20,124 80% 19,705 78% 19,564 77%
International 1,040 4% 1,133 5% 1,226 5% 1,506 6%
Number Percent
2010
Number Percent
2011
Number Percent
2012
Number Percent
2013
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VI, PAGE 4
Geographic concentrations. Figure VI‐5 shows geographic concentrations of the City’s
largest minority group, persons of Hispanic descent. As the map demonstrates, the City has
several concentrated areas in north Fort Collins.2
In some cases, minority concentrations are a reflection of preferences—e.g., minorities may
choose to live where they have access to grocery stores or restaurants that cater to them. In
other cases, minority populations are intentionally steered away or discouraged from living in
certain areas. Housing prices can also heavily influence where minorities live.
Figure VI‐5.
Percent of Block Group Population that is Hispanic, City of Fort Collins, 2010
Source: 2010 U.S. Census.
2 For the purposes of the map, concentrations represent areas where persons of a particular race or ethnicity comprise a larger
proportion of the population than the community overall. To align with HUD’s definition of “disproportionate need,”
concentrations occur when the percentage of residents of a particular racial or ethnic group is 20 percentage points or more
than the community‐wide average. Since the overall Hispanic population in Fort Collins is 10 percent, a block group that is at
least 30 percent Hispanic contains a concentration.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VI, PAGE 5
Economic Equity
According to the 2006‐2010 ACS (the most recent income data available by race/ethnicity), non‐
Hispanic whites have the highest median household income ($52,055). One‐third of both Asian
and Hispanic households earn less than $25,000 per year, as shown in Figure VI‐6.
Figure VI‐6.
Household Income
Distribution by
Race/Ethnicity, City of Fort
Collins, 2006‐2010
Source:
ACS 2006‐2010 5‐year estimate.
Percent of residents living in poverty. In 2010, nearly 25,000 Fort Collins residents were
living in poverty; this had risen to more than 27,000 to 2012. Poverty rates were highest for
African American residents (38%), followed by residents of some other race (34%) and Hispanic
residents (27%).
Figure VI‐7.
Poverty by Race/Ethnicity,
City of Fort Collins, 2006‐
2010
Source:
ACS 2006‐2010
5‐year estimate.
Less than $25,000 25% 31% 33% 33%
$25,000 to $34,999 10% 7% 9% 14%
$35,000 to $49,999 13% 21% 9% 19%
$50,000 to $74,999 17% 6% 11% 18%
$75,000 to $99,999 12% 12% 8% 7%
$100,000 to $149,999 14% 17% 16% 4%
$150,000 or more 8% 6% 13% 4%
Median Household Income $52,055 $44,482 $45,104 $35,989
Non‐
Hispanic
White
Black
or African
American Asian
Hispanic
or Latino
Total Population 133,374 23,960 18%
Race
American Indian and Alaska Native 938 120 13%
Asian 3,948 823 21%
Black or African American 1,379 526 38%
White 119,266 20,313 17%
Some other race 3,474 1,185 34%
Two or more races 4,282 937 22%
Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino origin 13,109 3,546 27%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino 111,425 18,495 17%
Total
Below
Poverty
Percent
Below
Poverty
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VI, PAGE 6
Language Diversity
As shown in Figure VI‐8, 9.5% of the City’s residents speak languages other than English in the
home. The most prevalent language other than English is Spanish with 5 percent of the
population speaking it at home. Speakers of other Indo‐European, Asian and Pacific Island, and
other languages account for 4 percent of the City’s population.
Figure VI‐8.
Language spoken at home, City of Fort Collins, 2012
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 ACS.
Figure VI‐8 also presents data on the proportion of non‐English speakers that speak English less
than “very well.” This smaller subset of the population represents 2 percent of the City, more
than half of which are Spanish speakers. This group represents the portion of the population that
is most isolated from services when resources are not available in their native tongue. As many
as 3,000 Fort Collins residents may have challenges accessing services due to their limited
English‐speaking ability.
City resources available in languages other than English. A cursory review of
information available in languages other than English found resources for many essential
services such as public education and health care.
City and county services. The City of Fort Collins’ website can be translated into several different
languages, from Afrikaans to Yiddish, powered by Google Translate through a drop down
selection menu on the top left of every web page. Larimer County’s website is available in
Spanish as well as English through the use of Google’s free language tools.
Poudre School District. The Poudre School District (PSD), along with many individual schools in
the district, offers access to its website in Spanish, as well as several information resources. For
example, Early Childhood Transition Services, a division of the Early Childhood Program, which
helps parents transition their children into kindergarten, offers on their webpage many
resources in both English and Spanish, such as “Parent Tip Sheets” and the Transition to
Kindergarten Handbook.3
3 http://center.serve.org/TT/fp_tips.html.
Total Population 5 years and over 139,722
Speak only English 126,387 90.5%
Speak a language other than English 13,335 9.5% 3,024 2.2%
Spanish or Spanish Creole 7,211 5.2% 1,556 1.1%
Other Indo‐European 2,595 1.9% 306 0.2%
Asian and Pacific Island languages 2,654 1.9% 1,112 0.8%
Other languages 875 0.6% 50 0.0%
Percent
Language Spoken
at Home
Total
Speak English less
than "very well"
Total Percent
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VI, PAGE 7
PSD also offers translation services for students whose primary language is not English. Spanish
and Arabic are the two most readily available translation services, although Mandarin Chinese,
Vietnamese, and Korean translators are also available. The Newcomer Academy programs at
Lincoln Middle School and Poudre Valley High School provide extensive support to English
Language Learners (ELL).4
Health care services. Websites for the health care sector in Fort Collins tend to be available in
English only, including those of Family Medicine Center, Touchstone Health Centers, and the
Health District of Larimer County. Salud Family Health Centers’ website is available in both
English and Spanish.
Other information. The City Housing Authority website is only available in English. There are
two community newspapers written in English, the Coloradoan and the Northern Colorado
Business Report, but there are no Hispanic newspapers in Fort Collins.
Religious Diversity
Larimer County offers diverse opportunities to worship. There are 7.3 religious congregations
per 10,000 people in Larimer County. Figure VI‐9 presents the distribution of religious
congregations in Larimer County by religion. As shown, the greatest proportion of congregations
is Evangelical Protestant (43% of congregations).
Figure VI‐9.
Religious Congregations in Larimer
County
Source:
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Health
Indicators for Larimer County.
In Fort Collins, the existing religious organizations or places of worship mainly represent four
major religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. The vast majority of religious
organizations are Christian, as shown in Figure VI‐10.
Figure VI‐10.
Religious Organizations in Fort Collins
Source:
Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce, FortNet—The
Community Information Network,
http://www.fortnet.org/FortNet/comm/rel.html.
4 http://www.psdschools.org/school/poudre‐high‐school.
Evangelical Protestant 43%
Other religions 27%
Mainline Protestant 17%
Roman Catholic 4%
Latter‐day Saint (Mormon) 3%
Jehovah's Witnesses 3%
Jewish 2%
Orthodox Christian 1%
% of
Congregations in
Larimer County
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VI, PAGE 8
The map below displays the locations of religious places of worship in Fort Collins, with the
three non‐majority religions located in the vicinity of CSU.
Figure VI‐11.
Religious Organizations in Fort Collins
Source: Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce, Religious Organizations, and FortNet, The Community Information Network,
http://www.fortnet.org/FortNet/comm/rel.html.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VI, PAGE 9
Inclusivity, Exclusivity, Tolerance and Perception of the City’s Diversity
Inclusiveness of sexual orientation. Members of the GLBT community can face challenges in
finding acceptance and support in their city. Inclusiveness of sexual orientation is particularly
important for youth: A study in Oregon high schools found a significant association between a
having a positive social environment and lower rates of GLBT suicide attempts.5 Measures
included in examining the social environment of a given county included, but were not limited
to:
Proportion of schools with gay‐straight alliances;
Proportion of schools with anti‐bullying policies specifically protecting GLBT students; and
Proportion of schools with antidiscrimination policies that included sexual orientation.
One indicator of inclusiveness is the number of organized GLBT groups in a community,
especially those in schools. Of the seven public high schools in PSD, three have registered Gay‐
Straight Alliances with the Colorado GSA Network. Those with GSA programs include Fort Collins
High School, Rocky Mountain High School, and Poudre High School. Many high schools in the
district have “Report a Bully” policies, but they do not include provisions specifically protecting
GLBT students. Antidiscrimination policies were not available on individual school websites,
although the PSD website does provide its policies and procedures about bullying prevention
and education. The 2013‐14 Student Rights & Code of Conduct defines bullying as:
“…Any written or oral expression, or physical or electronic act or gesture, or a pattern
thereof, that is intended to coerce, intimidate or cause any physical, mental or emotional
harm to any student. This includes but is not limited to such expression, act or gesture
directed toward a student on the basis of that student’s race, color, religion, national origin,
ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, disability or academic performance.”6
PSD requires all district employees to attend an hour‐long diversity training in order to
familiarize themselves with diversity, equity, and the district’s non‐discrimination policy.
Colorado State University has a Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning
Resource Center, which offers support and resources to the GLBT student population. The
university also explicitly includes sexual orientation in its non‐discrimination policy.
Maintenance of current programs supporting GLBT students and the development of such
programs where they are lacking is essential in sustaining a positive and supportive
environment for GLBT youth.
Perception of the City to outsiders and residents. Online discussion groups and social
media are frequently used to gauge social acceptance and inclusiveness of outsiders. A review of
online blogs and discussions about diversity in Fort Collins was conducted for this study. The
5 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10323629.
6 2013‐14 Student Rights & Code of Conduct, District Policies and Regulations. A guide to Student Rights and the Code of
Conduct for students in Poudre School District. http://www.psdschools.org/webfm/3874.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VI, PAGE 10
general perception from bloggers is that although Fort Collins is a mostly white community with
little diversity, it is also generally an inclusive and welcoming place to minorities.
The following quotes are excerpts from public comments made on the online comment boards
city‐data.com and Sperling’s Best Places:
Moving to Fort Collins, how is racial diversity and safety? (4/7/13)
I'm planning on moving to Fort Collins…I have no family connections in that region and I'm African
American and female. I'm curious about race relations here towards African Americans in particular?
I'm interested in how people treat others that are of different racial backgrounds. I would love my
experience in Fort Collins to be amazing…
“We've been in Fort Collins for 11 years. I lived in Detroit for 4 years, then San Francisco for
6, before moving here. The utter lack of diversity was a huge shocker for me. (I'm a white
female, but I was rather used to being in the minority.) It's starting to change.
I live in Old Town (north of campus) and I think the folks around here are very tolerant and
welcoming. My kids attend Lincoln Middle School which is the most diverse middle
school in town. (The largest population is hispanic, followed by white, then asian and black.
And because they have the "newcomer" program, there are students from all over the world
whose parents are here as CSU students.) Because our kids attend Lincoln, we have had
some negative experiences in terms of racial profiling. ("You send your kids THERE?!!!"
"Isn't that a dangerous school?" etc.) So I know there's racism in Fort Collins. It's often
against the hispanic population. And it's not generally overt.
I'd recommend living near campus (It doesn't have to be in Old Town.). I don't think Fort
Collins is dangerous at all. But in terms of comfort, I think you'll probably find a more
welcoming community closer to the school. That's not at all to say that other parts of town
are definitively less welcoming, because they're not. I think it's just more likely you'll find
folks around the fringes that simply aren't used to anything but their all white neighbors.”
“I used to live in Fort Collins and still have friends there. The area is somewhat conservative
and most likely the only discrimination or profiling you will experience there would be
based on religious or political views. As for the activities you enjoy, plenty of that around
the area, especially over by Horsetooth and Larimer Park..”7
Thread title: Ethnic diversity in Colorado? (2/7/07)
From the stats I've been reading it seems that Colorado is mostly white with some areas having small
Hispanic or Latino populations. My question is how are Asians treated there? Is there discrimination?
Does it depend on the area? We are possibly relocating to Ft. Collins area and we are a multi‐ethnic
family. Hubby & me are white and we have 3 adopted children who are Asian. How would we/they be
received?
“I wouldn't imagine you'd have any problems with racism in fort collins... Though there is
definitely not much of an asian community here, if any at all. There seems to be a small
middle eastern community, a small indian community, and a sizeable hispanic community
7 http://www.city‐data.com/forum/fort‐collins‐area/1835756‐moving‐fort‐collins‐how‐racial‐diversity.html#ixzz2jQnmAJ4d.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VI, PAGE 11
though. This area is sometimes jokingly referred to by the locals as 'vanilla valley' because
it's so white.
The ethnically asian people I know in fort collins are generally very americanized, and as far
as I know they're not subject to any particular prejudice. I would be shocked if your
children were treated any differently to other children here by anyone.
The only serious racism I've even heard of in this area are second‐hand stories…about a
church in Laporte with some nazi‐like values, and a significant KKK congregation in
Loveland. I have no way of verifying these things and they are just rumors as far as I
know.”8
Thread title: What are race relations like in FC? Are people tolerant? (5/1/12)
I'm African‐American and am looking at a career opportunity in FC, which may lead to a relocation for
me and my family. Can someone tell me whether FC is a racially tolerant city? Is there a separate
African‐American community or is the city integrated? Where would you find the most racially diverse
schools?
“Totally integrated. I do not see many African‐Americans but I do welcome you and I do
wish to see more diversity in the city. I am a retired person and cannot address the schools.”
“The schools closest to the university are likely to be the most diverse, as that is where
many of the international students and faculty live with their families in university housing.
The International Baccalaureate Program at Poudre High School is as ethnically diverse as
any place in town and has the added benefit of being academically rigorous. There is also a
"school of choice" program that allows you to apply to some schools outside of your
neighborhood if they offer programs you're interested in IB, Core Knowledge, bilingual, etc.”
“There isn't many African American people up here, But its not usually a problem. Fort
Collins has lots of churches and stuff in it. People are normally friendly as far as I can tell.”9
Thread title: Do any Asians live here?
I want to go to college here after I get out of the Marine Corps and was curious how rare is it to see an
Asian walking around. I know there aren't many, and being from California, I'm used to diversity. Are
they looked at differently, or treated differently than white people? Does anyone personally know any
Asians in the area, or better yet, ARE Asian? (International students don't count) How much would I
stick out?
“I'm a CSU alum. The Asian population in Fort Collins is pretty low, but the town is laid back
and tolerant. There's a student services center for Asian students and several student
organizations. So it will be very easy to get connected to other Asians if you attend CSU.”
“Asian here. People are definitely very tolerant along the Front Range, although if you are
used to diversity and are seeking it, you won't find it here =)”
“I am Asian (Thai to be exact) and I grew up here in Northern Colorado. 20 years ago, the
chance of seeing another Asian minority was slim but with the growth of the front range
and the work of the local universities, many of the exchange students have stayed after
8 http://www.city‐data.com/forum/colorado/43480‐ethnic‐diversity‐colorado‐denver‐fort‐collins.html#ixzz2jQhSsI7Z.
9 http://www.city‐data.com/forum/fort‐collins‐area/1564485‐what‐race‐relations‐like‐fc‐people.html#ixzz2jQp9MCeo.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VI, PAGE 12
college allowing the asian population to grow. Being asian, I never felt out of place and even
more so now, it is VERY tolerant here.”10
Comment title: Cohesive community (7/18/11)
“I'm one of a bajillion non‐natives who adopted Fort Collins as home and never, ever felt
dissed or snubbed by the natives... as if I could even figure out who is native and who isn't.
Who cares, is a better response to all that. To the contrary, Ft. Collins welcomes visitors,
students, and diversity of all sorts. This is a small city that has a center and a cohesive sense
of community ‐ something so many places have lost in the sprawl of the second half of the
last century, and something, I might add, we will all need again as the problems we have
created in the world come home to roost and we have to again turn to each other for
support and resources.”11
Hate crimes. In 1990, Congress enacted the Hate Crime Statistics Act requiring the Department
of Justice to collect data on crimes which “manifest prejudice based on race, religion, sexual
orientation, gender or gender identity, disability or ethnicity.” Local law enforcement agencies
report these crimes to the Department of Justice and the data are publicly available on the FBI’s
website.12 Once a local agency deems a crime a hate crime against a protected class designated
by the Hate Crime Statistics Act, that crime is reported to the FBI and is included in the data.
In 2011, the Fort Collins law enforcement agency submitted six hate crime incidents to the FBI.
Nationally, law enforcement reported 2.18 hate crime incidents per 100,000 people, compared
to 4.10 in Fort Collins.13 When compared to its neighboring communities, the rate of reported
hate crime incidents in Fort Collins is lower than Greeley, but higher than Loveland and Boulder,
as shown in Figure VI‐12.
Figure VI‐12.
Hate Crime Incidents per
Capita, 2011
Source:
Federal Bureau of Investigation, Hate
Crime Statistics.
Figure VI‐13 presents the motivation reported for hate crimes from 2007 to 2011 for Fort
Collins. The majority of the hate crimes committed within that time frame were race related,
10 http://www.city‐data.com/forum/fort‐collins‐area/1754859‐do‐any‐asians‐live‐here‐fort.html#ixzz2jQsKWxYl.
11 http://www.bestplaces.net/backfence/viewcomment.aspx?id=AC592A6C‐4C27‐4A2C‐AF1D‐
7C2C3826A45A&city=Fort_Collins_CO&p=50827425.
12 http://www.fbi.gov/about‐us/cjis/ucr/hate‐crime/2011/hate‐crime.
13 The FBI compares hate crime statistics across states by adjusting per 100,000 population.
U.S. Total 286,010,550 6,222 2.18
Colorado 4,992,496 186 3.73
Fort Collins 146,494 6 4.10
Loveland 68,024 1 1.47
Greeley 94,507 10 10.58
Boulder 99,081 2 2.02
Total Number of
Reported Incidents,
per 100,000 People
Total
Number of
Incidents
State Population Reported
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VI, PAGE 13
while the second most common reason was related to sexual orientation. No hate crimes against
persons with disabilities were reported.
Figure VI‐13.
Hate Crime Incidents in Fort Collins, by Bias Motivation, 2007‐2011
Note: At the time of this report, the data were missing for the year 2009 on the FBI website.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Hate Crime Statistics.
Housing Equity
In 2012, Fort Collins conducted a survey examining housing discrimination in an Analysis of
Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI) study as required by HUD. The most common claims of
discrimination were for being a student or low income individual with poor credit; disability;
familial status; and gender and sexual orientation.
The study also examined access to housing by race and ethnicity in Fort Collins. Figure VI‐14
depicts the race, ethnicity, gender, and disability status of heads of households who received
assisted housing vouchers. The overwhelming majority of recipients of assisted housing
vouchers self‐identify as “White Only” by race. Ethnically Hispanic or Latino residents are
overrepresented in FCHA housing programs. They hold approximately 40 percent of vouchers
given out by the City.
Race Religion
Sexual
orientation Ethnicity Disability
2011 3 1 1 1 0 6
2010 2 0 4 1 0 7
2009 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
2008 5 0 0 0 0 5
2007 5 0 2 1 0 8
Year
Number of incidents per bias motivation
Total
incidents
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VI, PAGE 14
Figure VI‐14.
Distribution of
Public Housing/
Voucher Program
Participants and
Residents in Poverty
Source:
Public housing and voucher
program data: BBC Research &
Consulting from FCHA data.
Poverty data for female head of
household and disability from
2010 1year ACS, poverty data
by race and ethnicity from 2010
5‐year ACS.
As demonstrated in Figure VI‐14, public housing and the voucher program provide housing to
protected classes at higher rates than their representation of persons in poverty overall for
female heads of households, persons with disabilities and persons of Hispanic descent. This may
be an indicator of the limited ability or willingness of the private sector to provide affordable
housing for these populations.
Resources
This section discusses the resources in the City intended to foster diversity and inclusiveness. As
demonstrated in this section, the resources in the City are many.
City cultural diversity programs/groups. Fort Collins has two commissions—the Women’s
Commission and the Human Relations Commission—that are specifically dedicated to furthering
diversity. The Northside Aztlan Community Center offers community space to many different
types of residents for cultural events. And, as summarized below, CSU has many types of
resource centers that promote diversity and inclusiveness.
City of Fort Collins Women’s Commission. The Women’s Commission was created for “the
purpose of enhancing the status of and opportunities for all women in the City” with the ability
to document women’s issues; conduct educational and public awareness programs; cooperate
with other organizations regarding women’s issues; review proposed legislative or policy
changes that could potentially affect the status of women; and make recommendations to the
City Council of legislation or policies that could enhance the status of women in the City.
City of Fort Collins Human Relations Commission. The Human Relations Commission was
created to “promote the acceptance and respect for diversity through educational programs and
activities, and to discourage all forms of discrimination based on race, religion, age, gender,
disability, etc.” The Commission also oversees the Citizen Liaison Program and presents an
annual Human Relations Award.
Female Head of Household with Children 54% 37% 2%
Disability 44% 55% 7%
Head of Household's Race
American Indian or Alaska Native Only 2% 3% 1%
Asian Only 0% 1% 3%
Black/African American Only 3% 4% 2%
White Only 94% 92% 85%
White, American Indian/Alaska Native 1% 0%
White, Black/African American 1% 0%
Head of Household's Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino 42% 24% 15%
Not Hispanic or Latino 58% 76% 77%
All
Vouchers
Programs
Residents
Living in
Poverty
Public
Housing
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VI, PAGE 15
City of Fort Collins Northside Aztlan Community Center. The Northside Aztlan Community
Center’s mission is to ensure its success “by advocating for accessibility, effective programming
and multicultural inclusion.” The Center offers programs such as a children’s meal program,
youth nights, senior meals, and after‐school activities.
CSU and PSD resources. Diversity initiatives and programs at the college and K‐12 level
include the following.
Vice President for Diversity. CSU has a vice president dedicated to diversity initiatives,
“including assessment, evaluation, and accountability; developing strategic partnerships,
alliances and collaborations; organizing the annual Diversity Symposium; helping to coordinate
activities among on‐campus units, commissions, committees, and task forces; and representing
the university through networking and collaboration with outside communities, schools, and
organizations.”
The Office of the Vice President for Diversity holds an annual Diversity Symposium at the
University to celebrate diversity, and an annual High School Diversity Conference where high
school students can challenge stereotypes and develop an appreciation and understanding of
diversity.
Colorado State University Student Diversity Programs & Services (SDPS). CSU offers a selection
of programs and services to support students and a diverse campus environment.
Asian Pacific American Cultural Center—provides resources for Asian/Pacific American
awareness and education.
Black/African American Cultural Center—promotes a diverse, inclusive campus environment
and serves as a resource to the campus and surrounding communities, through academic,
professional, cultural and personal development programs that embrace Black and African
American experiences. Its primary goal is to enhance the overall college experience so that
students achieve academically and are able to compete in a global society.
El Centro—aims to increase the outreach, recruitment, retention, graduation, and cultural
pride of Latinos/Hispanics at CSU.
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning Resource Center —is committed to
providing support services, educational and cultural programs as well as a safe gathering
place for GLBT people, other sexual minorities, and allies of the campus and Fort Collins
community.
Native American Cultural Center—focuses on ensuring a successful educational experience
for Native American students by providing advocacy and support services, primarily
recruitment, retention, graduation and community outreach. The office embraces and
encourages a supportive environment based on the traditions and cultures of Native
Americans.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VI, PAGE 16
Resources for Disabled Students—collaborates with students, staff, instructors, and
community members to create useable, equitable, inclusive and sustainable learning
environments for disabled students.
Women and Gender Advocacy Center—provides programs and resources focusing on all
genders, social justice, and interpersonal violence prevention. It also provides advocacy and
support for victims of sexual violence, stalking, sexual harassment, and relationship
violence.
Poudre School District Office of Equity and Diversity. PSD is committed to understanding the
diversity that the children, staff, and families bring to their schools. The Office of Equity and
Diversity supports diverse student leadership programs, community members, groups, and
events; encourages professional development opportunities for staff, culturally relevant
curriculum and other activities and culturally responsive and inclusive school and community
engagement practices; and hears and supports individual concerns regarding equity and
diversity in the PSD community.
Other organizations that are not formally affiliated with City government, CSU or PSD include the
following:
Fort Collins International Center. The Fort Collins International Center is a nonprofit community
organization that provides intercultural education programs about the world’s cultures in an
effort to create a community that is “a model for creating cultural understanding, inclusive of
diversity and able to understand cultural differences…” The Center’s programs include:
International Friends, which pairs community members with foreign students to provide
hospitality during an international newcomer’s stay in Fort Collins; Friday Afternoon Club, a
weekly social gathering to connect with the international community and learn about activities
and volunteer opportunities; Global Ambassadors Program, an international speakers’ bureau
through which CSU international students may share their culture, heritage, language and
history with local school classrooms and other community groups; International Night at the
Library; Outdoor Programs; and Conversational English Classes.
The Center – Northern Colorado Location. The Center, founded in Denver, was created to
“engage, empower, enrich, and advance the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community of
Colorado.” The Northern Colorado location was opened in July 2012. The Center offers a safe
place for the GLBT community to connect to counseling, social activities, and health and legal
resources. The Northern Colorado location serves about 100 clients a month through phone
referrals and another 300 who walk in.
The primary concerns of clients include discrimination in employment; access to resources by
seniors who aren’t always comfortable discussing their GLBT status; and lack of understanding
and bias against children with GLBT parents and GLBT kids. The Center reports that the majority
of their children they see who are in PSD transfer schools (mostly to Centennial) to avoid
bullying and challenges with transgender status in traditional school settings. The Center also
works with Front Range Community College and University of Northern Colorado, providing
services to students, as well as community outreach and awareness.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VI, PAGE 17
Fort Collins Not in Our Town Alliance. NIOTA is a “community‐based effort to create and
support collaboration among individuals, agencies, organizations and local governments to
address the causes and effects of prejudice, discrimination and hate motivated behavior” by
evaluating community diversity concerns, creating strategies to prevent discrimination, and
appropriate and timely response to hate motivated incidents. NIOTA holds a regular book club
meeting on every 4th Tuesday.
India Association of Northern Colorado. IANC is a volunteer‐run nonprofit that promotes Indian
culture, social, and spiritual activities in the community, and membership is open to all people
interested in Indian culture. Members include CSU staff and employees in the high technology
fields.
Fuerza Latina. Fuerza Latina is an organization in Northern Colorado of immigrants and allies for
immigrants. Fuerza Latina works for human rights, justice and dignity for immigrants and is
dedicated to educating, informing, organizing, and promoting change to facilitate an improved
quality of life for immigrants in the community.
Northern Colorado Intertribal Pow‐wow Association (NCIPA). The Northern Colorado
Intertribal Pow‐wow Association (NCIPA), a non‐profit organization, was created in the summer
of 1992 to provide opportunities for the Northern Colorado communities to share and
participate in Native American cultures. In addition, NCIPA provides information, social
networks and educational support to Native Americans in Northern Colorado. Membership in
NCIPA is open to any nationality, race or creed. In order to share the diverse Native American
cultures with the community, they present an annual pow‐wow in the Fort Collins area. Each
year they have attracted thousands of visitors each day, including hundreds of dancers and
singers, many arts and crafts vendors, and spectators.
SECTION VII.
Needs of Targeted Populations
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VII, PAGE 1
SECTION VII.
Needs of Targeted Populations
This section discusses the supportive services and housing needs of three targeted resident
groups in Fort Collins including:
Persons with Disabilities,
Seniors,
Victims of Domestic Violence.
These targeted populations were chosen because they often face some of the greatest challenges
to accessing the housing and services they need and may require public support and subsidies.
The needs of two other targeted population group—residents who are
gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender individuals (GLBT) and veterans—are addressed in other
sections where their needs were best represented. The needs of GLBT residents are discussed in
the Diversity/Equity section. The needs of veterans are discussed in the section on
Homelessness.
Similarly, the needs of at‐risk youth are discussed in the Education section.
Persons with Disabilities
Definition. The Census defines a person with a disability as having a “long‐lasting physical,
mental or emotional condition, which can make it difficult for a person to do activities such as
walking, climbing stairs, dressing, bathing, learning or remembering.” Moreover, “this condition
can also impede a person from being able to go outside the home alone or to work at a job or
business.”1
Persons with disabilities may require housing that has accessibility features, is near public
transit and has supportive services, and is affordable, if their ability to work is limited. Persons
with disabilities are also at greater risk of experiencing housing discrimination, often times due
to a lack of knowledge about laws governing accommodations for persons who are disabled.
Fort Collins population. Approximately 10,000 Fort Collins residents aged five years or older
have a disability, according to the 2010 Census. Disability rates are highest for seniors: one‐
quarter of residents aged 65 to 74 have a disability and half of residents 75 and older have a
disability.
1 Definition taken from the Census glossary.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VII, PAGE 2
Figure VII‐1.
Disability Status for the
Population 5 Years Old
or More, City of Fort
Collins, 2010
Source:
ACS 2010 1‐year estimate.
Figure VII‐2 presents the number of Fort Collins residents with physical and cognitive
disabilities by age cohort. The most common type of disability for seniors is a hearing difficulty,
followed by ambulatory difficulty. For children, cognitive difficulties are the most common.
Adults between the ages of 18 and 64 are most likely to have a cognitive or ambulatory
disability.
Figure VII‐2.
Number and Share of Fort Collins Residents with Disabilities, by Age Cohort, 2012
Source: 2012 ACS.
Children with developmental disabilities. Figure VII‐3 shows the estimated number of children in
Fort Collins with a developmental disability, based on prevalence data from a 2011 PEDIATRICS
study. Learning disabilities and ADHD are the most common developmental disabilities. Overall,
an estimated 4,000 Fort Collins children have some form of developmental disability, about 15
percent of children ages five to 19. It is important to note that the number of children with
disabilities in Figure VII‐3 exceeds the Census estimate in Figure VII‐2 because of different
definitions of disability (e.g., the Census’ “cognitive” disability definition does not appear to
include ADHD or learning disabilities).
Population 5 years or older 134,009 10,100 8%
5 to 17 years 20,904 388 2%
18 to 34 years 54,237 1,662 3%
35 to 64 years 46,454 3,437 7%
65 to 74 years 6,999 1,838 26%
75 years and over 5,415 2,775 51%
Percent
with a
disability
With a
Total disability
Hearing difficulty 70 0.4 % 1,083 1.0 % 1,809 15.0 %
Vision difficulty 39 0.2 868 0.8 540 4.5
Cognitive difficulty 275 1.4 2,284 2.1 1,169 9.7
Ambulatory difficulty 35 0.2 2,543 2.4 1,528 12.7
Self‐care difficulty 139 0.7 % 786 0.7 551 4.6
Independent living difficulty 1,592 1.5 % 1,241 10.3 %
% of Age
Cohort
Ages 5 ‐ 17 Ages 18 ‐ 64 Ages 65+
# with a
Disability
% of Age
Cohort
# with a
Disability
% of
Age
# with a
Disability
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VII, PAGE 3
Figure VII‐3.
Estimates of the Number of Fort Collins Children with Developmental Disabilities, 2012
Note: The age cohorts from the PEDIATRICS study and 2012 ACS do not align perfectly. As such, the estimate for children ages five to nine omits
children ages three and four. Similarly, the estimate for children ages 10 to 19 includes 18‐ and 19‐year‐olds. This suggests that the
number for younger children is a lower bound estimate while the number for older children is an upper bound estimate.
Source: BBC Research & Consulting from 2012 ACS and “Trends in the Prevalence of Developmental Disabilities in US Children, 1997‐2008” Boyle,
et. al., PEDIATRICS, Volume 127, Number 6, pp 1034‐1046, June 2011.
Residence concentrations. Figure VII‐4 uses 2000 Census data at the Census Tract level to
examine geographic concentrations of persons with disabilities in Fort Collins.2
Concentrations
are based on the 2000 incidence of disability for Fort Collins, which was 12 percent. As the map
shows, there are no concentrations of people with disabilities in Fort Collins, based on 2000
data.
2 Data by Census block group were not available for all block groups in the city. Disability data from the 2010 ACS is not
available by Census tract or block group.
Any developmental disability 11.78 % 16.24 % 1,033 3,063
ADHD 4.72 8.93 414 1,684
Autism 0.56 0.37 49 70
Blind 0.10 0.16 9 30
Cerebral palsy 0.36 0.37 32 70
Moderate to profound hearing loss 0.44 0.46 39 87
Learning disabilities 5.07 9.27 445 1,748
Intellectual disabilities 0.59 0.84 52 158
Seizures in past 12 months 0.72 0.61 63 115
Stuttered or stammered in past 12 months 1.99 1.15 175 217
Other developmental delay 3.86 % 3.41 % 339 643
Total children in the FC population 8,772 18,859
Ages 3 to 10 Ages 11 to 17 Ages 5 to 9Ages 10 to 19
Prevalence in the
age cohort in the
United States
Number of Children in Fort
Collins
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VII, PAGE 4
Figure VII‐4.
Percent of
Residents with
Disabilities, City
of Fort Collins,
2000
Source:
2000 U.S. Census.
Income levels of persons with disabilities. Some persons with disabilities are limited in their
ability to work and rely on Social Security and disability payments as their primary source of
income. The 2012 ACS reports that 47 percent of Fort Collins residents with disabilities are
employed. Sixteen percent of residents with disabilities are unemployed and 36 percent are not
in the labor force.
The median earnings of persons with disabilities are lower than for those without disabilities: in
2012, male workers with a disability earned $21,334 per year compared to earnings of $26,886
for men without a disability. For women, pay was $12,040 for workers with a disability v.
$16,922 for workers without a disability. Although all levels of earnings are quite low, those of
persons with disabilities are extremely low.
The Social Security Administration reports that the average monthly amount received by an
eligible person with a disability in 2013 was $1,129. This income, Social Security Disability
Income (SSDI), is available only to people who have had a work history, and is equivalent to
about $13,500 per year. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is available to people who do not
have a work history or who don’t qualify for SSDI. These payments average $710 per month,
equating to about $8,520 per year.
Persons with disabilities who are awaiting approval for social security payments are eligible to
receive a small amount of cash assistance from the State of Colorado (Aid to the Needy Disabled
program). This assistance is just $175/month, which equates to just $2,100 annually.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VII, PAGE 5
Resources. This section discusses the resources available in Fort Collins for persons with
disabilities. Where appropriate, the services are organized by type of client targeted.
Disabled Resource Services (DRS). DRS is the local Independent Living Center and is a non‐profit
agency that provides a variety of services to persons with disabilities in Larimer and Jackson
counties. DRS administers 15 housing choice vouchers and provides case management services
to more than 6,000 clients per year. On average, 200 of these clients are assisted with rental
deposits.
DRS provides a range of services from housing location assistance to assistance accessing health
care services to advocating for fair housing—e.g., denial of service animals by landlords and
accessibility accommodations, as well as employment modifications and upholding civil rights
laws. In the past year, the most common needs of clients were financial‐related (e.g., assistance
with SSDI applications/renewals/appeals, rent and transportation assistance), followed by
information and referral needs. DRS’ clients’ needs are discussed in more detail below in the
Gaps section.
Accessible Space Incorporated (ASI). ASI is a St. Paul, Minnesota nonprofit organization
dedicated to creating supportive housing and assisted living options for persons with disabilities
and persons with traumatic brain injuries (TBI). The organization builds housing developments
that are accessible, affordable and offer a cooperative supportive services model. ASI developed
and manages the Harmony Road Apartments in Fort Collins. The complex includes 23 accessible
one‐ and two‐bedroom apartments, wheelchair accessible kitchens, roll in showers, raised
electrical outlets and lowered light switches, a controlled‐access entry system and community
room. Approved pets are accepted.
Persons with cognitive disabilities. Foothills Gateway and Mosaic offer a variety of housing,
skills development, employment and caregiving services for persons with cognitive disabilities.
Foothills Gateway. Foothills Gateway is the local Community Center Board in Larimer County that
serves Fort Collins. Foothills Gateway serves approximately 1,600 persons with cognitive
disabilities and their families annually through a broad range of programs and services.
Approximately 600 individuals are on their wait list for services.
Residential program. Foothills Gateway’s residential program includes supporting
individuals living independently in apartments, in companion settings, host homes or
staffed homes. The organization administers 111 housing choice vouchers and has placed
52 clients in project‐based Section 8 units under a State Division of Housing funded
program.
Supported employment and skills development. The Supported Employment Services
Program for adults with cognitive disabilities includes screening, job placement, coaching
and supportive services. The Community Skill Development Program offers recreational,
volunteer and employment opportunities with a focus on skills development, activities of
daily living, socialization and recreation. While the Supported Employment Services and
Community Skill Development programs are for adults, Foothills Gateway also offers
prevocational services to individuals under age 18.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VII, PAGE 6
Adult Care Services and respite services. Foothills Gateway offers respite services to family
caregivers for up to a period of 14 days. In addition, they offer a Monday through Friday
adult day program that is also available to persons eligible under an Elderly, Blind and
Disabled waiver.
Early intervention services. Foothills Gateway is mandated by the State of Colorado to serve
any Larimer County child under age three with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The organization provides a variety of early intervention services. More than one‐third of
the children who are enrolled in the program for one year are able to mainstream into
traditional preschool rather than special education.
Mosaic in Northern Colorado. Mosaic focuses on providing independent, host home and group
living environments in Fort Collins for persons with cognitive disabilities. The Children’s
Extensive Services program provides respite care to children living with their family.
Respite Care provides care to families who have children with development disabilities.
According to the City’s Consolidated Plan, Respite Care provided over 38,000 hours of care to
111 families in 2009. Respite recently moved from a wait list approach to limiting care to a
maximum of four days per week, except during vacation stays, to serve more families. The
organization also runs a Summer Day Camp and after school care programs.
Recreational resources for children and persons with disabilities. Recreational opportunities
for children with disabilities can be challenging, especially opportunities that afford such
children the ability to play alongside peers without disabilities. New federal requirements under
the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are forcing changes in the landscape of public
playgrounds. The new requirements for parks include equipment, materials and designs that
provide children with disabilities access to the same play spaces as children without disabilities.
These new federal requirements create play spaces that are accessible—yet accessibility does
not automatically translate into inclusive. It is important to note the distinction between an ADA
accessible playground, and one that is fully accessible and “inclusive.” ADA compliant may mean
that a child with a disability can “get to” playground equipment but may not actually be able to
“use” the equipment. Accessible and inclusive playgrounds are built such that children with
disabilities can engage in the play space in a similar manner as a non‐disabled child.
Fort Collins opened its first fully accessible and inclusive playground in 2007. It was also the first
such playground in the State of Colorado and remains one of only five of these types of
playgrounds in the state.3
Fort Collins’ playground includes safe, state‐of‐the‐art, sensory‐rich structures that encourage
integration and the development of cognitive, emotional, physical and social skills for all
children. For example, sand centers are located above ground and are wheelchair accessible,
allowing a child in wheelchair to play in the elevated sandbox next to other children. The
playground is located in the southwest portion of the City.
3 The newest accessible playground is in Colorado Springs, see http://gazette.com/side‐streets‐playground‐lets‐you‐swing‐
high‐even‐if‐you‐cant‐walk/article/99469.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VII, PAGE 7
The Adaptive Recreation Opportunities (ARO) department with the City of Fort Collins provides
quality and equal opportunities for recreation and leisure programs to persons with disabilities.
There are a variety of specialized recreational opportunities that provide inclusive participation
support and transitional assistance via recreational therapy specialists.
Gaps. The needs of persons with disabilities generally fall into three areas: housing needs,
community service needs and transit needs.
Housing needs. It is challenging to quantify the housing needs of persons with disabilities
because of the lack of data on the precise needs of residents with disabilities, as well as the
numbers of accessible housing units. Yet service and housing providers agree that the need is
very large. This is evidenced by the disproportionate representation of persons with disabilities
on wait lists of housing providers.
The 2012 AI surveyed Fort Collins households about their accessibility needs. Of the 25 percent
of households who reported having a household member with a disability, 23 percent said their
current home or apartment did not meet their family’s accessibility needs. The most common
accessibility improvements needed were grab bars, ramps, wider doorways and single‐level
residences.
Although the survey was not a statistically significant representation of all Fort Collins
households, the data can be used to get a general idea of the need for accessibility improvements.
Assuming that 23 percent of the housing units occupied by residents who have at least one
household member with a disability and a household size of 1.5 (smaller than the City’s overall
to account for seniors), as many as 2,000 housing units in the City are lacking needed
accessibility improvements.
Wait lists for affordable, accessible housing can also be used to gauge the level of housing needs
among persons with disabilities. ASI’s wait list for Harmony Road apartments is two to three
years long. Of the approximately 1,500 households on the city’s wait list for public housing units,
391 have a disability. This is about 26 percent of all wait‐listed households, much higher than the
proportion of the population with a disability for the city overall. Similarly, 336 of the 1,200
households on the wait list for Section 8 vouchers have a disability, which is equal to 28 percent
of Section 8 wait‐listed households. Because the wait list has been closed for some time, these
numbers are likely lower‐bound estimates of need.
In general, it takes between two and three years for a person with a disability to find affordable
housing in the City of Fort Collins. Housing to serve persons with disabilities must be deeply
subsidized (renting for less than $300/month) due to the low levels of earnings and income
transfer payments received by persons with disabilities.
Another analysis in the AI examined what proportion of households benefitting from public
housing and housing choice vouchers were disabled. At the time the study was conducted, 44
percent of public housing residents and 55 percent of voucher holders had a household member
with a disability. These proportions are much higher than the proportion of residents in poverty
who have a disability (7%), suggesting that persons with disabilities have higher rates of
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VII, PAGE 8
participation in publicly subsidized housing because their options in the private market are
limited.
The types of disabilities residents in Fort Collins, as in any other community, vary considerably,
as do the housing needs of disabled residents. There is no “one size fits all” approach to
providing housing opportunities to persons with disabilities. For example, while a resident with
a physical disability may desire and need to live in the City core with ample transit and access to
services, a resident with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may have difficulty sharing an
apartment complex with others and may be better suited in a semi‐rural area in a single family
home.
Landlords who understand reasonable accommodations laws, especially regulations governing
companion and service animals, are also critical.
Community service needs. The community service needs of persons with disabilities can vary
considerably depending on the disability. The primary needs include:
Employment, particularly jobs that pay a living wage. The State of Colorado Division of
Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) assists persons with disabilities to find employment and
live independently. DVR counselors help persons with disabilities develop personal
employment plans. In 2008, DVR implemented an Order of Selection (OOS) process to help
manage the demand for their services. Current wait lists for services are reportedly lengthy.
Infrastructure improvements in Old Town and East Fort Collins to enable persons with
disabilities the same access to community amenities as persons without disabilities (e.g.,
front door access to restaurants, easy access to restrooms, street curb cuts).
Improved community knowledge about the variety of needs of persons with disabilities and
how the community can help accommodate residents with disabilities. (For example,
lighting dimmers, contrasting table settings for persons who are visually impaired).
For low income residents, quick access (less than a month wait) to adequate health care,
including the ability to see specialists.
Limits on health care reimbursements also contribute to the supportive service needs of persons
with disabilities. For example, persons who are hearing impaired can receive free hearing exams
if covered by Medicaid, but Medicaid will not cover the cost of hearing aids, which can exceed
$5,000.
Foothills Gateway has wait lists that average 300 adults and 200 children annually, which
exceeds the number of persons who receive services from the organization. The organization
reports increasing demand with insufficient resource levels to meet this demand.
Transit needs. For many persons with disabilities, transit is their only source of transportation.
A limited transit system—both in terms of hours of operation and geographical reach—can limit
housing choices for persons with disabilities and their ability to work, as well as access to
supportive services and amenities. There are many parts of the urban growth area of Fort Collins
that are not covered by the current public transit and para‐transit systems. Persons with
disabilities who live in an area that is not covered by these systems do not have other options and
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VII, PAGE 9
are very isolated and dependent on family and friends for all transportation needs. Not only does
this have an impact of their ability to socialize and access health care, it also impacts their ability
for employment and their choice in housing options. In addition, if an individual dependent on
public transit needs to go outside of the Fort Collins transit area, connecting to transit systems in
adjacent communities can be time consuming, confusing, and/or unavailable.
The current transit system in Fort Collins runs from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is closed on Sundays.
This schedule limits the ability of persons with disabilities to find jobs, work, and access
community activities during evenings and on Sundays.
Seniors
Fort Collins population. The 2012 ACS reported 12,458 seniors in Larimer County, making up
8 percent of the City’s population. The majority of the City’s seniors are between the ages of 65
and 74 (7,100 or 5% of the City’s population). About 14,000 residents are “near seniors”—
between the ages of 55 and 64. Fort Collins’ proportion of seniors is much smaller than Larimer
County’s as shown in Figure VII‐5.
Figure VII‐5.
Population of
Seniors and Near
Seniors, Fort Collins
and Larimer County,
2012
Source:
2012 ACS.
The Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) estimates population growth by age cohort at
the county level. By 2025, seniors are expected to make up 18 percent of Larimer County’s
residents, up from 13 percent currently. By 2030, the proportion will increase to 19 percent.
In total, the county is expected to have 30,600 more seniors by 2025 and 39,600 more by 2030.
If Fort Collins’ seniors grow at the same rate, the City could add 10,000 seniors by 2025 and
12,500 by 2030.
Total Population 148,634 100% 310,487 100%
Under 55 121,998 82% 230,470 74%
Near Seniors (55 to 64 years) 14,178 10% 40,362 13%
Seniors 12,458 8% 39,655 13%
65 to 74 years 7,136 5% 22,744 7%
75 to 84 years 3,587 2% 11,592 4%
85 years and over 1,735 1% 5,319 2%
Number % of Population Number % of Population
Fort Collins Larimer County
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VII, PAGE 10
Figure VII‐6.
Projected Growth in Seniors, Larimer County, 2025 and 2030
Source: Colorado Department of Local Affairs.
Characteristics of seniors. The City’s seniors are less likely to be living below the poverty line
than other age cohorts (the senior poverty rate is just 3.4%). And, the majority of the City’s
seniors is retired and may not need to work, according to the 2012 ACS: Of 65‐74 year olds, 29
percent work, 70 percent do not work and less than 1 percent are unemployed (desire to work
but cannot find work). Five percent of 75 year olds+ work, none are unemployed and 93 percent
are retired.
Figure VII‐7.
Labor Force Status of
Seniors, 2012
Source:
2012 ACS.
But seniors are much more likely to be disabled than other age cohorts, with 26 percent of
younger seniors and 51 percent reporting a disability. Altogether, more than 4,500 of the City’s
12,500 seniors have one or more disabilities. The most common disability types are hearing and
ambulatory, followed cognitive disabilities.
Seniors’ housing situation. According to a 2011 national report on older Americans conducted
by the federal Administration on Aging, 29 percent of seniors overall live alone and almost half
(47%) of senior women over the age of 75 live alone.
Figure VII‐8 shows the living arrangements of seniors in Fort Collins as of the 2010 Census.
About 40 percent of Fort Collins seniors live alone; 60 percent live with someone else, mostly a
family member.
Total Population 310,065 100% 394,234 100% 27% 424,834 100% 37%
Under 55 230,771 74% 284,327 72% 23% 304,734 72% 32%
Near Seniors (55 to 64 years) 39,916 13% 39,885 10% 0% 41,094 10% 3%
Seniors 39,378 13% 70,022 18% 78% 79,006 19% 101%
65 to 74 years 22,850 7% 39,551 10% 73% 39,920 9% 75%
75 to 84 years 11,372 4% 23,198 6% 104% 29,221 7% 157%
85 years and over 5,156 2% 7,273 2% 41% 9,865 2% 91%
Growth in number of seniors 30,644 39,628
Percent
Growth,
2012‐30
2030
Number
% of
Number Population
% of
Number Populatio
% of
Population
2012 2025 Percent
Growth,
2012‐25
Age
65‐74 years old 2,108 29.5% 60 0.8% 4,968 69.6%
75+ years old 378 5.3% 0 0.0% 4,944 92.9%
In Labor Force Unemployed Not in Labor Force
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VII, PAGE 11
Figure VII‐8.
Living Arrangements of Fort Collins
Seniors, 2012
Source:
2012 ACS.
Very few seniors live in institutional settings (e.g., nursing homes), and the number has been
declining. Nationwide, just one percent of 65‐74 year olds and 3.5 percent of 75‐84 year olds live
in institutional settings. Nursing homes are largely occupied by 85 year olds+, 13 percent of
whom live in institutional settings.
Similarly, despite a growing trend toward assisted living facilities, a very small proportion (2.4%
nationwide) of seniors live in senior housing with at least one supportive service available to
their residents.
Resources. There are many resources for seniors in Fort Collins, many of which are
coordinated through the Larimer County Office on Aging (LCOA). This section provides a broad
overview of those available. More detailed information can be found at the Larimer County Office
on Aging website and web links (http://www.larimer.org/seniors/)
Adult Resources for Care and Help, or ARCH, provides resources, including short term case
management, to seniors to help them remain independent.
The Family Caregiver Support Program supports family members who are caring for seniors in
their homes. This includes counseling, respite assistance and connecting the caregiver to support
groups.
The county also offers a Long Term Care Ombudsman program which matches professional
advocates with families to provide assistance and mediation with long term care facilities.
The county’s Senior Tax Work‐Off program allows low income residents age 60+ to work off up to
$400 or their property tax bill. Qualified seniors are placed in jobs within Larimer County
government offices; they also receive a stipend at the end of their service.
LCOA also helps coordinate Project Visibility, which trains administrators of nursing homes,
assisted living facilities, home care agencies and other providers of services to older adults about
LGBT seniors, their sensitivities and needs.
Other organizations that primarily serve seniors in the City include:
Elderhaus has two facilities that provide recreation and services to both special needs and
“higher‐energy” seniors. Services include transportation assistance, nutrition services,
programming for veterans, mobile health services and a Medicaid Benefit Helper program.
Rehabilitation Visiting Nurses Association (RVNA). RVNA is a home health care provider in
northern Colorado. The majority of seniors served are very low income and many have
disabilities and/or mental illnesses. The organization serves more than 200 Fort Collins seniors.
Living Arrangement
3,471 40%
5,114 60%
4,925 57%
189 2%
Living with others
Living with family member
Living with other than family member
Living alone
Number Percent
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VII, PAGE 12
Volunteer of America provides a variety of services to seniors including respite services,
households assistance (grocery shopping, handyman services), Meals on Wheels, congregate
dining and volunteer transportation.
Saint Volunteer Transportation (SAINT) provides transportation, through volunteers, to seniors in
Fort Collins and Loveland. About two‐thirds of seniors served are moderate to high income; 24
percent are low income. Many are physically and developmentally disabled and/or have mental
illnesses. The nonprofit provides an estimated 15,000 to 300 clients in Fort Collins.
A new program, known as the Larimer County Special Needs Population Registry, is a collaboration
of seven local agencies and the Cities of Fort Collins and Loveland. This program allows
individuals or family members to register persons who may need assistance to evacuate their
residence, in times of emergencies.
Finally, the City’s Senior Center provides life‐enhancing services to seniors at all income levels.
Senior housing. The City’s Consolidated Plan provides an inventory of senior housing options,
including 534 subsidized housing units or units that have reduced rents for the elderly, which
are also available to persons with disabilities; 560 independent living units; 538 assisted living
beds, and more than 750 nursing home beds in Fort Collins. The Consolidated Plan reports that
most of the nursing homes in Fort Collins accept Medicaid clients; most of assisted living
facilities do not.
There are seven housing developments that provide affordable housing units for the elderly or
frail elderly, accounting for more than 500 affordable units for seniors. In some cases, younger
persons with disabilities may reside in these units. There between 150 and 200 elderly
households on Housing Authority wait lists.
Gaps. Although there are a variety of services available to seniors in Fort Collins, gaps exist—
and are likely to worsen as the number of seniors doubles in the next 15 years. The primary gaps
include:
Limited housing options for grandfamilies. As discussed in the At‐Risk Youth section, as many as
900 grandparents in Fort Collins have grandchildren living in their homes; 224 are the primary
care givers to these children. Representatives of local grandfamily organizations report that
finding housing that will accommodate the needs of low income grandparents is very
challenging: 60 percent of grandfamilies who qualify for housing subsidies do not receive them,
according to a recent report on Best Practices in Grandfamily housing conducted by CSU
Extension in Larimer County. Subsidized senior housing facilities are generally small (1 bedroom
apartments) and do not allow children, nor do they offer the amenities children need
(playgrounds). The situation is more difficult for grandparents who have a disability and/or
have a grandchild with special needs.
Lack of visitable and accessible housing. Housing that is “visitable”—i.e., incorporates a zero‐
step entry, features that can be made accessible with little modification—allows seniors to age in
place with fewer challenges than traditional housing products, which have stairs, bathrooms that
are difficult to make accessible, etc.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VII, PAGE 13
As many as 2,000 Fort Collins households expressed a need for accessibility improvements in the
survey conducted for the City’s recent fair housing study; many of these households are seniors.
The need for accessibility improvements will increase in the next 15‐20 as the relatively large
cohort of “near seniors” ages.
Finally, between 150 and 200 seniors are in need of affordable rental housing, based on wait list
information from the Fort Collins Housing Authority. At the time this report was prepared, 182
seniors were on the wait list for public housing and 149 were waiting for Section 8 vouchers.
Because the wait list has been closed for some time, these numbers are likely lower‐bound
estimates of need.
Growing demand for social service supports and transportation. As the senior population in
Larimer County and Fort Collins more than doubles in the next 15 years, demands for services
will increase dramatically. The services more likely to be needed are in‐home health care and
household supports (since many seniors age in place) and transportation assistance, including
public transit. SAINT identifies volunteer recruitment, as well as lack of paratransit between Fort
Collins and Loveland and limited transit in greater Larimer County, as a major barrier to
transportation assistance for seniors in the county and person with disabilities.
Lack of affordable rental housing. Low income seniors also face a gap in affordable rentals, as
well as Medicaid‐supported beds in assisted living facilities. As discussed in Section I, there is a
shortage of more than 8,000 affordable rentals for low income households in Fort Collins. This
gap affects seniors as much as other low income households. Assisted living facilities are
generally too expensive for low income seniors unless they have some type of subsidy for the
facility.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VII, PAGE 14
Victims of Domestic Violence
Definition. Victims of domestic violence are those residents who have experienced, in the
terms of the CDC, “intimate partner violence” or IPV. For the purposes of this section, victims
include adults who have been subjected to IPV (youth are covered in the section on At‐Risk
Youth).
Prevalence. Local data on the prevalence of IPV are generally difficult to find due to privacy
rights and reluctance of some victims to discuss or report IPV. The volume of calls to help lines,
women and men receiving counseling and victims seeking shelter provide an indication of a
point in time estimate of need. Surveys are necessary to estimate lifetime prevalence rates and
the long term effects of such IPV.
National prevalence. At the national level, the CDC collects national data on lifetime prevalence
of IPV through the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS).4 This ongoing,
nationally representative survey collects information about the IPV experiences of English‐ or
Spanish‐speaking men and women age 18 years and older. The most recent survey data are as of
2010 and include state prevalence rates. These data are used to estimate the number of IPV
victims in Fort Collins.
Victims of domestic violence are disproportionately likely to be women—but it is a
misconception that all victims are women. A 2010 national survey by the CDC reported that 25
percent of women nationwide have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate
partner, compared to 14 percent of men. Gender differences are smaller when all types of
physical violence and psychological violence are factored in. For example, nationally 36 percent
of women and 29 percent of men have experienced rape, other physical violence, and/or stalking
by an intimate partner in their lifetime according to the CDC survey. In Colorado, the lifetime
prevalence is similar by gender: 33 percent for women and 29 percent for men.
National estimates on number of people in the U.S. who have experienced physical violence by
an intimate partner at some point in their life are reported in Figure VII‐9. These estimates of
IPV may appear high upon a first read—yet the prevalence of domestic violence has been well
documented nationally, especially for women. Studies consistently find the prevalence of
physical violence against women to range from approximately one‐quarter to one‐third of adult
women.1,5
4 “National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey,” Center for Disease Control, National Center for Injury Prevention and
Control, 2010.
5 “Full Report of the Prevalence, Incidence and Consequences of Violence Against Women,” Findings from the National Violence
Against Women Survey, U.S. Department of Justice, 2000.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VII, PAGE 15
Figure VII‐9.
Number of Victims and Prevalence of Violence by an Intimate Partner, U.S. Women and Men, 2010
Source: National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, Center for Disease Control, 2010.
By race and ethnicity. The reported prevalence of domestic violence is highest for female victims
who are Multiracial (54% according to the NISVS), American Indian/Alaskan Native (46%) and
African American (44%). These compare to rates for white women of 35 percent and, Hispanic
women, 37 percent.
For men, the rates are highest for American Indian/Alaskan Natives (45%), Multiracial and
African American (both 39%). White and Hispanic men report the lowest rates of victimization
at 28 and 27 percent, respectively.
Fort Collins population. Approximately 20,000 women and 16,800 men in Fort Collins are
estimated to have experienced IPV violence at some point in their lives. These numbers are
based on State of Colorado lifetime prevalence rates from the CDC applied to the Fort Collins
population of women and men 18 years and older.
Statewide prevalence rates also suggest that in any given year, an estimated 3,600 women and
2,900 men in Fort Collins experience IPV.6
It should be noted that the number of women experiencing IPV in Fort Collins at a point in time
may be higher than that nationally because the City’s age distribution is skewed towards 18‐24
year olds, the age range during which IPV most commonly occurs for the first time. 7
Community demand for services. Although the supportive and housing services needed by IPV
victims vary, generally, all need health care and counseling immediately following the event and
continued mental health support to assist with the traumatic stress disorder related to the event.
Victims may also require assistance with substance abuse and mental health services, both of
which are common among IPV victims. Affordable housing is also critical: the National Alliance
6 These rates are based on national 12 month prevalence rates (state 12 month rates are not available).
7 For example, the NISVS survey reports that 48 percent of bisexual women who had been raped were ages11 to 17 when it
occurred; 33 percent were between the ages of 18 and 24. Similarly, 28 percent of heterosexual women were first victimized
when they were between 11 and 17 years old; 38 percent were victimized when they were 18 to 24 years old.
Prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence
% Experiencing Rape, Physical Violence and/or
Stalking 36% 29% 6% 5%
# of Victims 42,420,000 32,280,000 6,982,000 5,691,000
Type of Violence Experienced
Slapped, pushed or shoved 34,943,000 27,989,000
Severe physical violence (e.g., kicked, beaten) 27,882,000 14,915,000
Rape 21,840,000 1,581,000
Psychological aggression 55,447,000 54,091,000
# of Women
Victimized
# of Men
Victimized
Women Men
Lifetime Prevalence 12 months
Women Men
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VII, PAGE 16
to End Homelessness argues that a “strong investment in housing is crucial [to victims of
domestic violence]…so that the family or woman is able to leave the shelter system as quickly as
possible without returning to the abuse.” This includes permanently affordable rentals as well as
transitional housing that can been accessed quickly, when needed by victims fleeing violence.
The Alliance also reports that studies on homelessness have shown a correlation between
domestic violence and homelessness.8
Based on the 12 month prevalence of IPV and above service needs, if 3,600 Fort Collins women
and 2,900 men experience IPV annually, approximately 550 (300 women and 250 men) would
need services on a monthly basis. This compares to the 202 adults and 21 children who sought
and received services through Crossroads Safehouse’s counseling program.
Domestic violence can have lasting effects. The 2010 CDC survey found that IPV victims were
more likely to report frequent headaches, chronic pain, difficulty sleeping, activity limitation,
poor physical health and poor mental health, at rates higher than those who did not experience
IPV violence.
The NIPSVS estimates that 29 percent of Colorado women experiencing IPV, or 547,000 women,
have IPV‐related health impacts. These impacts include fear or concern for safety (28%), Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder (22%), and injury or need for medical care (15%). This rate applied to
Fort Collins’ population of women 18 years and older suggests that as many as 5,800 female
adult residents of the City have IPV‐related health challenges.
The long term health costs of IPV is unclear, because it is difficult to separate out health care
problems that are directly related to IPV. It is likely, though, that the negative impacts of IPV are
felt throughout the broader community in health care costs, missed time at work and school and
lasting psychological effects on children and victims.
Resources. Fort Collins is fortunate to have one of the largest providers of domestic violence
services in the State of Colorado. Crossroads Safehouse is Larimer County’s largest and oldest
safehouse. The nonprofit has been in operation since 1980.
Crossroads provides:
An emergency hotline for crisis intervention, available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week with
language translation services,
A safehouse with emergency shelter (81 emergency beds that allow up to a 6 week stay and
21 longer‐term beds, with up to a 6 month stay)
Transitional housing for up to two years (25 vouchers through the Fort Collins Housing
Authority),
Counseling services (202 unduplicated adults served in 2012),
A unique program, Crosstrails, that provides emergency shelter/foster homes for pets
belonging to Safehouse residents.
8 http://www.endhomelessness.org/pages/domestic_violence.
BBC RESEARCH & CONSULTING SECTION VII, PAGE 17
The Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center, or SAVA, is also located in Fort Collins. The
organization assists victims of sexual assault though crisis intervention, advocacy and
counseling. SAVA also maintains a 24‐hour hotline for victims and has a large education and
outreach component that includes educational programs in schools.
SAVA reports that the greatest needs of their clients are mental health services, rental assistance,
and—the most critical—emergency housing and transportation to the Medical Center of the
Rockies. For the organization, sustainable sources of funding are needed to be able to increase
school programming, add staff (bilingual, therapist), provide on‐site medical services and fund
client transportation services.
Many other organizations in the City serve residents who have experienced IPV, including health
care providers (both physical and mental health), job training centers, assisted housing
providers and the many programs that assist persons living in poverty.
Gaps. The service and housing demands, needs and gaps for residents who have experienced
IPV are summarized in the following graphic. One of the most noticeable gaps in service is for
victimized men. There are no domestic violence shelters in Fort Collins who only serve men.
Prevalence rates suggest that as many as 2,900 men experienced domestic violence in the City in
the past year.
Housing Stock
Renter
Purchase
Gap
Renters Who Want
to Buy: Max
Affordable Home
$80,916 Actual median
income
2000
OWNERS
< $40,000/year need assistance)
● Subsidized housing for families
● Housing and supportive services for youth aging out of foster
care
● Counseling, mental heath, substance abuse services
(likely to increase when program eligibility changes to 130% of poverty level)
Of children ages 1-14
who ate fast food 1+
times/week
65%
Not in labor
force
Persons per
household
1
2
3
4
5
Poverty
threshold
$11,490
$15,510
$19,530
$23,550
$27,570
6 $31,590
What is
the
federal
poverty
level?