October 6, 2010

Community effort to build $4 million assistance center in Greeley

Catholic Charities’ Guadalupe Center to get new facility

By Julie Filby

Since mid-April, churches, foundations, corporations and individuals in Greeley and the surrounding area have contributed $1 million to help finance Catholic Charities’ new Guadalupe Community Assistance Center.

“It (the fundraising effort) has been miraculous in many ways, particularly because of the economic situation,” said Stephen Carattini, chief operating officer for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Denver. “It’s clear the people of Weld County recognize their obligation to help those in need. It’s a wonderful example for the rest of us in Colorado.”

The center to be to be built at 1442 N. 11th Ave. in Greeley, will replace the existing shelter at 1516 N. 25th Ave.

On the morning of Sept. 30, approximately 100 supporters, donors and elected officials gathered to break ground on the $4 million, 12,500-square-foot facility.

The ceremony included a proclamation read by Greeley Mayor Tom Norton; a blessing by Father Reinhold Weissbeck, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Greeley; and a letter from Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M., Cap. read by Jonathan Reyes, president of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Denver.
Fundraising for the project began five years ago. To spearhead efforts, more than 30 civic and faith leaders came together to form The Community Campaign, chaired by former county commissioner Mike Geile, a member of Trinity Episcopal Church; and Ralph Kreitler, a parishioner of St. Mary’s.

“Campaign members are from all faiths, but have one thing in common: they are all compassionate individuals who have dedicated their time and talent to an important quality-of-life need in the community,” said Enita Kearns-Hout, Weld County regional director of Catholic Charities.

More than 70 priests, ministers and other faith leaders in Weld County supported the efforts by endorsing a half-page newspaper ad donated by the Greeley Tribune. In the ad, they appealed to their congregations, and the entire community, to support “an opportunity to do good” (based on Galatians 6:10).

“Every few days we get a donation with the pledge card (from the Tribune) from the partnership of faith leaders,” said Kearns-Hout. “It’s been a humbling experience to open envelopes with checks from $4 to $100,000.”

While the existing 38-bed shelter has ministered to thousands of people in Weld County since opening in 1987, research determined a larger facility was needed to help serve the estimated 2,500-3,000 homeless men, women and children in the county.

“There’s no question about the need in Weld County,” said Carattini. “We realized our current shelter was not sufficient—it’s very old, poorly located, hard to get to.”

The new three-story, 60-bed facility will be four times the size of the existing center. It will combine emergency shelter with support services—helping move clients to self-sufficiency by providing case management, advocacy services, life skills classes, job searches and affordable housing research. It will be located on the city’s bus route and within walking distance to public services such as the human services department and Weld Food Bank.

“We hope people will perceive the shelter as a welcoming and safe place to come to get the support, healing, and encouragement they need to work themselves out of a crisis,” said Kearns-Hout.

The project, designed by Fort Collins architectural firm John Dengler & Associates, is expected to be completed Oct. 1, 2011. Construction services will be provided by Hensel Phelps Construction Company.

Catholic Charities has been serving people of all faiths, backgrounds and cultures in Weld County since 1975.