THE ALPHA
IMPACT INITIATIVE
HOUSING IS THE NUMBER
ONE DRIVER OF NEED
At FISH, we see the effects of the housing crisis every day in the lives of our neighbors in need who come to us for help. The housing crisis is truly an emergency–like a flood or a fire–with desperate families on the brink of eviction, or worse, already living in their cars or on the streets because of the lack of affordable units and rising costs of rent. FISH is part of a collaborative group of partners–Broomfield Housing Alliance, the City and County, other local nonprofits, and local churches and faith-based organizations–working on housing solutions for the future.
ONLY 1%
OF HOMES SOLD IN 2021 were affordable to households earning less than $112,000 per year.
The vast majority of low-income residents must rent housing. According to Roots Policy Research data, approximately 35% of all Broomfield households are renter-occupied.
RENTAL COSTS IN BROOMFIELD
INCREASED 75%
IN THE PAST 10 YEARS
Rents have risen dramatically, making it more challenging for people to make ends meet. The Roots study shows that rental costs in Broomfield have increased 75% and the average 2023 rent in Broomfield was approximately $2,020 per month.
MORE THAN
3,200
RENTER HOUSEHOLDS
IN BROOMFIELD are cost-burdened and are at risk of becoming unhoused.
Eviction rates are skyrocketing and exacerbating an already devastating homelessness problem.
CLOSE TO
300
BROOMFIELD RESIDENTS
experienced homelessness
in 2023.
The hourly wage to be self-sufficient for a family with one adult, one preschooler, and one school age child is $44.02.
PREVENTING
HUNGER
Food security is a critical issue in our community. In FY2023, FISH distributed 1,560,603 pounds of food to neighbors in need. FISH has a large, self-shop marketplace where participants can select food with dignity and respect. FISH also collaborates with Community Food Share to run a Mobile Pantry, and delivers food to those who have barriers to access. FISH works with residents to make sure they have access to fresh, healthy foods, which are essential to whole family wellness.
STABALIZING
HOUSING
FISH participants often spend more than 70% of their monthly income on housing costs. Our programs seek to stabilize families in existing housing and prevent homelessness. In FY2023, FISH provided housing stability to 734 Broomfield residents. FISH also worked collaboratively with the City and County of Broomfield in a hotel voucher program for residents facing emergencies and with Almost Home and the Refuge in the Severe Weather Activation Program (SWAP) for cold weather care.
SUPPORTING
ECONOMIC SUCCESS
FISH offers emergency financial assistance and family development programs that provide low-income residents the support they need to achieve two- generational, whole-family success. The purpose of Family Resource Centers across the country is to foster healthy communities by focusing on individuals’ selfdetermination and building upon participants’ strengths. We work with our participants to plan programming that promotes overall self-sufficiency
THOUGHTFUL
PARTNERSHIPS
FISH partners with more than 30 community organizations to ensure that we are a single, friendly point of contact to help neighbors in need. We strongly believe in community collaboration to achieve whole-family wellness and use referrals to partners to connect our participants to a wide variety of high quality support.
