Shenna Fitzgerald, Boulder County.  A group of local human service organizations, known as the Peak to Peak Housing and Human Services Task Force, are working together to expand the geographic reach of critical human services to Boulder County’s mountain communities and meet the needs of low-income residents in these rural areas. Working in tandem with the Task Force, Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA) has hired a Mountain Resources Liaison to bring more human services to people who may not otherwise have access to them.

Other organizations in the collaborative are Foothills United Way, Boulder County Housing and Human Services, and the Nederland Food Pantry. Their work is the culmination of a year-long project to better understand and meet the unique needs of Boulder County’s mountain communities.

“Many low-income mountain residents are not able to access basic services because of geographic limitations, so their critical needs for food, housing, and access to employment and health care can go unmet,” says Amy Hardy, Community Resilience Director at Foothills United Way, and a driving force behind the collaborative. “We are working together to break down barriers to access for mountain folks in need.”

Long-time mountain resident Kristi Venditti has been hired as the Mountain Resources Liaison. In this role, Ms. Venditti will bring case management, EFAA services and other Boulder County benefits to mountain clients. By being in the mountain communities, Ms. Venditti can bring services to more people who are not able to get to Boulder, gain more on-the-ground insight into the unique issues facing mountain residents, and continue to form important partnerships. People interested in contacting Ms. Venditti for assistance with services can contact her via email at kristi@efaa.org.

“Countywide we work hard to make sure that EFAA services match community need,” says Julie Van Domelen, EFAA’s Executive Director. “This collaborative effort with our partners expands our interface and ability to do this in the mountain communities. It means that fewer people will slip through the cracks, like those who are not able to come to Boulder for services.”

As the Mountain Resources Liaison, Ms. Venditti will work in and travel between Boulder County mountain communities in the Boulder Valley School District, including Nederland, Eldora, Ward, Gold Hill, Jamestown, Eldorado Canyon, Sugarloaf, Sunshine Canyon, Salina and other unincorporated Boulder County areas.

The collaborative is made possible by funding from The Community Foundation Serving Boulder County, Boulder County Housing and Human Services, EFAA, and the Nederland Food Bank.

EFAA has been dedicated to helping residents of Boulder and Broomfield Counties meet their basic needs since 1918 and acts as a safety net for families, individuals, people with disabilities and seniors. EFAA operates 53 emergency and transitional shelter units, provides food, rent assistance, utilities assistance, furniture, and supports clients’ efforts toward financial stability and self-sufficiency through long-term and short-term casework, education and advocacy.  For more information please visit www.efaa.org or connect with EFAA Needs on Facebook and Twitter.

The Peak to Peak Housing and Human Services Task Force is a collaborative between local service organizations working to improve access to human services for the residents of the Peak to Peak area. Over the last two years, this group has transition from the Nederland-specific Mayor’s Task group to serving the Peak to Peak region. Working members of the group include several non-profits, groups and municipalities.

Shenna Fitzgerald is the Communications Manager for the EFFA. She can be reached by phone at 303-951-7677 or by email: shenna@effa.org.