The Action Center Provides Shelter For 11 Homeless Students

The Action Center welcomes 11 Red Rock students to a new innovative shelter called the Launch Pad, which provides a new home for these students who were previously homelessness or in need of shelter.

Manifest through a partnership between The Action Center and Red Rocks Community College, the newly updated homeless shelter in Lakewood has opened to the students who are close to or experiencing homelessness by offering them everything from a place to sleep and keep belongings, to study spaces, common space bathrooms, laundry, a kitchen and WiFi. The shelter has also received upgrades with a fresh coat of paint and some remodeling, thanks in part to the work and contributions of the West Colfax Community Association and other community partners.

A 2018 study by the Wisconsin Hope Lab showed that, “roughly 1 in 10 college and university students experienced homelessness in the previous year.”

Pam Brier, the Executive Director of The Action Center said in an interview with CBS, “We have this building; they have a growing population of students who don’t have secure housing. It was just a wonderful match. School is stressful anyway for the student who isn’t worried about finances, that isn’t worried about where their next meal is. Add those things on top of the demands of studying, working with other students, and you can imagine how difficult it is to succeed.“

The Action Center is still seeking community support to help elevate these students to not only complete school, but also leave the shelter with the skills they need after their courses end. You can get involved by checking out there wishlist for items including everything from bedsheets and towels to kitchen essentials.

Consider helping out here: https://smile.amazon.com/hz/charitylist/ls/9BKKT9OFBKTT, or you can make a monetary gift by visiting cogives.org/theactioncenterco.

Sources: CBS