Overview

Jeffco Action Center fulfills its mission to provide an immediate response to basic human needs and to promote pathways to self-sufficiency through a variety of client services. The broad range of these services aims to meet the various needs of clients.

Clients in need of help are encouraged to visit the Action Center at 8755 West 14th Ave, Lakewood, CO 80215. This location provides almost all of Jeffco Action Center's services. Please bring photo identification and proof of residency (electric bill, cable bill, etc.) to receive help. All clients must sign in at the front desk and wait to meet with a counselor who helps connect clients to services.

List of Services

Basic Services

• Food Bank
• Senior Food Commodities
• Clothing Bank
• Household and Personal Care Items
• Bus Tokens

Health Navigators

Homeless Shelter

Tenant/Landlord Counseling

Financial Assistance

• Rent
• Utility Assistance
• Colorado Photo Identification and Birth Certificates
• Prescription Assistance

Seasonal Services

• School Supply Distribution
• Thanksgiving Food Distribution
• Santa Shop

Partners

• Red Rocks Community College
• Estes Street Community Clinic
• Jefferson County Department of Human Services
• Volunteers of America - Meals on Wheels

 

 

Basic Services

Food Bank

Jeffco Action Center’s food bank provides a five-day supply of food to a household up to six times annually. The goal of the food bank is to provide a nutritionally balanced supply of food.

It is the largest service program that Jeffco Action Center offers. Each day, the Action Center distributes 3 tons of food that is equivalent to more than 900 grocery bags.  

In addition to the many one-time food donations dropped off by local businesses throughout the week, the Action Center has nearly 40 regularly scheduled food pickups that keep the food pantry shelves stocked.

Senior Food Commodities

Seniors can receive a special food box once a month through the Action Center. This is a federal program that provides a variety of food items that includes, but is not limited to, cereal, dry milk, cheese, canned goods and juice.

Jeffco Action Center is a distribution site. This program is a partnership between the Action Center and Food Bank of the Rockies who is the federal sponsor. Seniors must register and confirm eligibility at Jeffco Action Center prior to participation.
 
Qualifications:

• Must meet income level requirements, please click to download a PDF form here for more information.
• 60 years of age or older
• Resident of Jefferson County
• Photo ID

Please note, participants can only be registered at one distribution site.

Clothing Bank

The Action Center's Clothing Bank has new and used clothing for men, women, children and infants.Clients may "shop" every 30 days for their entire household. Clients may choose up to 15 articles of clothing each visit for a total of 60 items per family.

The Clothing Bank offers a variety of clothing, including shoes, new underwear and work attire. There are limits on some items, for example, jeans and coats.

 

Household and Personal Care Items

Jeffco Action Center provides a variety of items that are often taken for granted such as pots, pans, forks, spoons, small electronic items (radios), sheets, blankets, etc. The inventory of these items changes day to day based on donations.

Personal care items are distributed as one package of items annually. This package includes a full range of health and hygiene items, soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, etc.

Specialized packets are available for homeless individuals based on their specific needs.

All household and personal care items are requested through counselors.

Bus Tokens

Clients needing transportation assistance may receive bus tokens by requesting them through counselors. This service is limited to one round trip up to 8 times a year. Bus tokens are provided for specific transportation needs such as:  

• Attending medical appointments
• Seeking human services
• Seeking employment-related services or training
• Attending school-related activities

 

Health Navigators

The Jeffco Action Center Health Navigator program educates clients on health related issues and refers them to appropriate providers.

Health Navigators spend time with clients teaching them to manage their own health. Clients are informed about a range of services including education, referrals and financial assistance with selected prescriptions.

Health Navigators conduct outreach in the lobby, educating clients on different topics each week and distributing health information.

While the Health Navigators provide health-related education, the Action Center is not a medical facility and is not licensed to provide medical services.

 

 

 

Shelter

The Jeffco Action Center shelter is an emergency shelter program for men, women, and children in single, couple, or family units. The shelter program has operated since 1985. A newly-built facility was dedicated in May 1997 and provides private sleeping quarters.  Families and couples can stay together in specially-designated rooms.  Clients have access to services at Jeffco Action Center's main facility.

Guests at the shelter are fed two nutritious meals daily in the community dining area and prepare a sack lunch to take with them the following day. Laundry facilities are available for client use. Guests can relax in the evening on the patio which includes a play area for children.

The shelter program is an asset based program that rewards clients with incentives for accomplishing weekly goals that the client develops in a transition plan while staying in the shelter. Clients perform chores in the common areas during their stay.  Clients may stay in the shelter up to 45 days. They must be looking for work or be working and saving their money. This enables them to move into their own home at the end of their stay.

 

Requirements for Consideration in the Program

Although we wish that we could provide shelter for everyone it is not possible, because residents are with us for up to 45 days. We do not have a waiting list.
Due to the number of calls daily, messages can not be returned for shelter availability and rooms can not be promised to anyone.

Clients must phone 720-407-6670 daily to see if there are any rooms available in the shelter program. When there is a room and the client’s household fits the size of the room available, then the client must come to the Action Center before noon. At that time the client will be screened along with all other clients and then the Manager of Shelter Programs will decide after the screening who is the best candidate for the Shelter Program.

• Must have a photo ID, Birth Certificate or something that proves identity to be considered for the Shelter Program
• Must pass a background check with no history of violence (to be determined during screening and background check) or sex crimes
• Must be able to work or be currently working
• Must be able and willing to complete at least one chore daily
• Must be able to work within the shelter community with a very diverse population
• Must be in the shelter by 8:00pm unless they have prior permission from the Manager of Shelter Programs
• Must be a positive member of the shelter community
• Must be able to participate in scheduled meetings, groups and workshops
• Must create and follow a transition plan to become self sufficient
• Must abstain from drugs and alcohol while in the program
• Must be stable on all medications

Shelter Client Stories

If you are in need of shelter and are nervous at the prospect of living in a shelter, know that you are not alone. Many clients come to us after struggling to live in their vehicles or on the street. These clients had many fears and reservations about coming to us for aid. Please take a moment to read some of these stories from people who needed a place to get their situation under control.

• Bill
• Dan and Judy
• Jimmy
• Donny

 

Volunteers

Volunteers assist the shelter manager with meals, housekeeping, group activities and dispensing incentives and personal items. Let us know if you have any additional skills that would be useful in assisting clients toward self sufficiency. Click here for more information about volunteering.

>Ways to Help

The shelter program works best with the thoughtful donations from the community. There are several ways to help the shelter break the cycle of poverty.

• Financial Donations
• In-kind Items
• Provide meals

 

Tenant/Landlord Counseling

Jeffco Action Center's Tenant / Landlord Counseling program offers call-in service concerning tenant or landlord rights and obligations under Colorado law. Experienced and qualified individuals provide free assistance to clients needing help on tenant landlord issues

The counseling program is not a substitute for professional lawyer representation, but it does offer assistance with a variety of questions concerning tenants/landlords.

 

Contact Information

The counseling program is administered remotely. Clients who need help should call 303-237-0230 and leave a message. Counselors return messages Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 am to 3:00 pm (except holidays.) If your need is urgent, you should call your attorney.

While the office welcomes phone calls from anywhere within the state of Colorado, we cannot accept reverse charge calls.

 

Additional Information 

Brochures:

Basic Tenant Rights (PDF - 47KB)

Basic Landlord Rights (PDF - 47KB)

Common Tenant-Landlord Problems (PDF - 56KB)

Evictions & Security Deposits (PDF - 71KB)

Renter Inspection Guide (PDF - 47KB)

Topics:

Unlawful Detainer, Evictions

Security Deposits

Frequently Asked Questions

Repairs and Maintenance

Lease and Roommate Agreements

 

Financial Assistance

Rent Assistance

Clients may receive one-time rental assistance from the Action Center in order to prevent being evicted from their dwellings. This program is limited in funding and not offered every day. Please contact the Action Center for more information.

Utilities Assistance

Jeffco Action Center Utility Assistance Information Line 720-407-6674

Please read carefully as the process to receive utility assistance from Jeffco Action Center has changed significantly.

To be eligible for utility assistance at Jeffco Action Center you must:

• Be a resident of Jefferson County
• Have a photo ID and your Xcel bill
• Be at least ONE day overdue with your Xcel bill (and show it)
• Have the Xcel bill in your name or you must be a listed household member with Xcel
• During the winter months, you must have applied for LEAP and have an acceptance or denial letter.  

You are NOT eligible for assistance if:

• You have received Energy Outreach Colorado funds since Nov. 1, 2009.  That may include assistance from other organizations such as the Salvation Army or Catholic Charities.
• Your bill exceeds $2,000.00
• You or someone in your household has received utility assistance from Jeffco Action Center in the past.  This is a once in a lifetime service at Jeffco Action Center, NO EXCEPTIONS.

If you meet all of the criteria for assistance:

• Call Jeffco Action Center's Utility Assistance Information Line at 720-407-6674.
• Leave a message clearly stating only your name and a phone number where you can be reached directly (staff will not leave messages).
• The first 15 individuals that meet the criteria for assistance will be contacted every Monday between 1-4pm to set up an appointment.
• If you have not spoken directly to a staff member on Monday by 4pm, you will need to call back and leave another message starting on Tuesday at 8:30am.
• The phone line will open up every Tuesday at 8:30am and remain open until Friday at 5pm. 
• You only need to leave ONE message. Multiple messages will NOT assist with you getting an appointment for assistance. 

If you have an urgent medical emergency that requires your utilities be kept on, please contact Xcel at 1-800-331-5262.

The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) can be reached:

• By calling 1-866-432-8435
• By visiting Jefferson County Department of Human Services at 900 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden, 303-271-4006.  
  

 

Colorado Photo Identification/Birth Certificate

The lack of legal identification and/or birth certificates impedes individuals from obtaining or maintaining legal and lawful employment. Without legal identification individuals may not access health care services, apply for public benefits or obtain housing.

Adults may receive financial assistance to get a Colorado ID or Colorado birth certificate when funding is available (one per household.)

Prescription Assistance

Jeffco Action Center offers limited assistance to individuals who can't afford to purchase their own prescriptions. Prescriptions are limited to essential mediations such as asthma inhalers, seizure medicines, cardiac drugs and the like on a one time basis. The Action Center is unable to provide financial assistance for narcotics or psychotropic medications.

Jeffco Action Center is not a medical facility, nor does it practice medicine.

 

Seasonal Services

Jeffco Action Center provides a range of seasonal services as part of its prevention focus. Several times of the year, clients need to make additional one-time purchases that can be difficult on a limited budget. The Action Center steps in during these times to help prevent clients from making a difficult decision such as deciding between paying a bill or buying school supplies. These services ultimately reduce the amount of need that clients could potentially have if they bought these items on their own when late bills escalate due to interest and late fees.

All clients needing these services need to be pre-registered before the day of the event.

School Supplies

Every August, the Action Center helps more than 4,000 Jefferson County students start off the new school year right with brand new school supplies. Donations came from churches, individuals, businesses and even some teachers.

Jefferson County Schools have a large need for school supplies. Annually, the district has more than 2,000 children who are homeless during the school year. There are more than 20,000 children on the free and/or reduced lunch program. Approximately 1 in 5 children in Jefferson County schools are in the program.

According to the National Retail Federation’s 2008 Back to School Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, the average family with school-aged children will spend $594.24 on back-to-school purchases, a 5.5 percent increase over the previous year. Experts agree that students who lack the supplies they need and feel unprepared are more likely to be emotionally disconnected from school.

Thanksgiving Food Boxes

Jeffco Action Center provides Thanksgiving Food Boxes on the Saturday before Thanksgiving in November. Pre-registered individuals are given the fixings to prepare a Thanksgiving dinner for their household. Families will also be given a turkey, ham or certificate towards the purchase of a turkey or holiday ham from their local grocer.

While, the economic savings from this dinner is about $45 for a dinner of 10, according to the American Fam Bureau, the emotional impact for families is immeasurable. Last year more than 1,625 families received Thanksgiving meals from Jeffco Action Center.

Santa Shop

Each year more than 3,000 Jefferson County children receive presents from the Santa Shop. The shop is setup each December with donated toys from the community. Parents and legal guardians of children from one day to 12 years old can then "shop" for gifts that ensure a positive, happy holiday season. Items are limited and based on size of family as well as the age of children.

Client Privacy

The notices below describe how information about clients may be used and disclosed. It also includes information about how they can get access to that information. If you have questions about the client privacy policy, please call the Manager of Client Services at 303-237-7704, ext. 209 or send an e-mail to brookew@jeffcoac.org.

Client Privacy Notice

Client Privacy Notice (Spanish)