Construction at 2700 Wewatta, in Denver, is officially underway! This building will provide 56 units of supportive housing to transition-age youth (18-24) who are at risk of/or experiencing homelessness. The 2700 Wewatta project will follow the same successful model as 1440 Pine, in Boulder; providing safe, affordable, stable housing paired with supportive services to help young adults move from homelessness to self-sufficiency.
To celebrate this milestone, Pennrose, Rivet Development Partners, and TGTHR held a groundbreaking celebration on March 16. Speakers at the groundbreaking ceremony included Shannon Cox Baker, regional vice president at Pennrose and managing partner at Rivet Development Partners; Laura Brudzynski, chief housing officer, executive director of Department of Housing Stability, City of Denver; Kathryn Grosscup, manager, Housing Tax Credit for CHFA; Julia Zaffarano, housing portfolio manager, Dept. of Local Affairs, Division of Housing; Dominique Jackson, regional administrator with U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development; Elly Johnson, chief program officer for TGTHR; Savanaha G., youth engagement peer specialist VISTA member with TGTHR; and Timothy I. Henkel, president and principal for Pennrose.
A key component of the development is the onsite delivery of trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate supportive services intended to promote housing stability among youth and aid in the transition to independent living. As the chosen service provider, TGTHR will offer life skills support, substance use counseling, family engagement services, employment and education assistance, social-emotional support, and a variety of independent and group activities to foster a positive community at 2700 Wewatta. Several community partners will also offer on-site medical, behavioral, and mental health care as well as legal assistance.
“Creating supportive housing for transition-age youth is a unique solution and one TGTHR is thrilled to be a part of. This building will allow young people to transition from homelessness into safe and stable housing and the wraparound supportive services that TGTHR provides will support youth to thrive and reach their goals,” said Elly Johnson, chief program officer for TGTHR. “We are excited to partner with developers like Pennrose and Rivet Development Partners in this mission.”
The one and two-bedroom apartments at 2700 Wewatta will be income-restricted for a minimum of 60 years to households earning 0-50% of the area median income, up to $41,000 for a single-occupant household in Denver.
“I am committed to creating more housing options for every budget, especially near transit and employment opportunities like these 56-new affordable units will offer. 2700 Wewatta takes a unique and comprehensive approach to ensure residents not only have stable housing but additional high-quality resources to support future success,” said Governor Polis. “Thank you to all the partners that have come together to make this transformative opportunity for young Coloradans possible.”
The 2700 Wewatta project brings us one step closer to creating a world in which every young person has a place to live, employment, access to education, wellness, and a supportive community. Thank you for participating and supporting this movement to end youth homelessness. Together, our efforts will make a powerful difference in the lives of young people.
