One year ago, we opened the doors to Nest56, our 56-unit supportive housing complex in Denver, marking a pivotal moment in our mission to end youth homelessness. As we celebrate this milestone, we’re reflecting on a year filled with growth, community, and the strength of the young people who have called Nest56 home.
A Year of Transformation
This past year has been about creating more than just housing. We’ve built a safe haven where young people aged 18-24 can rebuild their lives after experiencing homelessness or navigating foster care or juvenile justice systems.
Nest56 has stably housed 69 young people over the past 12 months, providing them with not just four walls and a roof, but a comprehensive support system designed to help them transition to full independence.
The name “Nest” captures exactly what we hoped to create: a place that emphasizes comfort and stability while encouraging growth and independence. And we’ve been elated to watch young people spread their wings here.
What makes Nest56 truly special isn’t just the housing – it’s the wraparound services and sense of community we’ve fostered. Over the past year, our tenants have participated in 696 individual behavioral health sessions and 1,666 life-skills workshops covering everything from emotional regulation and mental wellness to financial literacy, job readiness, and cooking. Watching young people gain confidence as they master essential skills and navigate adulthood is incredibly rewarding.
In addition, we provided 257 hours of employment support and 98 hours of education support. This includes helping young people apply for jobs, write a resume, navigate secondary schooling options, prepare for an interview, and anything else that is needed to help them be more prepared for the world.
Nest56 isn’t just about individual growth; it’s about building connections and forming relationships that will serve as a protective factor for each young person as they go into the world. Throughout the year, we’ve fostered community through movie nights, tenant field trips, and countless moments of celebration and support. These experiences remind us that relationships are at the heart of everything we do.
Voices from Our Community
The impact of Nest56 is best told through the voices of the young people who live here:
“I moved in when the building opened last June. I was in foster care, where you feel like you are just a case, and then I aged out and didn’t really know what to do without that support. The independence here is like a big weight off the shoulders.” — Isaiah
“Living here has been life-changing for me, because I have spent so much of my life bouncing around from place to place, and I never felt safe until now. It’s given me the opportunity to focus on my mental health and developing myself professionally so I can finally enter the workforce in a good place and be truly productive.” — Sky
“Moving into my apartment at Nest56 was beyond my expectations. Before living here, I was staying in shelters, and it was scary because my toddler was just starting to learn how to walk and talk, and I was worried about how I could work and get his needs taken care of. When we moved in here, I finally saw him relax and be able to be a kid again. And I was able to take a deep breath and be like, okay, I’m actually safe.” — Zoe
“The sense of community here is insane. I have never met so many people that I’ve been able to relate to; it’s so nice having the staff to talk to and having access to therapists and the community groups here. I’m looking forward to working with my case managers on accomplishing my goals, taking the skills I have learned from here out into the world, and helping others.” — Zoe
Designed for Success
Nest56 was thoughtfully designed with trauma-informed principles and welcoming spaces that promote resident engagement. From community areas perfect for movie nights to gathering spaces for programming and tenant activities, every aspect of the building was created with our young tenants in mind. This thoughtful approach has been recognized with the 2025 Mayoral Design Awards since its opening.
It Takes a Village
Over this past year, we’ve truly seen that ending youth homelessness takes a village. Nest56 has become a hub of collaboration where young people have found stable housing thanks to the collective efforts of volunteers, corporate partners, and community members who’ve walked through our doors.
From volunteers leading life-skills workshops on budgeting and cooking, to corporate partners hosting career development sessions, to community groups organizing movie nights and tenant field trips – every interaction has reinforced that we are truly stronger together. Whether it’s local businesses providing job training, community volunteers mentoring residents, or corporate teams volunteering for building improvements, each partnership has strengthened our ability to help young people transition to independence.
Looking Forward
Every young person who has called Nest56 home this year represents our shared belief that housing is a fundamental right and that every youth deserves the chance to thrive. Our integrated approach of housing blended with dedicated support creates permanent pathways for young people to move out of homelessness and avoid becoming chronically unhoused.
As we look ahead to year two, we’re excited to continue empowering more young people, celebrating their growth, and helping them build the thriving futures they deserve. Together, we’re proving that when young people have both safe housing and wraparound support, they are able to successfully transition to adulthood. When we work collectively – young people, staff, volunteers, and partners – we don’t just provide housing, we create pathways out of homelessness for good. Thank you to every tenant, staff member, volunteer, partner, and community member who has joined us this year in making Nest56 a place where young people can truly feel safe and supported.
_______________________
TGTHR works to end youth homelessness for young people ages 12-24 by providing safe housing and support for long-term stability. We’re here to empower youth, celebrate their growth, and help them build thriving futures. It’s all about creating a community where every young person has a chance to succeed.